Andy Frasco's World Saving Podcast - EP 56: Ryan Montbleau

Episode Date: August 20, 2019

Andy is finishing up his Euro-Tour and gives us a solo recap to start this week's episode. Ryan Montbleau is our guest on the interview hour. Andy & him talk about life on the road, the struggles of a touring musician, and keeping at it for the brighter days. Also, Dolav has feelings about the NFL that can only be expressed thru the medium of $h!* talking. Ep 56 is live everywhere... NOW Follow us on Instagram @worldsavingpodcast For more information on Andy Frasco, tour dates, the band and the blog, go to: AndyFrasco.com The views discussed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the guests. Follow the inimitable wordsmith, Ryan Montbleau: www.ryanmontbleau.com Check out Andy's new album, "Change Of Pace" on iTunes and Spotify Produced by Andy Frasco Joe Angelhow Chris Lorentz Audio mix by Chris Lorentz Featuring: Dolav Cohen Todd Glass Ahri Findling Arno Bakker 

Hi Andy, it's Helga. I had such a great time with you last night. Just wanted to let you know my boyfriend found out about the last session. He found your dick pics on my WhatsApp. He might be calling you. Anyway, it was such a great time. And it is Ludwig von Eichmann. I saw you touching my girlfriend. And if you know it is good for you, you will get out of Hamburg. You've got a lot of men coming into Germany and thinking you can have sex with my girlfriend. You know what we do to people who are not German. Do not be confused. I will kill you. I hope everything's doing okay. I hope you're staying healthy, staying alive,

not getting into too much trouble. If you're drinking a lot, like myself, drink water. I just heard about this thing called chlorophyll I've been adding in my water And I feel fucking great Woke up today, I'm in Berlin, Germany I feel good You know, this town is fucking awesome Has anyone ever been to Berlin before? It's the sickness Like, it's just a free

Everyone is just The vibe here is Is a great vibe If you guys are looking for a vacation Come to Berlin, the women are hot as fuck, and they're cool, like, I'm not, like, trying to smash or anything, I'm just trying to, you know, talk, I was at the park, and, um, I was just, you know, I came here alone, I, you know, by the way, Ryan Momplew's on this episode We talked some deep shit

About depression and stuff And his career And he's just a good guy I can't wait for you to hear this interview But I was going through a little depression Thing I go through these things, I think everyone does Where, you know

Depression is weird Where it hits you It kind of creeps into your life when you're like, feel like everything's good. I don't know if you had this feeling as well. I talked to Travis from Wild A about this and, you know, he takes the, you know, the depression pills and stuff and little, um, and it's weird. It creeps in when you don't know. And I was like, it happened to me last week. I don't know if I was sleep deprived, but like sometimes when I get anxious

or if I let the bear out of the cage for a little too long and it starts going into my personal life, you know, when I talk about the bear, I talk about the fucking craziness that I am on stage and stuff. And sometimes I just keep the cage open and it starts just attacking everything in my fucking life. And then I started drinking and smoking too much and fucking shaking, can't sleep. And I had some weird ass dreams. I had this one dream that I killed the bass player, Aqueous, by accident. A piece of wood fell off my house.

And I still think about that. And I had to text Rob, the drummer of Aqueous, to apologize. Because I don't like having those thoughts in my head. I don't see death. I don't want to see my homies die and shit. But when you're going through these phases of depression, your psyche, everything you see is seen in a different light. And it's because of depression.

It's a part of this. So how do we get through that? So I thought it was a good idea to go into Berlin, fly to Berlin. I had five days off before I'm playing. Five days off before I had to do this Italy gig. And then I'm going to lock it and stuff. I was like, I just need a break, you know, no offense to my boys and my band. Just, you know, it's just shit is it's, it's hard being, seeing the same people every day and, you know, dealing with, you know, whatever they're dealing

with and, you know, try to be in a friend. Sometimes you forget about yourself. So I went out here. It was the best idea ever. It's funny how people come into your life when you need them the most. I have this guy, Mario. He's Berlin. He shows up every five years in my life.

Last one was when I was heavily depressed. Felt like my career was going horribly. It was my sister's wedding. She was like my best friend. Seeing her get the hand off to the husband. And just I felt like I was going to lose my friend. And my career is gone. And I felt like I had nothing.

And he woke me up again and then it happened again. He came to me, I just, you know, and he just woke me up saying, listen, it's okay to be a little crazy. It's okay. I mean, that's what we, we all have it in us. You know, don't worry about if you're not, if you're different than anyone else, don't worry about if people, you see things a're different than anyone else. Don't worry about if people, you see things a little differently than other people. It's okay. That's why we're human. That's why we're individual. Don't get yourself down because maybe you don't want to have a relationship or maybe you want to live on the road or maybe you're running away. What they think is running

away is what you think is freedom. This is why we travel, to go explore, to go see people from all these different walks of earth and try to explain life together. It's real tricky, but learning from these Berliners and how they just live life and how all these artists are coming into this city and just not having a lot of money you know it's not important the money isn't important you know I gotta stop thinking that money is the most important thing I mean maybe because I'm Jewish and shit or fucking mentality of this growing up in LA and keeping up with the Joneses and having, you know, growing up in, you know, wealthier area, it just fucked my head up because I don't need money to be happy. I don't need, you know, a relationship maybe to be happy.

We need, the only way we could find happiness, this is my interpretation, is if we're happy with ourselves. And sometimes when depression comes, I think it's because we are unsure if we're happy with ourselves. And we look at everyone else for answers, but we don't look at ourselves. That's why I had to come back to Berlin. I had to see these people.

And it woke me up again. You know, it's like we just got to be reminded to stay present. You know, life is too short not to try to stay present as much as you can. You know, because if we stay in our heads and we stay locked in our fucking heads, Gary Goldman talks about this and is a new special. We think we're alone with our thoughts. If we all just communicate our thoughts, we're going to realize that we're all going through the same shit. It doesn't matter if you're pissed off at the band or if you're pissed off at your spouse or if your job

sucks. And we all go through these fights and these battles with each other, with ourselves mostly, because we're not getting fights with each other. If we just communicate and be honest with people, I feel like we're going to realize everyone's fighting this stuff, especially with mental health. Like, look at Jeff Austin, man. I feel like he was afraid to talk to people, let people know how he's feeling. A lot of people, you could look around at your friends and you could see who isn't themselves because they're doubting themselves. So don't doubt yourself. You're fucking perfect the way you are. Fuck all the haters. You know?

It's, it's, I, I always have to isolate my, that's why I'm here in Berlin. Mean fucking donor. My stomach hurts because I mean too many fucking donors. The homies at the Marcus King band said, watch this video on donor. I'm like, no, I don't want to watch it until I get home. Because I am enjoying it. I am, this is my me time. It's like eating. Donor

to me is like bonbons. Just going to eat the fuck out of them and then come home to the festival scene. I've gained 15 pounds or 8 kilos or whatever. Find what makes you happy. Don't worry about it.

Know that there's a bear or a beast inside all of us. Don't worry about it. Let that, know that there's a bear or a beast inside all of us. Don't let it control your whole life. Know when to take it out. And I think that is growing. Knowing when to take the beast out, out of the cage, and let it roam. But you can't just keep it open

because you could pet the lion four or five times and you think it might be Gucci, but that sixth time, that motherfucker will bite you. So make sure, don't let all these crazy, crazy demons control your life, you know, because they will if you let them. If you understand that this is just free spirit and there's going to be crazy thoughts in your head and that's okay. But don't take them with a grain of salt because you could talk to a different person with a different mind state.

And your perspective on life changes just like that. You know, I remember I was having such a shitty the first day I got here. I'm like, why am I doing this? I'm by myself again. I told myself I'm not good by myself and I just did it. And the people come into your life if you just open up. So don't be afraid to talk to people. This is why Ryan's on the show. I didn't know that he was going through such a hard time. And for him to get out of that and fight through it is so honorable. And, you know, Ryan, I never got to really kick it with him until I met him in Burlington. And he's just a good guy. I'm really excited for you to hear this interview.

I'm really excited for all that stuff that's coming our way. for all that stuff that's coming our way. So ladies and gentlemen, last but not least, before we let Ryan take the stage, talk to people. Be vulnerable. Open up.

Let the world know how you're feeling because if you just keep that shit in, it's poison. It's poison and the bear will control everything. Don't let him control everything. Take him out when you want to take him out. You know, get that, you know, I need that bear on that stage. You know, we all need that a little bit. We all need that, that angst, that, that thing we're fighting for, for art.

