Smokin' Hot Interview:

#39 Demos Papadimas
Interview Date: November 25, 2016

Demos Papadimas blends both American and Greek roots with cerebral lyrics to produce some of the most unique music you’ve ever heard. Find out what’s behind his latest album Waiting!

#38 Daphne Lee Martin
Interview Date: October 18, 2015

Musical mixologist & lyrical folklorist Daphne Lee Martin sat down to discuss new album Fall On Your Sword. Just two old buds talking literary influences & psychoactive drugs. You know, the usual. Fun!

#37 Ray Flanagan
Interview Date: June 13, 2015

Just before the release of A Hard Shell to Break by Ray Flanagan & the Authorities, we sat down with the band’s guitar shredding frontman to discuss the album and life as a Cleveland musician.

#36 Brent Kirby
Interview Date: December 27, 2014

No North Coast singer/songwriter is more ubiquitous than Brent Kirby, who joined us just before New Year’s to discuss his new band and what the future holds in store for the Cleveland music scene.

#35 G.S. Harper
Interview Date: September 28, 2014

North Coast veteran songwriter & raconteur G.S. Harper sat down before a show at Music Box Supper Club to regale us with stories of Cleveland’s musical past & discuss his latest album Sixteen Winters.

#34 Mary Cutrufello
Interview Date: June 28, 2014

Mary Cutrufello’s been everywhere from the ivy-covered yards of Yale to dusty Texas honky tonks; from the Tonight Show to the snow-covered Twin Cities streets, and she tells us about all of ‘em.

#33 The Bottle Rockets II
Interview Date: May 31, 2014

With alt country pioneers the Bottle Rockets hard at work on their new studio album, we look back with them at the recent re-release of their first two albums and get the dish about what’s next.

#32 James McMurtry II
Interview Date: May 31, 2014

With his first studio album in six years due early next year, alt country legend James McMurtry explains why he focused more on personal writing than political & to give us a taste of what's in store.

#31 Townes Van Zandt Tribute Special II
Interview Date: May 15, 2014

For the second time we joined G.S. Harper & other North Coast musicians for his annual tribute to Townes Van Zandt to discuss the man, his music, his influence, & his importance for music lovers today.

#30 Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs
Interview Date: April 25, 2014

Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs have gained a reputation as low-fi masters specializing in roots-infused craziness. We sat down with the duo just after the release of their latest album All Her Fault.

Smokin' Hot Interview:

#29 Tommy Womack
Interview Date: April 5, 2014

With a new album, book & a reunion of country punk band Government Cheese all in the works, Tommy Womack is a busy guy. He sat down with No Surf on his swing through Ohio to give us all the details.

#28 Demos Papadimas
Interview Date: March 14, 2014

Youngstown-based Demos Papadimas’ Greco-Americana style is totally unique & extremely enjoyable. We talked everything from Dylan's Self Portrait to the Ottoman Empire… oh yeah, and his music, too.

#27 Daphne Lee Martin
Interview Date: March 4, 2014

When Ohio-raised Daphne Lee Martin returned to the Buckeye State to debut her new album Frost we caught up with her to discuss music, life on the road, the future of record stores and much, much more.

#26 Billy Joe Shaver
Interview Date: September 25, 2013

Coming back for his second BRFC, outlaw country legend Billy Joe Shaver tells us why his new album is going to be one of his best and describes the complex relationship between music and breasts.

#25 Ha Ha Tonka
Interview Date: November 9, 2013

With their new album Lessons just released and making waves on the Americana scene, No Surf Friends Ha Ha Tonka sat down to discuss their music and just what it is they've learned living on the road.

#24 Alice Wallace
Interview Date: September 21, 2013

With her first trip to Cleveland we finally got to talk with Southern California country, folk and blues singer and No Surf Friend Alice Wallace, just prior to the release of her sophomore album.

#23 Robbie Fulks
Interview Date: September 29, 2013

Known to many as a witty alt.country jokester, Robbie Fulks has proved he's just as impressive writing more serious music. He sat down with us to discuss his new album and “pathbreaking” career.

#22 Those Darlins
Interview Date: October 22, 2013

No Surf Friends and perennial kick ass rockers Those Darlins join us to discuss their new album Blur the Lines and dig into several of its most intriguing tracks and lucky you, you get to hear it all!

#21 Jim Avett and David & Valerie Mayfield
Interview Date: August 16, 2013

Jim Avett and David & Valerie Mayfield may not be the biggest names in their own families, but they're all top notch musicians who instilled the love of music that helped make their progeny so famous.

#20 Eric Taylor
Interview Date: July 21, 2013

Eric Taylor started writing and performing on the Houston scene of the late 60s, just released his latest album, and is on the road promoting it. He's known everybody and has stories about 'em all.

#19 James McMurtry
Interview Date: July 12, 2013

If you're a fan of great guitar work, then you already know Bill Kirchen is one of the best. The King of Dieselbilly joined us to chat about his long career and his new album full of old favorites.

