Best Benmont Tench Podcasts (2024)

1
The Petty 8ight with Ian Winick 1:41:21

4h ago1:41:21

1:41:21

This week's episode is the fourth installment The Petty 8ight! I love talking to Pettyheads, musicians, and other people who have been influenced by Tom or his music in myriad ways, but I thought it would be neat to see what non-fans, or non-hardcore fans think of Tom's music if I threw deeper cuts at them. My latest #Petty8ight guest is the wonder…

1
Jack Colwell on Tori Amos 'Boys for Pele' (repost in memory of Jack) 46:14

13h ago46:14

46:14

After the tragic loss of Jack Colwell this past week, I wanted to share this conversation with Jack celebrating his hero Tori Amos. I have such great memories of recording this chat with Jack, I feel like it captured him at his most ebuliant, articulate and insightful. He was one of a kind and will be deeply missed by a lot of people. ----- Sydney …

1
10 Questions with Eric Senich 21:00

5d ago21:00

21:00

As the fall leaves come in, Eric Senich starts thinking about listening to his favourite Tom Petty album! Eric is also a fellow drummer so the song he picked to perform with the Heartbreakers is a Stan Lynch part! It's 10 Questions time again and Eric didn't disappoint with his answers! Don't forget to check out Eric's website here, where you can f…

1
436. Katie Pearlman on Sarah McLachlan 'Fumbling Towards Ecstasy' (1993) 42:44

7d ago42:44

42:44

My guest is a musician, songwriter and artist who has never stopped evolving and exploring, from LA to New Orleans to Nashville. Her new EP Fumbling Towards Glory is out now, five years in the making and as she says, is her way of honouring the mess - her mess - of growing up, coming face to face either her own ambition, desire, doubt and experienc…

1
Eric Senich 1:50:37

7d ago1:50:37

1:50:37

Today’s episode is a wonderful, sprawling conversation that I had with the inimitable host of the Booked on Rock podcast, Eric Senich. Eric and I met through the Van Halen show, And the Podcast Will Rock, which is hosted by my good pal and Ultimate Catalogue Clash co-host Corey Morrissette. Eric’s knowledge of rock n roll is staggering - and at tim…

1
Wildflowers (with John Paulsen) 1:19:04

14d ago1:19:04

1:19:04

Another excellent conversation with John about an album that we both obviously adore. We both talked a little about how the album lands differently for people of a certain age and particularly the way certain songs resonate with parents. We also get into drumming styles, Spotify stats, and for the first time, we don't run through the producer-for-a…

1
435. Novak (Polish Club) on Artic Monkeys 'Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino' (2018) 45:46

15d ago45:46

45:46

Today, Polish Club frontman Novak joins host Jeremy Dylan to discuss the Arctic Monkey’s divisive cult classic album ‘Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino’, the sci-fi concept album that followed up the rock’n’roll behemoth of AM. Jeremy and Novak reminisce about their days as office-mates, Novak coming out as a singer at karaoke, ageing in rock’n’rol…

1
434. Queenie on Dan Auerbach 'Waiting on a Song' (2017) 43:52

18d ago43:52

43:52

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Queenie joins host Jeremy Dylan to talk about Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach's 2017 solo album 'Waiting on a Song'. Queenie talks about how her journey as a fan of the Black Keys and Dan Auerbach coincided with moving to Melbourne from Tasmania, the thrill of following someone’s career as a fan from the start, why call…

1
Wake Up Time 54:50

21d ago54:50

54:50

Every story needs an ending and this song gives us that final scene of the hero walking away into the sunset to begin the next chapter of their life. It’s an ending that starts a new beginning. It’s a line drawn under the statement that the entire album makes. The statement that pain doesn’t define us. Our reaction to it does. It brings us back to …