You know, that's why we're doing art, guys. That's why we're living in a fucking van for six hours a day with our fucking girlfriends and parents fucking judging us for making fucking dick for money. But why do we do it? So we could let out that bear for that two hours. So don't, don't let it take advantage of you. Understand what the bear is in your life. Give him a hug. Let him know, look, you're not going to control my life.

Depression is real, guys. Fucking, if you feel like you're having bad thoughts, talk to someone. It's okay. It's cool to have a therapist. Dude, it's 2019. Therapists are like, it's like Gucci. You know, everyone to someone. It's okay. It's cool to have a therapist. Dude, it's 2019. Therapists are like, it's like Gucci. You know, everyone has it. Well, not everyone has Gucci, but you know, fake Gucci too, you know, whatever. But guys, enjoy the Ryan Montbleu. Talk to people. Talk to me.

I'm here. I'm here for you. But that's it. That's it for the first seg. Hope you enjoyed the interview and I will catch you on the tail end. Love you guys. Hey, talk to people. I'm serious. Talk to people. Alright, talk to you soon. Alright. Next up on the interview hour we have our boy

Ryan Montblew. He's the man. one of my favorite lyricists One of my favorite songwriters He's got it all going on We had a great conversation about He just moved to Burlington, Vermont And he's just a good guy He had the Brooklyn scene going on

Hey Chris, play some Ryan while I pimp him out a little bit He's a great lyricist He's really dialed in We talk a lot about depression Hey, Chris, play some Ryan while I pimp him out a little bit. He's a great lyricist. He's really dialed in. We talk a lot about depression in this episode because it's important to talk about. Not everyone can be happy. This lifestyle isn't going to make you happy every day. And for him to just keep fighting through it is very honorable.

So, ladies and gentlemen, enjoy my interview with our boy, Ryan Momlin. Keeler sunsets, bleak sunrises. There's no more long days now, no more prize fighting. I'll even cut down on the drink and just please no more surprises. I see her wave to me, covered it from A to Z. With a look so heavenly that she's no longer giving me ships pass

by outside the window in my room they only know where they've been and where they're going to they pass so mightily, steady in their gaze they pass by each other without so much as a wave ships in the night are we convinced we're gonna be reunited come the day

and my brother how you been well i've been blinded by my own worries and stories in this sense that I'm alone. Heaven zips by a million more ships in the night and a trillion tons of gases from a billion silly asses. And I still pray for the masses as we fight the bloody fight. But bodies cannot stop these jacked up, gacked up ships in the night. And I reach out in the darkness for somebody I might hold I reach out to the cosmos by staring at my phone I reach a state of ecstasy

I return to despair I remain educated well informed and unaware But my sister, my sister I swear that I am good Reach your arms around me and tell me that I'm understood I can't believe the things for which I'm forced to take a stand I can't believe that I'm the problem not the plan I can't believe that we elected that man

yes I can yes I can yes I can yes I can ships in the night oh we miss each other entirely from cradle to the grave without so much as a way in my my hey hey looks like the sky is falling down no it's it's my time it's your time it's all just coming around run up the mountain and hide out while you can. There's a storm coming full of lonely, disaffected, angry men. Father time knows the way the cancer grows inside of me. And who will hold my hand when I'm in my final bed? When ships in the night are we?

Ships in the night are we Shifts in the night are we Miss each other entirely Shifts in the night are we Someone shine your light on me Someone shine your light on me And we're fucking here Croc Life Out here

In Burlington, Vermont Ryan Monplew, how we doing, buddy? We're out here Yo, we out here Yo, what made you pick Burlington? I love Burlington, man I tell people it's because I see all the places And this is the best place

Yeah? But I'm from north of Boston So this wasn't too far Describe that What is the best place. Yeah? But I'm from, no, I'm from north of Boston, so this wasn't too far. What do you, describe that. What's the best place to you? Like, I don't know. I just love it here. Like, so I see all the places from touring all these years, especially in the northeast.

And, like, it was always just really friendly here. Like, it feels like, like, I'm from Boston and I love my people, but, like, New Englanders are a salty bunch. Like, you know, like, it's not. Yeah, no. Like, the first time I went out west and I was my people, but New Englanders are a salty bunch. It's not... The first time I went out west and I was in a bar and a stranger started talking to me in a bar, I was like... The Boston me was like, what the fuck's this guy's problem? But then you're like, oh, people are just nice to each other.

It's just people are good, but it's not in the culture to kind of be extroverted to strangers, I feel like, and things like that or whatever. So here, it just always felt like it feels like when I go down south or out west or something where just culturally people are friendlier and they tend to like really mean it actually do you have a fan base out here uh I mean enough of one you know it's like kind of like I mean fan base wise it's kind of like anywhere else in the north actually this is a kind of a tough town to draw in because it's a small city and there's a lot going on. So it's kind of like... Yeah.

When I first came to Burlington years ago, I was like, we're going to crush here. And then we did Nectars when it was like the stage was in the old spot. It was before they redid it. And then we worked our way up and we did Metronome. And then we got in the small room of Higher Ground. And then we opened for somebody in the ballroom of Higher Ground. And then we went back to the small room of Higher Ground. And then we went back to Metronome. And then we went back to the small room of Higher Ground, and then we went back to Metronome,

and then we went back to Nectars. It was kind of like, and we just ended up where we started. You know, but in that evolution of each market, though, I feel it's like that up and down. How long have you been touring now? 16 years. 16 years. And I was doing it before that.

What were you doing before? I mean, I was like working. I've been trying to figure it out for 20 years. I graduated from college 20 years ago. What was like the first musical like dream when you were a kid? How old were you? I think like, I mean, I didn't really have it when I was a kid. Really?

Not really. I mean, I guess kind of like my father gave me a guitar when I was eight years old. I kind of like, I feel like college was super formative for me and until that point I was just like an amoeba like I just didn't know I just it wasn't formed yet kind of but I did things like I played guitar and I would pick it up put it down because your pops was a songwriter right no he didn't know my father played bass like in a college band in the 60s musician like was he focused on it no no. It was like a thing that was in the closet that would come out

once a year and dad would play a gig for 4th of July or something. So it was a thing that was there but never ever a big deal like big force in the house or anything. I think when I was younger, when I was in middle school I was in chorus because I could match notes

and I would dream about taking the solo in chorus, but I never did that. I never had the balls to sing at all, really, until like, I didn't really start singing until I was 21. So what were you majoring in when you were in 1918? I went in a chemical engineering major. What?

Yep, and I came out an English major, and I was a business major in the middle, so I was figuring it out. Ryan, you're a smart motherfucker, dude. Dude, I had a 3.5 in chemical engineering in one semester, but that wasn't going to keep up. So what was the pivot where you're like, fuck, let's do music? It took a while. Literally, my years at Villanova were indispensable for figuring all this shit out.

And I had friends at, I mean, they call like Villanova and Vanilla Nova and shit. It was like, yeah, I was just like in a dorm room getting high with a bunch of dudes. That's in Philly, right? It's outside of Philly. Yeah.

It's kind of like, you're like kind of, like kind of suburbs of Philly. It was just a tough school like socially at first. It's like, like all your friends are at these big state schools

like, yeah, I went to this party last night and we're like a bunch of dudes just like trying to cram into this shitty like frat party in an apartment like trying to get a beer were you partying like were you like i mean we're drinking a lot i mean we couldn't even we were we were on like the butt end of campus in this small dorm

that was there wasn't a girl within like a quarter mile like it was fucking rough and i was super shy like i couldn't talk to girls like i and i was like getting stoned and my friends so that didn't help so you were just getting stoned and doing the college thing. Yeah, but I was like, it was very like, I got super depressed, really, is what happened. And I was away from home, and I just like, then I started listening to the blues and all that. And then I just, that's when I started playing guitar all the time. What were you depressed about? Just like, I think, honestly, chemically, like at that age, there's something going on with a lot of people. And I definitely had it about just like I think honestly chemically like

at that age there's something going on with a lot of people and I definitely had it like I think I just got depression and I think the drinking in the in the weed didn't help it's not like I was I wasn't going crazy with weed or drinking but it was like college stuff but it was kind of fucking me up and were you on antidepressants no didn't even didn't even consider it at the time yeah like I didn't know what was going on I I was just very like, I would just walk around campus and cry and write poetry. And I was sitting in the back of chemistry class, like writing poems. So, yeah, like what's that moment? Like I had that too, where it's like, I didn't know what anxiety was until I was like 28.

