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?

Oh yeah 'Montauk Mohawk' was ages ago now! Where do I even begin? According to the Bandcamp site there have been 8 tapes, 4 lp's , 1 cd and a few various internet only things. So much, dang.... it's weird to look back at all the things -- I often feel unproductive haha. I've been playing with The Family Stoned, 2 of the LP's are from that band... and I've been playing in a duo with Russell Linder as BENT LIGHT, 2 of those tapes are from that project. Russ also plays in the fam now and it's been really wonderful. The other two LP's are just me alone. I don't like playing alone so much, but making records alone … yes. Angel Eyes and the Whistling Moon Travelers are these two other groups I've been playing with, well it's sort of the same group give or take a member, though they all live in Maine so shows are few and far between. They're all old and very close friends... love them dearly and love playing music with them. Johnny from the travelers and I have a project going called Daisy Cross outside of that too, its poetry stuff, some tapes and guitars -- can be really beautiful or totally fucked. There's also Pink Sap though that's sorta burned out and the No (insert word) in the Valley Band. Those two are total improv things. Exciting and scary, who knows what will happen or who will be in the band at the show, yes a sound person's worst nightmare... sorry. So yeah quite a lot of action... 

Wailing City Spotlight: Interview With Brian Gore

Published August 21, 2025

Interview by Meghan Killimade

How did you get started in music and how did the “Tender Fritters” come together -- also, who are the members & instruments?

One night in college, while driving, listening to the Oldies station, I pulled under the overpass and onto the on-ramp to I-35 toward Denton, I heard the solid crack of a snare begin “Like A Rolling Stone.” I’d never heard anything like it. Once home, I dug. More Dylan, all of his influences. I took arm-loads of music home from the library, old anthologies, Pete Seeger, Irish folk music, Patchwork European folk music, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Woody Guthrie. This is when I decided I want to tell stories through song.

 
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.

18th Annual Praytor Music Fest @ Strange Brew Sat Aug 30

*Last updated 7/24/25

Shoreline Reggaefest @ Hygienic Sun Aug 31

*Last updated 8/1