1
Wildflowers (& some of the rest) with Jeff Slate + Jake Thistle 48:27

23d ago48:27

48:27

This episode is a fairly hastily organized chat that I had with Jeff Slate and Jake Thistle about the upcoming Wildflowers and Some of the Rest mini-tour that they’re embarking on which kicks off at the Tom Petty Weekend in Gainesville. It was fun digging into the dynamic between the two of them. We recognized that Jake has been performing with Jef…

1
Amelia McLean 1:52:37

26d ago1:52:37

1:52:37

I’m expanding the non-Petty aspect of the podcast just a little by looking for conversations with artists who might not be strongly or directly influenced by Tom’s music but share some characteristic or characteristics with his writing or approach to the art of songwriting. This week’s guest, Amelia McLean, is a Nashville-based songwriter who is pr…

1
Crawling Back to You 1:23:45

28d ago1:23:45

1:23:45

Tom explains to author Paul Zollo in “Conversations with Tom Petty” that “I remember us tracking it all night and being really frustrated that it wasn’t working. Then they came on the idea of having us all walk out, and “Play this like we’ve never heard it before. I’m just gonna start playing, and whatever we fall in on, we’ll go that way.” And tha…

1
10 Questions with Nora Hayward Olsen 29:56

1M ago29:56

29:56

Today’s episode is part two of my wonderful conversation I had with Nora Hayward Olsen; her answers to my ten questions. Nora hit me with a new artist I'd never heard of and was most apologetic about her decision in the choice between Mudcrutch and The Traveling Wilburys! Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave…

1
Nora Hayward Olsen 46:13

1M ago46:13

46:13

Today’s episode is an excellent conversation I had with Tom Petty superfan Nora Hayward Olsen. Nora comments frequently on the podcast socials and was every bit is personable, warm, and funny in person as she is online. Nora was at one of the Fillmore show where the band played Heartbreakers Beach Party which ended up on live album release. That so…

1
Dan Durkin Returns 1:04:39

1M ago1:04:39

1:04:39

Today’s episode is a non-Petty episode with Dan Durkin, of among other bands, Petty Theft, the sensational Tom Petty tribute band from San Francisco. Dan has a new single out, which I love, and I asked him if he’d want to come back on the show to talk about it. There’s a definite Petty influence in his first release as a solo artist and we dive int…

1
House in the Woods 1:12:54

2M ago1:12:54

1:12:54

In the liner notes for Wildflowers and all the Rest, Producer Rick Rubin says “So many of these songs have a sloppy soulful groove that really defined this album. The goal was not to make a perfect album but to capture the sound of a band on a really good night recorded quickly with all of the quirks and imperfections that come with it. It took us …

1
Ivan Anderson Returns 1:21:38

2M ago1:21:38

1:21:38

Today’s bonus episode is a truly awesome conversation I had with Ivan Anderson, the genius mind behind @CyberattackWorld . We talked about his new collaboration EP with @teddigoldmusic that is out now and chatted about his next Cyberattack album too. Then we got into a really free-wheeling conversation about music and creativity that ventured into …

1
A Higher Place 1:01:13

2M ago1:01:13

1:01:13

I always consider this one of Tom’s great ambiguous lyrics. Jaan Uhelzski writes that “Petty seems to be nervously taking stock, weighing options, reminiscing, trying to keep his incipient anxiety at bay and trying to hold on to a few last remnants of his former life.” and Benmont Tench says “It's another song that sounds like it's all about whoeve…

1
433. Michelle Brasier on 'Once' by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (2007) 43:11

2M ago43:11

43:11

Comedian, author, actor, musician and more Michelle Braisier joins Jeremy Dylan to talk about Once, the album of music by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová from the classic film of the same name. Michelle discusses the intimacy and sincerity that powers the film, the beautiful sadness of the music, her annual rewatches of the film in memory of her b…