And I felt like I was just a crazy person. And I get depressed. I didn't know why I was, you. And I get depressed. I didn't know I was... I get through these depression things up and down every few years where it's just like... I don't know if it's just our livelihood or just how our brain thinks.

It's kind of crazy how we just want to keep moving. We kind of have to keep moving. I don't want to speak for you, but when I'm on the road I'm at 13 years now too by the way you're the first person who ever gave me opening slot, George's Majestic Fayetteville, Arkansas

I remember I was all pumped up because you had in-ears this guy has fucking in-ears I wish I still had them, my ears are ringing like crazy you gotta go back, it's funny how things ebb and flow. So you moved back to Boston right after. Yeah, I moved back with my parents for four years after college. So from 21 to 26?

Yeah. And how long did you work at the House of Blues for? I was there for like three years off and on or something. And I, yeah. Were you learning how to write songs at this point? I was, yeah, like I was writing and I was starting to get out there and just trying to figure out how the fuck to do this. I was like, how do you do this?

What were you, like what? How to do what? How do I make a living, basically, was the dream. I want to make a living. It's sort of like since then, I haven't really had a dream as clear as that since then. I just want to make a living making music. I mean, you're still on that dream, right? I'm still on that dream. But then after a while, you're like, all right, well, now what? I'm making music. I mean, I mean, you're still on that dream. I'm still on that dream. But then I don't have to, well, you're like, all right, well now what?

Like I'm doing it, you know? That's what, that's what I'm going through now. Like we've, we've reached what we thought was the dream is like, how do we expand on that dream? Yeah. And like, and they say you got to like really know the details of the dream to manifest it and stuff. Right.

And it's like, I have trouble with that. Like, I don't know, man. Yeah. I've shot like, you know, I, yeah, like have trouble with that like I don't know man yeah I've trouble like you know yeah like I don't know cause I have trouble with it cause when you choose one thing it's almost like you're saying no to these other things and I think I'm kind of a perfectionist

or something or I'm just my brain's like weird like that where I don't want to like commit but what do you think you're saying no to I don't know like other things you know what I mean you know I'm like right now it's like I'm 41 years old I'm single

I'd like to like meet the mother of my child and things like that but it's like if I start to like I don't know try to like define who I'm looking for

or something like that it just feels weird I'm like I'd just rather be open to like however it's gonna be but then you don't wanna be like wishy-washy

and be like well whatever happens in life I'll take it so I don't know that's like the trip I'm on. Yeah, me too. I've never had a relationship before in my life. I'm fucked with that.

Just had a bunch of one-night stands and didn't really figure out what I wanted in life because I've been so focused on this dream. Like you said, you take other things out of your life that you're like, oh, I'll just wait. I'll put it on the back burner, put it on the back burner. And all of a sudden, we get older.

Dude, I'm 41 years old, and all of a sudden, it's like, and I've been through, I'm in a good spot now. But the last, like, few years, I've been through some dark, like, just like, you just sort of wake up and you're like, wait a minute. Where are all my friends? Like, where? They're out there. It's not like I don't have them, but, like, I haven't put anything into those things. Put into the relationship. Yeah, like, into those connections.

And then your priority is you can just sort of blindly go. I think you have to have some kind of blind, fucked up ambition to go after this thing and just keep doing it. Keep the freight train rolling. And, like, when I look back at all the shit I've done in the last 20 years, it's, like, amazing to me that I even did that. Like, just all that effort 200 shows a year with the band van and trailer and all the shit that you're doing so yeah it's like it's just like it's a lot of effort but it doesn't you know they say oh if you do what you love it doesn't feel like work like I don't know it felt like work but like but I

didn't care like I just there was no question it's like you just go just go like that's the thing like even like when you had you had once didn't care There was no question You just go That's the thing Didn't you have a tune you did Like a Tracy Chapman song Yeah I did Fast Car That had like 25 million streams It's got like 40 million now It's crazy

You think that if you get 40 million streams On a Spotify It's like oh the grind is Well that has actually, the grind is... Well, that has actually helped the grind tremendously. Oh, yeah. So, like, is that... So, Spotify is...

That feeds you pretty good then. Or, like, at least gives you a little mailbox money. I make a lot. I make serious, like... I just... Spotify helps me a lot. Really? A lot.

And it's weird for me when people talk shit about them and stuff because I only have my experience. And I'm like, I love Spotify. Has it made you not tour as much? It's taken the pressure off of touring some, for sure, man, because that's like significant mailbox money that comes. And they put me on these playlists that get subscribed to by all these people. The bulk of it is still like, I think, like I'd have to look,

but there's something like 30,000 people that are my hardcore, that are listening all the time. And then in addition to that, I lucked out. I just got on these playlists that get played all over the world and those people will listen. Fast Car still gets played and I was just leaving. It still gets played all the time.

And because I own my own records, that's the other key. I think when people don't... You own all your own records? Yeah, I just put them all out on my own. What? Yeah, never. Ryan! I do it.

That's what I'm saying. So, yeah, thank God. Okay, so do you think that... Because like... Croc life. Croc life, dude. Totally. I get it now.

Burlington, fucking... You are a homegrown business, bro. I don't want to interrupt you, but when I moved out of New York, my buddy was like, he's like, what are you doing, dude? He's like,

don't you want to like, you know, you're trying to just keep your career moving. It's like, why do you want to like, I was like, dude, I'm going to Burlington. There's a fucking skate park. There's like, it's just so nice there. He's like, what are you talking about? A skate park? He's like, don't you want to do your career? I was like, dude, this is for my sanity.

Like, I need a life. That's been the thing with me. It's like, I'm still working hard. And yeah, there's like, I miss the synergy of New York and things like that. How long were you there? I mean, two years. But I still had a room in Massachusetts and I was touring all the time. But like, what didn't you like about the grind of New York?

Well, I wasn't there long enough to feel the like, classic like, I got to get out of New York. Because I left a lot, you know what I mean? But just like, yeah, energetically it was tough. I'm living in this basement apartment with Eric Kalb, who I love. But it was just kind of like, all right, I could, I mean, like the apartment was kind of like, it was okay. But then you just walk out and there's a giant pile of garbage and the BQE is right there and there's trucks rolling by and a homeless dude living there.

And then you keep walking and I'm walking through the most beautiful park in the world. And there's all walks of life and amazing, like, the Polish people that are still in that neighborhood in Brooklyn. And then you go to, like, the hippest bar ever. And it's great. You know, and every time you walk out the door, 50 bucks falls out of your pocket. But, I mean, there's no place like New York. You know, I love it.

But how important is solitude? Especially when you're on the road so much. Like, you need that decompression. We could always just keep turning it on and go outside our door and drop another $50, $100, but that's still draining us. Like you said, you were on four flights. I was doing that alone.

I've never been one to have a crew. Isolation, I think isolations, I think we could talk about that forever. Like, it's just- Let's talk about it. I mean, I need, because I need the alone time because that's kind of how I recharge. You know what I mean? There's like, I'm an introvert, I guess that way.

And they say, if you're an introvert, it's just, you get your energy from being alone as opposed to being with people. But we're lonely. But we're lonely. It's like, my whole thing is like, it took me years to figure out. My thing is like, I seek space and then i wonder where everybody went yeah why why do you think

we do that do you think we push people away because we want to be lonely i think i just turn away you know what i mean like i think i'm generally pretty good to people but i just i just like seek space you know what i mean i just i don't know martin sex martin sexson said that to me but like years ago we were on tour he's like yeah you seem to seek space, you know what I mean? I don't know. Martin Sexton said that to me like years ago. We were on tour. He's like, yeah, you seem to seek space. And I was like, oh, I seek space. But then, yeah, and then it's like you just isolate yourself

to the point of like, I've talked about it before. It's just kind of like, whoa, wait a minute. Where are all my friends? So I don't know. I think it's like, I mean, every artist seems to create and writers like you do that from a solitary place kind of. And so you need that. And so it's like I mean every artist seems to create and writers like you you do that from a solitary place kind of and so you need that

and so it's a lot like if I'm touring all the time then I come back home like if I'm in a relationship or something which hasn't happened for a while but it's like I've already been away

for like weeks and weeks or whatever I come back home then I'm too tired to even move for like two or three days then I need space to write or whatever it is and then I'm too tired to even move for like two or three days. Then I need space to write or whatever it is, and then I'm on the road again. It's like it's a lot to ask of someone.