#18 Bill Kirchen
Interview Date: June 27, 2013

If you're a fan of great guitar work, then you already know Bill Kirchen is one of the best. The King of Dieselbilly joined us to chat about his long career and his new album full of old favorites.

#17 The Bottle Rockets
Interview Date: May 31, 2013

Alt.country veterans The Bottle Rockets have gone through some changes over the last twenty years but they're still going strong. Find out a little about the band's past, present & future in our chat.

#16 Townes Van Zandt Tribute Special
    with Mary Cutrufello, G.S. Harper & Brent Kirby
Interview Date: May 14, 2013

Townes Van Zandt is the ultimate cult figure, perhaps country's greatest songwriter despite limited commercial success. Mary Cutrufello, G.S. Harper & Brent Kirby discuss Townes' legacy and influence.

#15 Rachel Brooke
Interview Date: March 21, 2013

Rachel Brooke is making a name on the underground music scene with her old-time sound and dark lyrics. But what turned a small town girl from Michigan into a gothic country queen? Find out in our chat!

#14 Tommy Womack
Interview Date: March 16, 2013

Tommy Womack may not be a rock star, but he's regarded by many as one of the great songwriters of our time. Get to know all about him from Government Cheese to Now What! in our chat.

#13 Harpeth Rising
Interview Date: February 25, 2013

Harpeth Rising may be No Surf's best discovery of 2012, but what made four classically trained musicians turn to creating a completely unique brand of string folk? We sat down for a chat to find out.

#12 The David Wax Museum
Interview Date: February 4, 2013

Just how did a couple of kids from Missouri and Virginia, living in Boston, become so engrossed in Mexican folk music that they could create a whole new genre blending both north- and south-of-the-border traditions into their own Mex-Americana sound? Pull up a chair and find out!

#11 The Womack Family Band
Interview Date: September 21, 2012

The Womack Family Band is one of the most promising groups to cross No Surf's path all year. You'll want to get to know them now before they get so popular that everybody's talking about them, and what better way to get the lowdown straight from the horses' mouths than a Burning River Fireside Chat?

#10 Those Darlins
Interview Date: July 24, 2012

Among the bands you really need to know on today's scene, Those Darlins are right at the top, mixing tremendous musical style with ass kicking live performances. When they came through Cleveland on tour with Best Coast, No Surf just had to sit down and dig into what makes these unique rockers tick.

#9 Ha Ha Tonka
Interview Date: July 21, 2012

Ha Ha Tonka are the original No Surf Friends, and after more than a year since their last show on the North Coast, we finally got the chance to catch up. Sit down, loosen up your bible belt and find out just what makes these Ozark Mountain ass kickers the best alt.country band in the country.

#8 Murder By Death
Interview Date: July 21, 2012

Murder By Death is our first BRFC repeat customer. This time we sat down with bassist Matt Armstrong to talk about the band's long career, recent move to Bloodshot Records, and their upcoming album.

#7 The Spring Standards

With a folk rock base blended with influences from every end of the musical spectrum, The Spring Standards are one of the most interesting bands on the indie rock scene. Sit down and get to know them.

#6 Chris Castle

If you want to learn about an artist’s new album, talk about anything else. That way, you'll really get to the heart of it. That's what we did at the release of Chris Castle’s Last Bird Home, covering everything from song writing to coal mining. We even got a pretty great Garth Hudson impression.

#5 Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe Shaver is an outlaw country legend and a songwriter of the first class, but it turns out he's also a hell of a cool guy. Every once in a while this No Surf gig really pays off, and this interview is a prime example. Sit back and get ready for story time with Billy Joe.

#4 Asleep at the Wheel

With four decades of musical history and a list of accolades as long as a Texas highway, Asleep at the Wheel are the undeniable modern day Kings of Western Swing. Founder and frontman Ray Benson sat down with No Surf to talk about the band's past, present and future before their show at the Kent Stage.

#3 Murder By Death

With a career spanning more than a decade, Murder By Death has attracted a rabid cult following to their unique brand of dark, storytelling music. Before a recent show at the Rock Hall, frontman Adam Turla sat down with No Surf to discuss the band's evolution, songwriting, and their upcoming album.

Marley's Ghost

#2 Marley's Ghost has been making their own brand of eclectic Americana music for twenty-five years. While they've built a strong cult following in their native West Coast stomping grounds, it's high time the rest of the U.S. got to know them a little better. Here's your chance.

Special: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

These legends of folk and country rock recently played at the Kent Stage and sat down for a chat with No Surf before the show. Hear what they have to say about four decades on the road as they discuss music from early hits to their latest release Speed of Life.

#1 Kelley McRae

This Mississippi native spent several years in Brooklyn before selling everything she owned and heading out on the road, living in her VW camper van as she plays clubs and living rooms all across the country. Kelley and guitarist Matt Castelein spent an afternoon with No Surf between gigs talking about everything from her tomboy childhood to how graffiti inspired what may be the greatest song you've never heard.