1
10 Questions with Tim Bulman 26:13

2M ago26:13

26:13

Today's episode is my ten questions with Tim Bulman. We talk about sick parts, Tim is playing and singing a song from Wildflowers as his pick, and yet another guest finds a way to describe Tom Petty in three words that is unique, personal, and wonderfully eloquent. There's plenty of Beatles chat in this one too, which never upsets me as I'm a huge …

1
432. Chloe Maddren on Amy Winehouse 'Frank' (2003) 37:54

2M ago37:54

37:54

Today comedian/writer/musician/podcaster Chloe Maddren joins me to shine a light on the less heralded Amy Winehouse album, 2003’s Frank. We talk about the cat she named after the album, fighting against Winehouse’s influence on her voice and lifestyle, the difference between the popular conception of Winehouse and who she was on this album, the dif…

1
Tim Bulman 57:48

2M ago57:48

57:48

Today’s episode is part of a fantastic conversation I had with Tom Petty fan Tim Bulman, who also publishes the marvelous Judge Timbers YouTube channel where he covers the Beatles and solo Beatle catalogues as well as, of course, Tom Petty. Tim breaks down the chords with easy tips on how to learn and perform them. We talk lots about being enthusia…

1
To Find a Friend 1:03:24

2M ago1:03:24

1:03:24

One of my very favourite virtuoso pianists is a Canadian/German guy named Michael Kaeshammer. The guy absolutely tears the roof off every time I’ve seen him live and what Benmont does here really reminds me of his playing. It’s technically superb, rhythmically perfect, and so, so, so melodic! As much as I love hearing a perfectly-crafted Mike Campb…

1
431. Andy Golledge on Bob Dylan 'Blood on the Tracks' (1975) 34:30

2M ago34:30

34:30

Today, self-proclaimed dad-rocker Andy Golledge joins Jeremy Dylan to talk about Bob Dylan’s iconic ‘Blood on the Tracks’. They talk about how Dylan’s new love of painting may have informed the songwriting, speculate about Dylan’s exercise regime, how Blood on the Tracks has replaced Blonde on Blonde as the consensus best Bob Dylan album, the diffe…

1
Cabin Down Below 45:14

3M ago45:14

45:14

OK, so is this the most complex and musically challenging song that Tom ever wrote? OF course not. Is it have emotional weight or narrative clarity? No and not really? Does it rock, make you want to move your feet, and make you smile? Yes, yes, and yes. The economy and simplicity of the song is what defines its almost sleazy vibe. And I don’t mean …

1
430. Steven Hyden on Bruce Springsteen 'Born in the USA' (1984) 57:15

3M ago57:15

57:15

Today, Indiecast co-host, Uproxx cultural critic and author Steven Hyden returns to the show to discuss his book about one of the most iconic albums of all time, "There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" and the End of the Heartland. Steve talks about the album's uneasy relationship with Bruce's die-hard fans, Bruce's i…

1
429. Emily Wurramarra on Cleo Sol 'Gold' (2023) 25:14

3M ago25:14

25:14

Today the spellbinding Emily Wurramurra joins me to discuss Cleo Sol's dynamic 2023 album 'Gold'. We talk about how she discovered and fell in love with Cleo's music, how Cleo builds community and connection through her music, the genuine hope and optimism in this album vs the toxic positivity of soical media, relating to the album's religious them…

1
Hard On Me 1:18:08

3M ago1:18:08

1:18:08

With his ex-wife Jane in a really bad emotional and psychological state, Tom knew that a lot of emphasis was falling on him to keep things together at home for the sake of his youngest daughter, Annakim, and it’s all betrayed in that opening line. “It's all I can do to keep that little girl smiling and keep my faith alive”. Today’s guest conversati…

1
10 Questions with Mary Beth Donnelly 20:09

3M ago20:09

20:09

Today's episode is my ten questions with the wonderful Mary Beth Donnelly, who very kindly joined me on the kick off episode of season ten to talk about the title track from Wildflowers. We chatted about Paul Simon, Jeff Lynne, and everything in between as we went through my ten questions to find out which of Tom's songs she'd like to hear one of C…

