Cliftones W/ Jc Denison

Kathryn Brooks is a Louisville singer-songwriter whose lived experiences in places like California, Pennsylvania, and New York City have informed her lyrics and music. She inserted herself into the local music scene in 2020 after moving back here because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and very quickly surrounded herself with supportive friends and musicians. Since then, she's put a handful of recordings online and is currently working on a full length album. Kathryn sat down with JC to talk about melancholy, good books, folk music, Hamilton, food, fashion, regrets, and more...

Jon Cherry is a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer with a gift of gab and a sense of adventure. He landed in Louisville after being brought up on various Air Force bases and experienced a rather atypical educational situation through his teenage and college years before diving into music and finally photojournalism. Oh and hey he and JC both worked at video game stores in high school! Jon sat down with JC to talk about pit bulls, Milton Metz, meditation, UPS, astronaut jobs, the perfect night out, and more...

Noam Blitzer is the chef/owner of Meesh Meesh Mediterranean restaurant in Louisville's NULU neighborhood. He's also contributed his culinary talents to local places like Red Hog and Wiltshire on Market as well as restaurants in Boston, South Carolina, and more. As far as we can tell, he's the first professional chef to ever appear on this very podcast! Noam sat down with JC to talk about being born (and conceived) in Israel, food life in Boston, culinary inspiration, ice cream, Florida, and more...

Mark Evans is the co-owner of Louisville music venue Whirling Tiger and produces concerts around town with his promotional company Pretty Good Concerts. Originally from Owensboro, KY, Mark eventually landed in Louisville by way of Lexington's music scene, and he's been bringing top notch bands here ever since. His dog Bobby Sparkles came along for the podcast and frankly made JC a little nervous at first because he didn't think he could conduct a proper interview with a dog in the room. But all was fine! Mark and Bobby sat down with JC to talk about dog poop, WEEN, booking agents, bars, smoking crack, Salvador Dalí, and more...

Alex Rickel is a mad scientist and plays one on T.V. Or Some Thing like that. He currently fronts the psychedelic rock quartet Future Killer, and JC wonders if that was a good enough description of the band. A great bass player, song writer, visual artist, and forward thinker, Alex has had a huge impact on the Louisville arts and music scenes in his relatively short time here in town. He sat down with JC to talk about cigarettes, Roger Rabbit, Mr. Rogers, creativity, New Albany, New Albanian, Zanzabar, and more...

Jeff Komara is the proprietor of one of the coolest vintage shops in town, or really anywhere: Fat Rabbit! He also beats the hell out of the drums in the experimental noise rock ensemble Copiers. And he drums left-handed, which is a far bigger deal to JC than it really should be. He sat down with JC to talk about Shawn Kemp, Kurt Vonnegut, chairs, journalism, Battles, prog rock, Brad's basement, and more...

Kiana Del fronts the soulful septet Kiana & the Sun Kings, singing songs with a vocal style inspired by Erykah Badu, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and more, but one that is uniquely her own. A Carolton, KY, transplant, she found a path to music through college, and quickly inserted herself into the Louisville music scene. And hey! She's also an educator and radio host, and she co-hosts 'The Music Box' podcast, which we would say is definitely one of the top 2 podcasts in Louisville! She sat down with JC to talk about high school theatre, trying to make money playing music, cursing!, Beethoven, and more... This episode is sponsored by Squarespace.  Just kidding.

William Benton is one hell of a guitar player.  But also wait! What's that?! Bass too?! YES. He has spent years honing his songwriting craft, which can be heard most recently with his project Cat Casual and the Final Word and on the soundtrack to the documentary 'Ghosts of the Chelsea Hotel'.  He's also a tour guide at that legendary landmark.  He sat down with JC to talk about Oklahoma, Lucky Pineapple, street smarts, hospitality, and more.  

Jim Marlowe is a musical multi-hyphenate with a dry sense of humor and a cool accent.  He's also an audio engineer and can paint a house damn near better than anyone around.  And, truth be told, he loves a good hot dog.  Jim has been a seminal member of the Louisville music scene for years, playing in bands like Tropical Trash, Equipment Pointed Ankh, Sapat, and Venus Trap, and he has recorded records for dozens more amazing local bands.  He sat down with JC to talk about VibraSlaps, Robert Wyatt, Shakespeare, Phenomenology, Arby's, and more...

Eron stirs up a Scotch cocktail in the studio after his interview.  He and JC tackle the hard questions too.  Chewing gum or bubble gum?! Bolo ties?! Snack preferences?! It's all here.

Eron Plevan is an incredibly talented and seasoned bartender.  He's been behind the stick at some of Louisville's most legendary cocktail bars, and he has often had a hand in menu creation and implementation.  A Texas transplant, his path to pouring potent potables in the Derby city was anything but typical.   You can currently find him mixing up the goods at the excellent Butchertown watering hole Tartan House.  He sat down with JC to talk about cocktail creation, drinks education, corporate life, liquid nitrogen, and more... Find a bonus episode above where Eron creates a new cocktail in the studio, and he and JC reach into the box for some bonus questions.  Reach out: cliftonespodcast@gmail.com 

Shelley Anderson is an accomplished and highly skilled audio mastering engineer, and she's also a damn good bass player.  She's performed on or mastered some of the coolest records to ever come out of Louisville.  And what's that?!  She also hosts weekly ShellShock Trivia at JC's bar?!  Yes!  She sat down with JC to talk about dogs, fashion, going to Catholic school, MTV, and more... This episode is sponsored by Tears for Fears but also no one.  Reach out to me about sponsorship opportunities at cliftonespodcast@gmail.com I'm cheap!

Stan Chase founded Louisville Vegan Jerky Company, makes up one half of the band Air Chrysalis, penned the infamous Germantown Times, and pretended to peddle 56K internet as Glen's.  When he's not busy keeping Louisville more artistically interesting, he loves making pizza, repairing old TV's, and rating pickles.  He sat down with JC to talk about pranks, nostalgia, baseball, and more...   This episode has no sponsor.  Reach out to me at cliftonespodcast@gmail.com for sponsorship opportunities.  I'm cheap!

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.