This is my interview with guitarist/songwriter/producer Max Boras. We talk about influences, his time at Berklee and the Manhattan School, the music business, and guitar gear. He has an EP coming out on November 6 called "Primal Electric." Max is a versatile, highly proficient and talented guitarist, and he has played almost every style of guitar you can think of. This particular record is a shred-tastic collection of instrumental rock! He can be found on the internet at:

Gretchen Shae writes music and performs in Boston trio The Knock Ups - "a female fronted, self proclaimed GLAM punk band." She is a vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music, among other things. She started out in the Boston music scene as bassist and singer for the band Black Barbie. 

Here's some more info from her bio on the Berklee website: "In 2015, she performed with U2 at TD Bank Garden in Boston. The Knock Ups participated in WZLX's Rock & Roll Rumble in 2016, and WZLX named her song “Dionysius” in its top 10 local songs of the year. Moore also serves as a board member of New Beginnings Reentry Services. Because of this passion, she has created a course on mass incarceration that she currently teaches at Berklee."

The Knock Ups have an EP and a number of singles available on Spotify, Apple Music, and elsewhere. Please check out their music, and if you live in Boston, catch a live show.

The Knock Ups on Facebook

The Knock Ups on Bandcamp

MB Padfield is a unique artist in many ways. She performs live with a guitar she customized herself, and an array of effects and looper pedals. She plays covers to pay her bills and still maintains a successful career as an original artist. And she talks very openly about sobriety and her life as an artist in recovery.

In this episode, MB talks candidly on these subjects, her time as a Berklee student, her life as an artist in New England, and her impending relocation to LA.

Ani Johnson joins us near the end to ask a question or two.

MB’s latest single, “Seams,” is available on Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music

You can find her on Facebook at http://facebook.com/mbpadfield

and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mbpadfieldofficial/

Her website is: https://www.mbpadfield.com

If you like this podcast, please subscribe at iTunes or through your podcast client. Also, give us a comment at iTunes if you can.

Please like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fringecollective

It's my pleasure to interview the fabulous Courtney Swain, lead singer and keyboardist for Bent Knee. I have known Courtney since she was a freshman at Berklee College of Music, and even as a student, she was most impressive! She is a stellar vocalist, pianist, composer and arrranger, an accomplished and creative artist, and a thoughtful and intelligent person. In this interview, she talks candidly about her time at Berklee as well as the success she has had with Bent Knee. Those who have read my blogs or listened to my old podcast "Frequencies" know that I am not the biggest fan of bands or artists getting signed, but Bent Knee were smart about it and got an amazing deal, which she talks about a bit!

Courtney has a solo EP coming out in November, called "Growing Pains." You can preorder it at:

https://courtneyswain.bandcamp.com/album/growing-pains

Her artist website is: http://www.courtneyswain.com

If you have never heard Bent Knee, you need to go to their website right now and check out their music:

 https://www.bentkneemusic

If you like this podcast, please subscribe at iTunes or through your podcast client. Also, give us a comment at iTunes if you can.

Please like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fringecollective

For this first full-length episode, Michael J. Johnson interviews the members of the hard rock band Flight of Fire. In the studio, he speaks with Maverick (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) Tanya Venom (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Tia Mayhem (bass, backing vocals.) This trio of talented musicians speaks articulately and candidly about their musical journey and the lessons they have learned along the way. 

Where to find Flight of Fire on the web:

Website: www.flightoffire.com

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Now more than ever, musicians exist on the fringes of society, often unnoticed and unappreciated. Yet they are always there in the background, providing the soundtrack for everyday life. The Fringe Collective Podcast will give you their stories.

The Fringe Collective Podcast is hosted by Michael J. Johnson. If you like the episode, please rate us at iTunes.

We can be found at:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikejjohnson

Facebook: The Fringe Collective

I will be doing more interviews coming up. Stay tuned!

Now more than ever, musicians exist on the fringes of society, often unnoticed and unappreciated. Yet they are always there in the background, providing the soundtrack for everyday life. The Fringe Collective Podcast will give you their stories. Hi, I’m Michael J. Johnson, and this is my new podcast, the Fringe Collective Podcast. You may be familiar with my podcast Frequencies, but this format is going to be a bit different. I will be interviewing indie bands and artists as well as working musicians. Whether you are an aspiring musician or musical artist, a seasoned professional, or an avid music fan who is interested in knowing a bit more about what happens behind the scenes, this is the podcast for you. Our first full episode, which will premiere in a matter of days, will feature the young up-and-coming hard rock band Flight of Fire. Check out their music on Spotify or Apple Music, or visit their website at www.flightoffire.com if you want to check them out ahead of time. These amazing, talented women gave me more than an hour of their time, and spoke candidly about their journey. I can’t wait for everybody to hear it! So, please subscribe, share with your friends, and join us in a few days for my interview with Flight of Fire. See you soon!

(Music bed: "Soul Magnets" by Michael J. Johnson)