Yeah, it is a lot to ask someone, and it's a lot to ask of yourself. So are you touring with a full band still, or are you touring by yourself? I'm doing both. I just came off of several months of solo stuff. How's that? I love doing that. Yeah? I love it so much.

You're like a stand-up comedian Kinda, you know? Cause like They don't travel with a lot of people Like there's two people Yeah And like I listen to a lot of like

Comedian podcasts Yeah, me too And like these guys Seem like they're super sad Traveling by themselves Yeah Yeah Is it harder?

It's harder in some ways And easier in others You don't have Like the logistics are You make more money too much easier you make more money and like the logistics

are much easier if I want to go eat I go eat if I want to get a place I get a place I don't have to worry about four hotel rooms for the band and whatever else

and getting a van and all that stuff it's like I'm touring in my car so you're touring in your car do you have one person with you? I did for this last one it was the first time I hired a guy

that I didn't know that was just like a pro and you and him would just roll in just me and him in a car so what was that like? I did for this last one. It was the first time I hired a guy that I didn't know that was just a pro. You and him would just roll in a car? Just me and him rolling, yeah. What was that like? I mean, it was cool. It's a pretty sensitive thing on the solo tour. Yeah.

It's just me and him. It's vulnerability, dude. Yeah, when I've done it before, it's my buddy Derek. He's psyched to be out there, so it's good. This time, I had this dude, Josh. He was great. He was a pro. He was crushing the gigs. He was just like, all Like he was a pro. He was crushing the gigs.

He would just like all my shits packed up. He's fucking selling them. We hadn't even sold merch before, but he was like crushing that. And just like he would do the dries. But he was also like, you know, he's used to doing like, he does like, you know, leading like running tours with fucking semi trucks and shit for pretty lights and shit. So like pranking coffee and the chain smoking cigarettes and shit. And they hear you. Just cranking coffee and chain-smoking cigarettes

and just like, you know, and like, you know, the solo tour, like, solo tour managing is only so demanding

of a job. You basically gotta just share in a room. He did a lot of miles. I mean, he drove a lot of miles. No,

I'd get, no, I'd get, we'd each get a room. Cool. Yeah, you just take care of yourself. So you,

still, like, so are you playing the same type of rooms when you're doing those solo gigs? Well, that's the one thing. It's got to be quiet. Yeah. It's got to be quiet.

I'm not playing. I mean, I came up doing the bars. How hard is that? I mean, any time now I have to like, like I just did it in St. John where I played this like loud bar. And I'm on St. John. It's great. But it's like something when that happens triggers

this old thing in me where i'm like i'm still in the bars i'm not i ain't shit i can't fucking do this you know like and i just i just want to quit and like i'm like i'm just gonna quit music i'll just fucking quit tomorrow like it still happens but so it's gotta be quiet so like and when it's quiet like we talk about that yeah so okay what goes through your mind when you, is it like no one's paying attention to me? Is this the wrong gig? Am I wasting my time? What are you so angry about? I don't know, man.

I think that's like fodder from my therapist. Because, yeah, it definitely triggers something. It's like this weird thing of like, you're living and dying up there. You know? Like all those years of like trying to win over a room and wanting people to like you, which is like you shouldn't have in some respects but in other ways like it's what kept me driving to like build this thing and and you know like so i don't know man

something gets triggered i mean i think it's like have you ever just screamed at a crowd i mean i've definitely been like shut the fuck up like you like you never live that shit down you never like you can't do that. I learned the hard way. You Bill Burr'd something? Did you Bill Burr? I mean, I didn't have a meltdown. You know, the Philly thing?

That was so funny. Five. Seven minutes. Seven minutes. So good. I'm still getting paid, motherfucker. No, but like. I always wanted to have my Jim Morrison moment where I'm like, you're all fucking slaves.

I'm just all drunk. Did you see the guy from Stain that happened to him? Did he? Shut the fuck up. Yeah. I feel like your crowd is more receptive to the artists you want to be. Well, you build that over the years. You sort of train them, I feel like. And with me, it's been weird because I'd either have like,

for a while I was doing, it's like I either had an eight-piece funk band with horns or it was me solo acoustic and it's like totally quiet yeah people who had just come to see the big band show show up at club passim for the folk show and they're like what the fuck is this like this is so how did you train them did you like start putting more slow songs into your set that's the thing for me is like trying to have the balls to do that you know because i look at people like i don't know how people like you know like i don't know i guess i mean i guess brandy carlisle like rocks or whatever there's people like just you look at certain artists and you're like they didn't fucking and they're like huge and they do beautiful quiet stuff like like ray lamontagne didn't get to where he is by fucking rocking the bars every night. That dude stuck to like what he was doing.

Father John Misty too? Yeah. Yeah. But he's like such a personality. So it's like this thing of you learn to like, and I'm still learning. You're a personality too, right? Thanks, man. You got a good story.

You're a good storyteller, but keep going. No, no, no. I mean. Is it hard to banter? It's easier on the solo shows. Really? Yeah. Because on the solo shows that you're at a certain volume.

So when I finish a song, it's a certain volume for the room, and it's not that loud. So I can just, after a song, be like, just mumble some shit. I'm like, you know, whatever. Like, hey guys, how's this going? Like, whatever. But if I'm with the band, and we fucking do a big ending, and then I'm just like, hey guys, how's it going?

Like, that doesn't work. You have to be very, you're like, hey everybody, thank you. You have to have like diction and... Yeah, yeah. It is halftime at the Enni Fresco interview hour. Hello everybody. Welcome to Dolove Sportscast. He's talking shit about the game. He's got a weird fucking name. It's Sports with Don't Love.

This week, we're going to be talking some NFL football, baby. Dun, dun, dun, dun. Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun. So I'm very sorry that your Lakers don't play football. Fuck the Lakers. But if they did, they'd be sucking everyone's dicks on the field. Fuck LeBron. Fuck you, Andy. It's all about the Steelers.

All day, all night. Fuck Tom Brady. That fool needs to retire. Brady's old as fuck. He's gonna break his fucking legs because he's so damn old. Fuck Mahomes. You threw for 50 touchdowns last year. You're throwing for two this year.

Fuck them. This is our fucking year. Antonio Brown, prima donna, fucking piece of shit. Fuck the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes, he's pretty tight. But they got all those women and children beating ex-players. Revamp that shit. All those fools suck dick.

They're going down. You got the Chargers. You got the Rams. Fuck all that. It's all about Steeler Nation. Black and yellow, black and yellow, motherfucker. We got Juju. You got the Chargers. You got the Rams. Fuck all that. It's all about Steeler Nation. Black and yellow. Black and yellow, motherfucker. We got Juju.

Juju, phone home. We got James Conner. We got the young guys. We got a Super Bowl championship team. We're taking the crown back. Fuck all the haters. Fuck LeBron. Fuck you, Andy.

Go Clippers. It's Sports with Dola. Juju's going to phone all the way home to the Super Bowl Are you shy? I'm shy And it took me It's so weird to be a front man And be a shy guy

Isn't that weird? So is it your alter ego when you get on stage? No, I don't know like it's still me it's weird i don't know it's some convolutedness in there for me because my whole thing is like this is me you know but like i said it is a controlled kind of vulnerable vulnerability or something you know like it's it's it's i don't know man we it's it's still me um for i don't know somehow just by repetition the stage becomes the most appropriate place in the world to do whatever it is you do where are you most authentic with a band backing

you up or by yourself that's a good question i mean i think i think solo like because that's just me there's no there's only so much i can bullshit myself like yeah i think with the band there's still ways i've always wanted like it's still me but i'm myself. Like, I think with the band, there's still ways I've always wanted, like, it's still me, but I'm still trying to like fit in with the band or figure out how to be a good band leader. Do you think that goes deeper into that isolation mind state that you have? How you like kind of like want to be by yourself?

I think so. I mean, I remember feeling some of the most isolated in my life, like being in the van with the old band and just being here around. Can we talk about that? Because I do too sometimes. Like, how hard is that? That was some of the most isolated in my life, like being in the van with the old band and just being. Can we talk about that? Cause I do too sometimes. Like how hard is that?