1
Tommy Edwin Returns 57:28

4M ago57:28

57:28

Today's episode is another conversation I had with the wonderful Tommy Edwin. We discussed Travis picking and talked about putting set lists together and whether choose the songs you think the crowd should hear, not the songs you think they want to hear. Tommy was wonderfully warm, engaging, and just generally a wonderful hang and I hope you enjoy …

1
Don't Fade On Me 1:02:12

4M ago1:02:12

1:02:12

When I think about the solo in this song, it has a gravity to it that makes it feel centuries old. You could almost imagine that it has been living underground in some secret grotto since time began, just waiting for the right song to come along and feed it. It feels like a primal life force all its own, as if Mike is possessed by it rather than be…

1
Honey Bee 1:10:20

4M ago1:10:20

1:10:20

In the liner notes for Wildflowers and all the Rest, engineer Jim Scott remarks that “Tom would write a song like ‘Honey Bee’ on the spot and the band would just follow him. There are dozens of recordings just starting a song and making it up from top to bottom, coming up with funny lyrics.” Of course, there are plenty of deep cut or inside example…

1
Only a Broken Heart 52:32

4M ago52:32

52:32

As journalist Jaan Uhelski writes in the Wildflowers and All the Rest liner notes, “If Wildflowers is an album about taking stock of one’s life, “Only a Broken Heart” is a watershed moment on that excavation of self.” Everything about the way the final album version of this song is arranged and produced caters toward that excavation. The busyness o…

1
It's Good to Be King 50:01

4M ago50:01

50:01

“It's good to be king and have your own way. Get a feeling of peace at the end of the day” There’s security in success, but there’s an ominous cautionary tone that creeps into the next line, “And when your bulldog barks and your canary sings, You're out there with winners, it's good to be king”. When your bulldog barks and your canary sings. Dogs u…

1
You Wreck Me 46:03

5M ago46:03

46:03

Legendary Nashville songwriter, Harlan Howard is purported to have coined the expression “three chords and the truth” and friend and colleague Bob Dylan is also remembered for the great line “All I need is my red guitar, three chords and the truth”. Well that’s all this riff is. Three chords. No passing chords, no fancy inversions or suspended note…

1
428. The Revered Shawn Amos on Junior Wells Blues Band with Buddy Guy 'Hoodoo Man Blues' (1965) 38:42

5M ago38:42

38:42

Today, I'm joined by the Reverend Shawn Amos to turn a spotlight on a classic blues record that has reverberated down almost six decades since its recording - Junior Wells 'Hoodoo Man Blues'. We talk about the contrast between Junior Wells unprecedented creative feedom and the restraints on blues artists at Chess Records, the interplay with Buddy G…

1
Time to Move On 51:07

5M ago51:07

51:07

On certain days, I think “Time to Move On” is the best song on Wildflowers, on other days, other songs take that honour. It’s a song that resonates with so many people because it gives us that glimpse into someone finding freedom, if not exactly peace. Despite being the fourth most streamed song from Wildflowers on Spotify, "Time to Move On" was no…

1
You Don't Know How It Feels 55:26

5M ago55:26

55:26

We’re all quick to judge people, whether they cut us off in the fast lane, or don’t hold a door open for us as we’re heading out of the grocery store. But we don’t know what that person is going through, emotionally, psychologically, physically. That disconnect is amplified a hundredfold when it’s in the context of a famous person. Wealth and stard…

1
427. Carla Geneve on The Drones 'Wait Long By the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By' (2005) 33:34

5M ago33:34

33:34

Today, Carla Geneve zooms in from WA to celebrate the almost-20th anniversary of The Drones classic 'Wait Long By the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By'. Carla talks about being introduced to the record by her Dad at age 11, the violence of the music and subject matter, the epic nature of the nine songs, leaving space for meaning a…

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