The Velvet Blue Music Podcast sits down with Rob Withem of Fine China to talk through the band’s latest album, I Felt Called, released on the long-running indie label Velvet Blue Music.In this episode, hosts Joey Esquibel and Cody Landefeld dive into a curated selection of tracks from the record — including “Television,” “I Felt Called,” and “Fraught with Danger.” Rob discusses the songwriting process behind the album, the themes that shaped the lyrics, and the music equipment and production choices that helped define the band’s sound.Along the way we explore stories about friends, family, and the creative life that continues to fuel Fine China more than two decades in. Whether you’re new to the band or a longtime listener, this episode offers a thoughtful look into an artist whose work remains quietly influential within indie music.

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Instead of exploring an artist’s entire career in a single episode, we’re going to focus on one particular release in the VBM collection; one of Jeff Cloud’s favorite projects. We’re excited to announce the first cassette release, starting today,  of Josh Dooley’s 2004 album,  “Secrets by the highway”

It might be smart to reserve your copy right now at velvetbluemusic.com before they’re sold out.

Eighteen years ago, Riverside, California native Josh Dooley embarked on creating one of his most meaningful projects to date. Although he had recently lost his bandmates after a massive breakup during his “eastern skies western eyes” tour, he contacted Jeff Cloud in the hopes of working with an up and coming gifted producer and engineer, Richard Swift.  Swift, with the help of the legendary Frank Lenz, set out to capture Josh’s musical magic in their  small Huntington beach apartment studio in 2003. Ultimately, the talent combination of Lenz, Swift and Dooley couldn’t have been better expressed than in the 2004 VBM release, “Secrets by the highway”.

We’re honored to promote this particular record and so For now, sit back, relax and enjoy another one-on-one with Joey and Josh Dooley, as they chat about one of his most popular records. Listen as he gives us insight, song by song, into this VBM masterpiece on today’s Velvet Blue Music Podcast episode!

Song list:

1. Everything is bad for you
2. Lay down the law
3. Beautiful friend
4. Love and magazines
5. Riverside
6. Tell me
7. Dancing girl
8. Ugly girl
9. Strange girl
10. Is this Goodbye?

Things started to get interesting when Gary discovered a local music store called “The Mad Hatter”. He would constantly rummage through bargain CDs and tapes discovering cool bands like Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, Sonic Youth,  and The Red House Painters (to name a few). He was intrigued by the noisy guitar layers, which really spoke to him and they were breath of fresh air compared to the mainstream music played on the radio at that time. With his new musical influences, he knew that sitting at home with an old acoustic guitar just wasn’t enough now. He made some local musician friends and soon, he would begin to contribute his new-found guitar skills with a  local band noise/punk called “Vacuum Star”.

We all know Gary Murray as a writer of some of the most somber, melancholy music on VBM, and “Vacuum Star” was far from that. Funny enough, some members would eventually become long-term contributors to his music in the future.  It was while participating in this band Gary gained experience playing side by side with other musicians, keeping his guitar tuned throughout an entire set, and enjoying the energy of  a crowd for the first time.

After playing for a few years in the band, he would occasionally collaborate with Vacuum Star guitarist Torey Freeman, drummer Nathan Abel and bassist Denny Kopp to focus solely on songwriting. One memorable night happened at a party in Bellevue, where they would write a full album’s worth of songs in a single evening. I guess you could say Gary was being prepared to become the future frontman of one of VBM’s much loved bands.

Velvet Blue Music Podcast is produced by Joey and Kirsty Esquibel

VBM Podcast theme song written by Josh Dooley

Song list:

• Pale Light , Pale Eyes - LN
• Raspberry Beret - Prince
• Billy In The Low Ground - Stanly Brothers
• Theme from Love Story - Frances Lai
• Hoovering Around Your Room - LN
• The Translator - Starflyer 59
• Kisses - LN
• Ride That Pony Down - LN
• California - LN
• Minotaur - Gary Murray & LN
• Stars Did Shine - LN
• Niagara - LN

Gary Murray's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g.edgar.murray/

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