That was some of the hardest shit ever. It was like some of the hardest mornings ever. Cause you go deep with these people and like everything you say to each other, there's fucking nine years of shit attached to it or whatever it is, you know? Yeah. And how tough is it to say, Hey,

I want to do some solo gigs when it's like their livelihood? Um, well that was like, I had always done it. I mean, the thing was when i had the old band like i would have to do solo gigs to give them time off i had them on a salary so like i had to keep paying them yeah and when we weren't playing i had to keep paying them

so i'd have to go by the end i was like going to play solo gigs to make money just to pay them yeah crazy yeah it was a lot of pressure. It was kind of like, so we were supposed to have time off, and we did, but I would have to go play. I mean, I wanted to go play solo anyway, but I was still gigging to pay for it. You had to.

You're doing it. It was still work. It wasn't like picking markets. That's the thing with this. It's like, I just went to the Virgin Islands, and then I did a retreat in Costa Rica after that. For what?

The retreat is like me and my friend Tara Lee lead these retreats and take people down. What do you do? It's like yoga and meditation. She has all these great exercises to open people up and I play every night. Is it like ayahuasca without ayahuasca? Yeah, we don't do it.

There's no medicine or anything. We don't do any of that. Have you ever done that? Yeah. What was it like? I haven't really talked about it publicly very much. Do you want to talk about it? We don't have to.

I mean, I could. That's funny. I was thinking this. I don't know. I mean, I'm, yeah. When I was going through the depression, I took mushrooms. I micro-dosed mushrooms for about two months. But everyone said I did six days on, four days off.

Did it help you? Yeah, it helped me. We are like the same creature. I mean, it's mind-blowing because I have the same aches a lot of the time. So I was like, I wanted to try ayahuasca, but I was too scared to go deep into myself. It's deep. Is it?

Did you cry? Oh, I've cried. I've said everything. but I was too scared to go deep into myself. It's deep. Is it? Did you cry? There's no, oh, I've cried. I've, it's everything. I mean, it's,

yeah, I've actually done a lot of that work and it's, it's changed my life. Oh, it's changed. It's like really changed my life in profound ways,

I think. How? Like under the, I just, you just, I think, I don't honestly, I think in the biggest sense,

it's sort of, it's taught me how to die in a way that's like not morbid. Like, you just, I don't know how else to describe it. Like, I don't, I mean, I might be singing. You're okay with dying? I mean, I might be singing a tune if I was, a different tune if I was sitting here on my deathbed or I actually got a diagnosis tomorrow. But where we stand right now, like I'm much less afraid of death than I probably was. What were you afraid

of before i don't know that i was i mean i just think everybody is it's the unknown and then you sort of like in this it really just changed it's like this you just tap into something bigger i mean you're communing with the spirits of plants it's really like i don't see it as like oh you put this drug in your body and even with the mushrooms it's like you're communing with whatever those mushrooms grew from and what There's a spirit there. And plants have been around a lot longer than we have. And so there's these beautiful medicines that people have figured out over thousands of years how to like for us to experience.

And you just, it's teaching, you know, and it's not recreational. I mean, it can be. Kids can pop something on a lot and like change their consciousness, but it's like. It's not like that. These aren't like that.

No, I mean, it has to be ceremonial and it has to I think you just really gotta honor did you do with the shaman? yeah yeah it's like in ceremony how many days did you do it?

I mean I'm I'm going back to Peru this year and doing yeah like I do a couple weeks in the do you go by yourself? no there's a group that I sit with

but is it like like do you know the group? yeah I do now oh like but at first. No, I got in, like, yeah, you have to get, it's very personal. It's like kind of a friend asked me to join and tried it out once. And it was really like, yeah, it's scary.

Do you recommend it? I do. It's a little weird to talk about because it's like, I don't, I think it's, I almost don't even like saying the word because it's like, it's like, I just think it should be kept sacred, you know? And I think it's starting to get out there in ways that people are just like, oh, I just want to do some ayahuasca, you know? And it's like, I don't, you really, these are sacred medicines that I just think, I just really want to sort of take it seriously. Because they are, you do some serious work.

And it's work, you know? And I've like just, you know,'ve just gone down to the depths of my soul but I do I think it's like yeah and I think psychedelics in general if done right can be very beneficial for humanity as a whole

I saw some documentary when they were talking about how just environmentally everything else we're going off the cliff. And we really need to take a right-hand turn. Boom, 90 degrees, take a turn. And one of the best ways to do that just personally, individually, is through psychedelics. Changing your consciousness.

But we need to do that with guidance. We need to take care of each other. That's why under the guise of a shaman or in ceremony or, like, I think. Do you think it made you a better friend of people? Man, I hope so. I'm still working on it. I mean, yeah. I don't know.

Man, I hope so. It certainly led me on the path. Does that make you sad? Does what? Like, being here by yourself. You know, I've actually here had a few nice moments of like being happy and being by myself, which was an amazing feeling. That is the best.

Just like smiling outside, looking at the sunset, whatever. And I was like, oh my God, I'm by myself and I'm okay. And now like this place for me is like, you know, I'm building, I have like a little nest for myself for the first time. So I actually have a place that feels like home. Is this the first time you ever had a nest? I mean, really? Like your own nest, not in someone's couch. Yeah, no, like I actually have a place that feels like home. Is this the first time you ever had a nest? I mean, really. Like your own nest,

not in someone's couch. Yeah, no, like I would rent a room. I always had a place, you know. But we would rent this old, like old house north of Boston for years. And like I had a, that was the old band house.

I mean, I just moved out of there like nine months ago or something. Like I was here before that. No shit. Now I'm only here. Yeah, this is like new to have like just a home. So, you know,

that feels like home. And I got a few houseplants, you know. Dude, this place is new to have like just a home. So, you know, that feels like home. And I got a few houseplants, you know. Dude, this place is bad as the fucking boat. You got a skateboard, dude. I do. I bought that before I left. I'm psyched, man. It's a cruiser.

Your old ass is going to go on those fucking half pipes and shit? I broke my shoulder at the skate park last summer, dude. I got to take it easy. I did. I broke a little part of my shoulder. I didn't know I had. What happened? I was, man, I just hadn't had enough sleep.

I was with my old buddy, my old skate buddy, who was one of my best friends, and he was visiting. We were just going to get some breakfast. I was like, let's just hit the park before we go. I was skating for not even 30 seconds. So you're into this. I mean, I love skateboarding, but I don't skate a lot. I'm more of a fan these days than anything else.

And I was never a great skateboarder or anything. If you saw me, I'm not very impressive. So what happened? I just was doing a kick turn on this quarter pipe. A thing I've done a million times and I just fell. I just slipped back. The board fell off in front of me and I just slammed. My arm got pinned up against my head and kind of cracked one of the bones.

Was it scary because you play? I mean, it was just like out of nowhere, dude. It was like, yeah. I mean, it was just like, what the dude it was it was like yeah i mean there was it was just like what the fuck just happened and then and then i only i missed one gig uh well no i didn't miss any gigs actually but i had the band we were doing grassroots uh fest up in near ithaca and uh you got a sling on i had a sling i did i did my i did my gig i did my gig in the wing sling i was like and it was awesome it was like so liberating actually to like not play guitar.

It opened up. The folk scene over here, dude. I go, at one point I was just like, uh, I have a sling for my wing,

so I'm just going to sing. What about if you had to do a solo gig? I couldn't do it. I mean, like I could, I mean, I was like,

I had to play guitar and those are like, I don't know what am I gonna do? Spoken word for two hours. People are gonna be pissed somebody would like it but whoa man whoa man whoa man as a 41 year old man what are you writing about right now oh man that's a good question i'm kind of just letting it come. I never really put that much pressure on it. That's a good question, man.

I don't know. I'm hoping the happier songs are coming. You know what I mean? I've been through years of the last couple of records. There's a lot of sad shit. That's fine. What is it, though, bud? What do you mean?

Are you just over it? What do you mean, now? The last couple of years. There's a lot of sad shit. That's fine. What is it though, bud? What do you mean? Are you just over it? What do you mean, now? The last couple of years, what were you over? What was making you sad? I just think that isolation, honestly. I put out a record called I Was Just Leaving and it really dawned on me. I thought I was building a home in a relationship

with this home life and stuff and it turns out I was just leaving. That's the point of that record. Hold on, you were building a home here? No, I thought just in general. I was in Mass at the time, and I had a girlfriend who lived in Martha's Vineyard. It was just kind of like my relationship split up,

my management split up, which I suffered with somehow way too much. And then the band split up, and it was just kind of like... Your manager's kind of like your wife, really. Dude, I suffered so much with management. I got deep into meditation at the time. I was meditating like two hours a day for like a year or two. What, like transcendental? Vipassana.

