Categories
News Podcast

Ep. #1086: The Sadies & Billy Ray

Mike Belitsky and Travis Good from the Sadies and Dave ‘Billy Ray’ Koster are here to discuss Live at 6 O’Clock by Gord Downie, The Sadies, and the Conquering Sun, Billy’s long and all-encompassing tenure in the working lives of Downie and the Tragically Hip as a technical director and confidante, how the Sadies and Downie connected and why he was so fond of playing with them, a look back at Downie’s first solo album Coke Machine Glow and him asking Travis to play on it, Downie’s deep love for artists like Fucked Up and Daniel Romano, insights about this collaboration and what the late Gord Downie and Dallas Good may have felt about it, when Downie planned to run the stage light show himself, poignant reasons for picking songs about ghosts and sadness for this live record primarily consisting of songs by other artists, further insights into how the Tragically Hip viewed Downie’s work outside of the band, Downie’s penchant for incorporating conversations and experiences he shared with Billy into his lyrics, the story behind “Introduce Yerself,” whether we may hear more unreleased music by Downie and the potential for Sadie to make a new album, upcoming tour dates, other future plans, and much more.

EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. This one is fine, but if you haven’t already, please subscribe now on Patreon so you never miss full episodes. Thanks!

Thanks to Blackbyrd Myoozik, the BookshelfPlanet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.

Related episodes/links:

Win a Gord Downie Vinyl Bundle in April 2026!
Ep. #1085: Richard Reed Parry
Ep. #1083: Rheostatics
Ep. #1082: Joe Pernice
Ep. #1071: Buck 65
Ep. #971: Change of Heart
Ep. #892: Fucked Up
Ep. #889: Rick White and The Sadies
Ep. #880: Guided By Voices
Ep. #842: Daniel Romano’s Outfit
Ep. #821: Kurt Vile
Ep. #744: Don Pyle
Ep. #590: Bob Young
Ep. #496: Iggy Pop

Categories
News

Ep. #1069: The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis

Brendan Canty, Joe Lally, James Brandon Lewis, and Anthony Pirog return for a Valentine’s Day discussion about Deface the Currency, the excellent new album by The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis, what led them into a studio with engineer Don Godwin fresh off of some tour dates, the noisier, aggressive aspects of this record, social currency and community-building in music, the significance of the names of their instrumental songs, my dog Indiana Bones, how authenticity is freedom, exciting updates about their individual pursuits, upcoming tour dates, other future plans, and much more!

EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. This one is fine, but if you haven’t already, please subscribe now on Patreon so you never miss full episodes. Thanks!

Thanks to Blackbyrd Myoozik, the BookshelfPlanet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.

Related episodes/links:

All Things Konsidered: The Beatles Anthology
Ep. #1056: ‘Plenty for All: The Art of Rick Fröberg’ with Sohrab Habibion & Johnny Temple
Ep. #1046: Jim White and Guy Picciotto
Ep. #1001: Thanya Iyer
Ep. #946: James Brandon Lewis
Ep. #900: Fugazi and Jem Cohen
Ep. #887: Janel and Anthony
Ep. #845: The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis
Ep. #811: Joseph Shabason
Ep. #583: Ian MacKaye
Ep. #385: The Messthetics

(Pat Graham)
Categories
News Podcast

Ep. #1009: Superchunk

Mac McCaughan and Laura King from Superchunk are here to discuss their new album, Songs in the Key of Yikes, North Carolina living and many Ludwig drums, writing dark-hued songs packaged in sunny, energetic arrangements, Jon Wurster retiring from Superchunk and how the band have met the challenge of filling his role, Laura’s musical background and why drummers have been in the news so much in 2025, why Mac wanted so many women from the Merge community to sing on this record, whether Superchunk could tour across Canada by train, confirmed upcoming non-train tour dates, other future plans, and much more.

EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. This one is fine, but if you haven’t already, please subscribe now on Patreon so you never miss full episodes. Thanks!

Thanks to Blackbyrd Myoozik, the BookshelfPlanet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.

Related episodes/links:

Ep. #963: Destroyer
Ep. #924: Lance Bangs and Bob Nastanovich on ‘Pavements’
Ep. #913: Quivers
Ep. #892: Fucked Up
Ep. #847: Rosali
Ep. #845: The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis
Ep. #752: Yo La Tengo
Ep. #746: H.C. McEntire
Ep. #738: Superchunk
Ep. #545: Owen Pallett

(Alex Cox)