Episodes

This "behind the song" episode is all about another SPITBALL classic, Lord Loves a Working' Man. Marco talks with SPITBALL's rhythm section - Chris Orcutt (drums) and Mike Webb (bass) about the origins of this lurid, muscular instrumental and ask …

This "behind the song" episode is all about SPITBALL's cover of Bill Wither's Use Me (often called Use Me Up by mistake). Marco talks with SPITBALL's "engine room" - Chris Orcutt (drums) and Mike Webb (bass) about what makes a …

This "behind the song" episode is all about a SPITBALL classic, Ska'd for Life. This is the first time our listeners will hear both a live CBGBs version as well as a studio version of the track, made at LOHO …

SERIES UPDATE: We some terribly sad news to share with our listeners. SPITBALL's glorious singer and guitarist Molly Fitch passed away. With her family's blessing, we are going to continue publishing our interviews with her, and leave the next episodes …

SERIES UPDATE: We some terribly sad news to share with our listeners. SPITBALL's glorious singer and guitarist Molly Fitch passed away last week, and we are just at a complete loss. With her family's blessing, we are going to continue …

SONGBIRD Season Two continues with a double-decker "behind the song" episode, all about Raychel and Gun/Parkside. We ask the big questions, like "Is Raychel our Sweet Jane?" and dig into SPITBALL's nimble, loose style. At any given moment you understand …

SONGBIRD returns with a long-awaited Season Two! We jump right into a "behind the song" episode, all about Spitball's signature song "Coney Island Surfing". Decades before Marco became Martin Ruby, he was the tenor sax player in this scrappy pack …

Season 2 will dig into the story of Spitball, an unsigned surf-punk act that was part of the downtown NY music scene in the mid-90s. With never-heard before live recordings from CBGB's shows, and some studio work - this band …

In our Season 1 finale, Marco explores the final liner notes for Heaven Get Behind Me, where thanks are given - and we find ourselves in an unexpected tribute to a dear friend. Felix McTeigue was a revered singer-songwriter, and …

In our second liner notes episode we talk through that maddening balancing act of conceiving and producing videos for the music we create. On the one hand, commerce, on the other that desire to make something rare and authentic.

In our first liner notes episode we unravel the story behind the album cover, and listen to some of the instruments used, comparing two very similar guitars that were built 100 years apart. Then, we explore the history of invented …

In our final behind-the-song episode of Season 1, we go deep into the bible, and an alternate life to understand what inspired Wallflower's Surprise, track 11 from Heaven Get Behind Me. As always, we hear the demo version as well …

How did this track become the official single from Heaven Get Behind Me? Is Shangri-La like Santa for adults? Why do people miss Kodachrome? The answers to these questions and three different demos play a part in our latest behind-the-song …

If we know we are going to die, what choices do we make – about how and when we meet this moment. Will we go kicking and screaming, or will we find some grace? And who gets to decide, us …

Can you manufacture a vulnerable performance? How did the idioms "whistling past the graveyard" and "potters field" originate? What is blind rain? The answers to these questions are part the latest behind-the-song episode, as we listen to the demo and …

Can a terrible person write a great song? Can they sing it? These questions - along with the search for an ancient instrument, a chance meeting with a Russian DJ, a crash course in the music of goth-rock legend David …

What is the life of an expat? Can they ever really go home? These questions - along with a screenplay about the Book of Enoch - inspired "Sebastapol" (track 6 from Heaven Get Behind Me). In this latest "behind the …

What does it take to break a person? Can they be saved? How does it feel to seek revenge on the world? These are the questions that inspired The Letter Reader, track 5 from Heaven Get Behind Me. In this …

What is your favorite breakup song? In this SONGBIRD "behind the song" episode, we talk about divorce and other major life events - how they shape us, how we navigate them and somehow move on. "California Divorce" is at the …

In SONGBIRD's latest "behind the song" episode, we tackle the story behind Long Tall Man (track four from Heaven Get behind Me). Inspired by Ry Cooder's score for Paris, Texas (by way of a Blind Willie Johnson cover) and a …

In SONGBIRD's third episode, a stalker's email evolves into the song MARFA from Martin Ruby's debut album HEAVEN GET BEHIND ME. As usual, we talk through the specific challenges this track presented to the songwriting process. The demo as well …

In SONGBIRD's first "behind the song" episode, Marco explores the real life story that inspired the first track from Heaven Get Behind Me. We talk through the songwriting process, listen to the demo version, go deep into the technical choices …

In this introductory episode, Marco explains what the show is about, the reason it is called SONGBIRD and shares some hard luck stories behind the making of his debut album, Heaven Get Behind Me. Sneak previews of some of the …