I did those Vipassana courses where you sit for 10 days in silence. Yeah, just going deep. How did you do that? That was one of the hardest things I ever did in my life. What day did you start getting hard? The first day. The first day. Yeah, it's nine days of noble silence.

You don't look anybody in the eye. There's no contact. You're on your own island, and you really go. All your shit just comes up. So when did everything start bubbling up? Like right away, you know what I mean? But that really taught me the technique, and then you keep meditating, and then it was like what was bubbling up after that for months was

like management management the shit that you think like don't matter like doesn't matter like it was just yeah it just i was suffering with you know i think i needed like i was because all i had was my career and i was just looking to management for like more than I should have probably. You know what I mean? Oh, so you felt like management was like the clutch. Like I just think I was holding on for something. I needed – well, they didn't know what to do with me when the old band broke up and then I also just needed some help.

Like I just needed like emotional support and whatever. And you broke up with your girl. They were just businessmen. Yeah. And so I just was, you know, lesson learned. I mean, management's an interesting thing. Yeah, can you talk about that? Because I feel like I want them to be my best friend.

It's so weird. But it's so hard because I'll ask my manager, like, so how was your day? He's like, I'm off time for this, Frasco. Like, come on. Let's make some money. Cut the shit, Frasco. We're going to get better back end. Yeah, I don't have time for this, Frasco. Like, come on. Let's make some money. Cut the shit, Frasco. We're going to get better back end.

Yeah, I mean, it's funny. I mean, you know. Why do we look for our managers? So in what other business is it like, I hire you to manage me? Yeah. I hire you to manage me. Like, if you go get a job somewhere, you get interviewed by someone, and generally, like, they're your manager if you get the job.

This is like, no, I'm hiring you to tell me what to what to do like the whole thing is convoluted from the start and you gotta like it can really lead to resentment like it's kind of set up for that yeah because i've started having this little angst with my manager it's been three years now i finally signed a contract with him now now i'm three now i got another three years you know and i'm a commitment phobe never had a fucking relationship you know yeah besides this band you know but it's good now i'm like he's great just Now I got another three years. Now I'm a commitment foe. I've never had a fucking relationship. Besides this band. But it's good. He's great.

Now you think about, oh, I'm trapped. But you love him. I rely on them so much. And I realize that. The more I've done it, the more I realize how much of a partnership it is. And it can really... You get into problems when you get into this mindset, which still happens,

but I have to watch it, like, of like, when shit goes wrong, you have somebody to point the finger at. Because you're the one out there in the trenches. Like, you're out there,

you know, driving the miles, doing the gigs, whatever. And like, a manager like that, like, they generally, like, sit behind a desk. They go home to their wife.

You don't know what I'm going through, man. Yeah, exactly. They go home to their house and their swimming pool. Yeah. And you just send them a huge check every month and you're like, you don't know what I'm going through yeah exactly they go home to their house and their swimming pool and you just send them a huge check every month and you're like

you didn't fucking earn this yeah exactly that's when I start resenting yeah well it's set up for that you know but it's like you know

you're in partnership like it's a you have to do the dance cause you're not when you see it's a collaboration yeah it is a collaboration but like

I get pissed I get so pissed I used to I see that commission check Cause I'm the one Writing the check You are too Oh yeah

So like That's like double my pay Oh god Sometimes you're like Yeah totally It's insane And they're home Yeah

You're like wait a minute Why I'm in fucking Idaho right now Do you think that Do you What about the same mentality Though with your band Is it different

bands are funny things because it's like you have a role as being then you know bands need a front man and a guy kind of running the show like pointing it all in one direction yeah i mean and and and that guy needs role players who like come in and do and their workhorses and like do the do the gig and you know it's resentment that we have our it's because it's our band name so like at the end of the day that's a whole thing man i spent years being like this is not just a bunch of side men this is me and this is a and it was a band and but what about in their minds well it's for them i mean it's like this interesting thing where it's like you got, because they don't really own the thing. Yeah.

You own the thing. It's your name. You know what I mean? So it's like, so that's part of the, and they also only, they get paid so much, like they get paid this and they know that's what they're getting. And they don't like kind of, you know, there's no, there's no bigger stakes, I think, just in they have to want to ride it out with you and ride towards some bigger success, and then they get paid more or something like that. But you're building your name. They're not.

So part of the luxury that they have is you got to deal with all the shit. They don't, and they shouldn't. But when I had those years, it was like all those questions. But didn't that break your heart? Because when you're like... That was hard, man. That's hard. I would come home, and they're taking bong hits downstairs, and I like trying to set up the next tour and order the merch and all that shit but

that's the job i had and you have to play acoustic gig to keep yeah well i don't have that anymore i mean like i set it up differently now it's like i just try to pay the shit i've ever out of everyone like per show and it's much more once the old my old band split up like we were together for 10 years straight like and i love all those guys. Once that split up, it became clearer of like, okay, I'm hiring you to do this gig, and then you're going home. It's not like we all live in the house, we all get in our van, we all do it. Is the hang different now?

It's gotten better. I mean, no, I got great guys now, and that's gelled into this really cool band now, but it's different than it was. I mean, it's different. It's, I think it's healthier in a way because, and, but I do miss,

like, I mean, I have a, the band's gotten tighter and we, I have a really good band now, but it's, I missed at first, like just having that band of 10 years of rehearsals and shows and you just

fucking turn the key and go and you know exactly what you could do and you could just take a room for a ride. This was like, I was getting, I've gotten great musicians since then. So I rely on that. But it's like very few rehearsals. But it's you, you know? And it's me.

It's up to you to like, to lead the ship. Yeah. Yeah, that's why I think like guys like that, you know, it's like, it's like session guys. It's like studio players come in, get paid a certain amount.

But the guy who's writing the songs songs makes all the money or whatever. So a studio guy in that situation shouldn't have to care about how you promote the shit or whatever. That's not his job. His job is to come in and kill it, and then you have to deal with all the shit, which is kind of like I think it takes a certain breed to do it, to lead a band and to just handle all the shit which is kind of like i think it takes a certain breed to do it you know to lead a band and to like just handle all this shit has martin ever given you any advice about how to how to

maintain a band you know he hasn't had one a lot so it's like it was a weird feeling with him because his best shit is solo so who are you looking for to get advice from to like oh man man to like you know because he has given me i mean he like he has helped just like as a guy who's been at it longer but when I made I was just leaving Anders Osborn produced that and so I got to stay

oh yeah yeah fuck you worked with Anders yeah Anders produced my record it was crazy dude okay

you got time to talk we got time to talk I got time dude okay I'm in this I was worried you were gonna cut us short cause I just wanna keep talking cause I'm lonely and I'm isolated

bro I am your friend croc life my man croc life you're about to make me move right next door I'm lonely and I'm isolated. Bro, I am your friend. Croc life, my man. Croc life. You're about to make me move right next door. I'm going to get a fucking turtleneck. I'm going to be rocking with you, brother. Me and you in Burlington. Right on. Cool, man. But it's... So, Anders,

because he was all fucked up. He was all like, you know, that Coming Down record is one of my favorite records of all time. And that was... He just got clean right I don't know the whole story But that was older records That was pretty

Yeah fresh for him Yeah So What advice did he give you I mean he's been through it all That New Orleans scene Like that's heavy Yeah

He's a heavy dude man Shit dude And he's so amazing all the time And he's sober now And he's like clear headed Dude that guy was like So the biggest thing was Like not even stuff that he told me

But just like getting I got to like I stayed in his house In New Orleans With his family And like I was Crashing on their floor And we would like

Ride a bike to the studio Every day With like Anders It was like me and Anders Riding a bike And like That's so bad You know riding two bikes

Through New Orleans We started joking About getting a tandem bike Like making that The album cover With like balloons on it and shit. We started texting each other photos of tandem bikes. Oh, I love it.

But that was the biggest thing. He's been through all that shit, and he's been kicked out of his house and gotten taken back. That guy was out there. He's got this modest but beautiful little house in New Orleans. He's got his beautiful wife and kids and like a little pool out back. And he would just be sitting by his pool for like two hours meditating every morning. Just like getting his shit together.

He's like going to meetings and shit. I mean he's just like – and he's so good. He's so fucking good and he's always in it. Like he would be doing like a shaker track and he's just in it. He's just moving his body and shit. You're just like – this dude is like – he doesn't know how to half step like a note. What did he's just in it he's just moving his body and shit you're just like this dude is like he doesn't know how to half step like a note you know what did he teach you about living life so well just staying in that house i was like this is the dream like he i remember i

was there and like he got a call from like it was like tipatinas or something and he just got a call like about a gig and he gets off the phone his wife was like who was that he was like ah yeah it's i think it was tips but he was just like yeah they want to do this and and she was just immediately she was like well you know like what's the guarantee or something like she was immediately like engaged on that because it's like he's the breadwinner of the house and and i think she works too but it's just like i was like that's my dream at that moment i was like that's like that's what i want is like i could be the breadwinner and like and he tours when he has to but he he revolves it all around his family like that becomes the priority

you can still do your work but i would love to have that you know like yeah so it was just kind of this balance of like that's the reason he does it you know yeah like he's is you know and now he just like you know wants to be a good father and he is, and be a good husband. It was just inspiring to see it. What did he teach you about songwriting? I mean, he just, on that record, especially production-wise, he's just real good at, they would just let things happen. They say keeping the mistakes in there.

Who drums? Stan? Is Stan drum on that? No, it's all Anders. So it's a weird record. There's just kick and snare snare and that's it. And there's not a cymbal on the whole record. It's a weird record. And he was just like, I mean, he did things that I never would have done on my own. And I would have been like, no, I got to redo that song.

They're like, no, no, no, you got it. Like first take. And I was like, you're fucking crazy. Like, no, I got to like, I fucked up the chorus. And they were always right. How long were you with them for? I mean, that's what we did the whole record

in like four days or something how many songs? 10, 12 do you think that's that New Orleans mentality though? because I talked to Ivan Neville I did a record with him Ivan?

he was on I did a record called For Hire and Ben Ellman from Galactic produced it yeah he did my last record did he? Ben's record did he ben's great so he got a session band and the session band was george porter jr and and ivan and anders and and uh and uh simon lot on drums are you fucking kidding me yeah it was crazy isn't that amazing about new orleans like you get george porter at a session yeah it's crazy standing and

like but i don't i mean people ask like And they're like Did you get People always want to Think that you like Did you like soak up The flavor of New Orleans And it's like No You're fucking working It's like

Dude I'm from Peabody, Massachusetts It's only so far I mean it's like You know what I mean Like I'm not gonna go out there And go out to lunch And be like Dude I just came up

With a sweet fucking Bayou jam You know like No It's just like I'm there to make a record And those guys are sick You've already had

These songs planned Like you're not going in there Yeah you have to have a plan Yeah it's not like no it's just like i'm there to make a record and those guys you've already had these songs planned like you're not going to have a plan yeah it's not like and it's like all right here we got three months but you're saving on the couch for three months well with andrews was cool because we'd flip tune ideas back and forth and he would help me like kind of write so he would like kind of he's just he's like he's not afraid to just kind of go for it with like entrusting your intuition and shit like that i think he does it to the nth degree. When he plays guitar and shit, it's just coming out. So I tend to overthink things.

I think he and we had this amazing engineer, Mark Howard. They just did a great job of not letting me overthink or overdo things. They're like, no, you got it. Do you still love it? I do. Yeah, I really do. Do you still love it? I do. Yeah, I really do. Yeah, I wouldn't. Do you regret anything?

No regerts, dude. No regerts. I mean, there's ways that, yeah, like there's ways that I think I've isolated. The tunnel vision of doing this, I think I've neglected some relationships in my life. No, I was never malicious to anyone, really. But even stuff with the guys in the old band and stuff, some relationships in my life. Like, no, I was never, like, malicious to anyone, really. But, like, even, like,

you know, stuff with the old, the guys in the old band and stuff. It was like when the dust settled from 10 years, I realized I kind of hadn't really made any friends in that band, which is a weird place to be. Doesn't that hurt?

It hurts, but, and I take it on me. It's like I was kind of the boss guy. Like, they sort of had a bond that I didn't have with them in a way. But it's like, yeah, it hurts, man. So there's things like that that I wish, like,

the lesson usually is like, dude, I wish I just would So there's things like that that I wish like the lesson usually is like, dude, I wish I just would have lightened up on that, but you're just working so hard to make this thing happen. You know? Yeah. Do you think, do you think that'd be the advice you would tell 23 year old Ryan Momplu?

Lighten up, dude. Yeah. Uh, what do you think it is? I think, um, yeah, don't worry. Just lighten up. I just, I remember. Are you very serious? I mean, I was pretty serious. I think... Lighten up, bro. Yeah, don't worry.

Just lighten up. Are you very serious? I mean, I was pretty serious. I remember the first tour I ever did, I was like selling merch for Mountain of Venus and like they would let me open whenever they could. Oh, Tanya. Yeah, yeah.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, I was their merch guy. Shut the fuck up. Yeah, for a tour. That's like how I started. Was she East Coaster? They were in Boston for a while. They all worked at the House of Blues.

That's how I met them. And so they would let me open whenever they could. Go back to this. Oh, I was going to say, so I remember meeting this old poet, came out as this old hippie dude. He used to see them. This guy, Ken Feltz, I think is his name.

And I just remember him looking me in the eye. He was like this old guy. I was on my first tour, already so worried. And he was just like, it's okay. And I still remember that. So I have to tell myself that like, dude, it's okay and I still remember that so I have to tell myself that like dude it's okay I think I have it in here

you know Reed Jenauer Reed wrote something to like his younger self and he's so brilliant it was like yeah they asked Reed what he would say to his younger self he's like my older self might say pace yourself learn how to say no apply the 80 20 rule and do the things that matter most and blow

off the rest don't sweat the little stuff no matter what endeavor you do in your life you'll always find yourself focusing on the cracks try and take a 20 000 foot view of your life and career from time to time when it comes to writing songs, learn how to model. Take elements of other artists' material that you like and incorporate it into your own writing in an original way. Observe, borrow, modify, and make it your own. Practice your guitar, be brave, and go easy on the sauce. Fucking brilliant.

I mean, it's right there. Pretty much. Can't really do anything better than that. Reads the man. Ryan, you're a fucking great guy, dude. I catch you, Frasco. Looking forward to the show tonight. You're coming out.

You don't have to sit in. I know you're tired. But family, podcast family, let's find Ryan a fucking brajul. Guys. A brajul. A brajul. Wait, isn't that my dick? Let's have Ryan find his dick, please.

His croc life is out of hand. No, isn't that the brajul? I just remember Z and Utica going, yo, she wants the brajul. We're going to find you a wife. We're going to find you a Burlington wife. It's going to be awesome. I'm on the hunt now. I swear, I am.

Is it hard to be in this songwriter scene, man? Is there competition in that scene? I've never taken it as competition. I mean, you have stuff, you see somebody write something. Like, who wrote the better song? Yeah, there's like the thing of like, oh, man, I got to get my act together. I got to, you know, like, I just hung out with this guy. I know this guy, Ken Nickel, who lives in Costa Rica, built himself a house and like

is basically squatting for 20 years. He's this older guy. He's from Texas. He sounds like Willie Nelson. And he just cranks out tunes and eats pot brownies all day. And he's treating his own cancer with hash oil and shit. He's this character. So we just got together.

We're sitting in the back of a pickup the other night under the trees by the beach in Costa Rica. And he's just pumping out these tunes he's like yeah I haven't really played this one out yet and it's like brilliant tune after brilliant tune

like so put together and I'm like shit I gotta get my shit together like I gotta write more tunes so there's always that thing of like you know gotta write more is it hard to get

writer's block to write new tunes I never put enough pressure on myself to do it I think to get writer's block I think like when it's time to make a record I have to get it together but I'm always

like little by little you know cranking out like just line by line like some songs take years and I'll just they'll pop in my head I'll work out a line here

a line there What's the longest song that it's taken? I mean there's some that have taken years you know that I'm like that wasn't ready

to come out yet and it would drive me crazy I would go like alright because it's such a good idea. And I like the song. And I'm just like, damn. It's not on this record. Yeah. Keeps on like stalling on the next one.

Yeah. Damn, dude, that would fuck me up. But there's enough that I keep at it. So there's enough, like some just come close. I mean, some quickly and I go with them. And as long as I'm working on kind of enough things, there's something to satisfy me in there. Ryan, thanks for being on the show, buddy. Thanks, Andy. Appreciate it. You're a good guy.

Back at you, dude. I'm going to call you now. You're not fucking leaving this relationship without a fucking isolation. I'm going to call you. Dude, I'm going to come out to Kansas City. That's in my spoken word piece. I've never sent a dick pic. You never sent a dick pic? Never sent a dick pic. Ever. Not one. Even to your girlfriend?

Nope. Never taken one. Perhaps I got the notion at some point, but I still never did it, pic never sent a dick pic ever not one even to your girlfriend nope never taken one perhaps I got the notion at some point but I still never did it let alone sent one to a human being I sent the same dick pic to five different girls

and they were all friends and I didn't know that and they're like I got a dick pic by Andy Frasco and they all took the phone out and it's all the same dick pic

well you want to send the most flattering one I don't think you could be faulted for that well I don't want like fucking you know like Craigie don't be't think you could be fucking, you know, like Craigie, don't be looking at the pictures on my phone.

You know, that's such a great song. Brilliant. Don't swipe left. Don't even touch the phone. Like, yeah, it gets a little weird.

Like I've had like girls send me photos who I don't know and stuff like that. Just out of the blue. Like, Oh yeah, a little bit, like a little, there's a little bit of that. And I,

it's amazing. So what do you do? I mean, there's like this weird line Is that not the type of girl you want to be your wife? Probably not That's probably You know what I mean?

I hate to say it I guess I'm open to anything But that's usually not the way to You're like oh this seems like a nice girl Just like open vads Like can't wait to see you I can't believe some of the things that people have sent me Ryan love you buddy

Thanks for being on the show man Let's go hang out Let's be friends in Burlington Let's do it Got any extra crocs? I'm going to hook you up. Thanks, Doc. Later.

Hey, Andy. It's your new manager. Okay? Now, I don't do things the way your old manager did. I don't call up, you better do this, you better do that, you gotta do this. I love you, baby. No, I'm a

calm guy, but this is... I'm in my car. What the... Move your fucking dog out of the way, you fucking stupid fuck. Fucking assholes driving around this goddamn city. So, anyway, I just wanted to tell you that if you want to buy drugs from the audience, oh, go ahead, go do it.

And then when you don't have a career, you can suck dick and eat vagina behind the supermarket in your neighborhood to pick up a little extra cash. So you do whatever you want, Andy. You do whatever you want, okay? You want to crowd surf? Go ahead. But one day I'm going to be waiting in that crowd. And when you get my way, I'm going to kick you in your fucking dick. A good kick right in your dick. Teach you a goddamn lesson in your fucking Jew. I mean, right in your Jew dick. So so you're not gonna get me riled up okay we work together it's great if not what the fuck is this over here

move your fucking baby carriage out of the way you fucking what's wrong with people Move it! Fucking asshole! So, do what you gotta do. And you know, you wanna crowd surf? Maybe you should write some new songs. I just did write new songs. Write more! So I'm not gonna yell. I'm just gonna...

I'm easy breezy. Okay? Okay? I'm just gonna I'm easy breezy Okay You wanna go play this on your podcast Cause you think it's good content I don't give a shit

And there you have it Thanks Ryan for being on the show bud Talked some real shit right there man It's not all Happy It's not all happy It's not all You know, you can't think like this career Is gonna make you happy all the time

Because it won't There's gonna be times where you have to fight Through your demons Fight through whatever things you're going through And get down to what matters And if it's the songs, it's the songs. If it's the lyrics, it's the lyrics. Whatever it is you got to do to keep your path going, fight through these demons, fight, fight, fight. So shout out to Ryan. Really cool of you to open

up vulnerably like that. And thanks for inviting me to your house. I heard you moved since then, but that house was pimp as fuck. Nice work, my fucking work but anyway that's it guys i'm in berlin it's fucking amazing out here i love it it's a good time the vibes right the women are beautiful germans are cool as fuck it's just it's just been good We are playing I'm flying tomorrow I'm flying to Laken Music Festival This is my last day in the Europe European Adventures So we're going to Laken

Playing on Thursday I'm really excited for that Heard it's a big deal And I'm excited So 22nd Laken Dewey Beach again on the 23rd Shout out to Monty for booking us again. We had a cancellation.

Some dude tried to cancel on us last minute. Didn't think we were going to sell tickets. So Dewey Beach, Starboard, save the day again. Thank you, brother. And then we're playing in New York City. Tickets are almost sold out for the Rocksoft cruise, where we gut on a booze cruise, where I am your captain. I am your captain.

It's probably super illegal. I'm just kidding. I'm not your captain, but I'm your musical captain, and it's going to be a lot of fun. It's a booze cruise. We circle the Statue of Liberty. It's just fucking chaos. There's only a couple tickets left, so grab your tickets.

Let's sell it out. Let's burn this fucking boat down. Then I'll be in Kansas City next week for a day doing a fundraiser for the public schools out there, doing a Weeby Spelling Bee with my boy Alex and Kyle. Then my buddy Tony's getting married. I'm going to see Dolov. We'll get some sports with Dolov. He hasn't been on the show yet for a while,

so we'll get him. It's almost the NBA season Talk some shit about the Jazz Get the Lakers thing going It's nice to take a break from the Lakers for a second Because I was fucking obsessed It was driving me fucking nuts Now we got our boy AD

And we're back in the game I'll be in LA recording We have Mo on the show. I'm taking a week off. My buddy's getting married. It's the end of the month. You know the deal. But then the beginning of the month of September, we got Vinny and Rob from Mo, which is a really dope interview. Doing interviews at festivals are hard because I'm fucked up and I'm trying to pay attention. But we did good. It was really, Rob was crazy, dude.

The cancer story was just almost made me cry. And I was trying to keep my composure because I'm trying to be an interviewer. But it was really sad. And then that week we go on tour with Green Sky Bluegrass for three nights. Tucson, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. Going to make my mom proud Playing the Fonda Theater 1200 seats Shout out to Green Sky

You guys are fucking pants Let me play some Big ass shit In my hometown And then we start our Spring Or Fall tour

Where I'm on tour For like a month and a half Throughout Everywhere Just got booked on Hulaween. That'll be fun. Bethel. I won't talk about that yet

because that's not announced. What else? What else? What else? Touring with Pigeons. I can't tell you what dates we're on until this week's over. And that's it.

And then November I have off. We're almost done with our record. I've been writing with some Germans out here. Wr the November, I'm off. We're almost done with our record. I've been writing with some Germans out here. Wrote a song, pretty good. It's nice to write without the band sometimes and just, you know, don't have to feel like, you know, there's a lot of pressure writing with the band because, you know, every idea I throw at them,

they're like, ah, that sounds like a song. So it's nice not to fucking do that So, um Anyway, give me a holler If you need me Subscribe to the podcast Rate the podcast Thanks for being a part of the show

Thanks for being a part of my life And guys, wear condoms It's a dirty world out there And be safe And give your parents a hug or give your friends a hug. Whoever's dealing with depression, give them a hug, you know, because that's a silent killer because you're afraid to talk when you're depressed. So if you feel someone who's been a little more quiet than he normally is, give them a hug.

Tell them you're there for them. All right, guys, love you. Just give him a hug. Tell him you're there for him. All right, guys. Love you. Be safe. Have fun. And I'll catch you in about a week and a half. Love you. Well, thank you for listening to episode 56 of Andy Fresco's World Saving Podcast.

Produced by Andy Fresco, Joe Angelow, and Chris Lawrence. Now, please subscribe, rate the show on iTunes and Spotify so we can make this a worldwide phenomenon. For info on the show, please head to Instagram at theworldsavingpodcast. For more info on the blog and tour dates, head to andyfresco.com. Change of Pace is the latest album,

should you have missed it. And Andy had no co-host. You probably knew before I did. Now, this week's guest is Ryan Montblew. Find him online at ryan montblue find him online at ryanmontblue.com ryan m-o-n-t-b-l-e-a-u montblue it's french this week's special guests were ari finlings and arno bakker so where are we now we're on a hot ass island in the mediterranean between the italian island sicily and the French island Corsica.

Eight million years ago, a primate with early human characteristics lived here. About 20,000 before Christ, the first humans turned up, lived through the Stone Age with manes and dolmens and contacts with the Mycenaeans from Greece and the Phoenicians coming in

and then the Carthaginians, the Punics and the Romans and then the Vandaginians. The Punics and the Romans. And then the Vandals came. And the Byzantines and the Goths. And the Arabs and the Longobards. And then the Saracens came. And the Judicates. And they called out the kingdom.

And then came the Spanish. Then the French. Then the Italians. And then came the Nazis. And then the Allies. And now Sardinia should get ready for a new fresco. Right. Off to raising hell, motherfuckers.

So, see you next week.