Pretty HAPPY is how I felt when Adam said YES to doing an interview with me!
I met Adam some years ago through music. He even adopted a real live monkey for me on my birthday, one year! (Species Adoptions). He seems to be another one of those friends of mine who has his hands in many different projects so….
let’s just dive in to the musical garden …..of Adam! (Applause!)
PGR COMPILATION PROJECTS
LM: As far as Pop Garden Radio Compilation projects go, how many compilations have you put out so far?
ADAM: I have released a total of 7 compilations so far.
Four in the Rock on the Road series, two Rick Nelson tributes…
…and one Christmas collection.
LM: What is the latest musical compilation you are now working on?
ADAM: When the Rick Nelson tributes were released I wanted to jump right into a new project that would bring in new artists that were not necessarily Rick Nelson fans. I’ve always been a Creedence Clearwater Revival fan, and from discussions with several artists, it was clear that I was not alone. I started the CCR tribute in 2014 but due to some real-life delays I had to put it aside for a while. I started the ball rolling again in January 2017, aiming for an October 2017 release. It is called Commotion: A Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival.
LM: Are you working with a label or are you putting this out yourself?
ADAM: As with all of my releases I will be self-releasing this project. That said, I’m not doing it all by myself. Several of the artists are helping me promote it. I have a good group of people helping me out this time around.
LM: Have the compilations you’ve put out before done what you wanted them to do? Why? or Why not?
ADAM: They have, yes. I mean, I’m not taking on any of these projects to make money. It’s about getting the music out there for people to enjoy. For some artists it’s the opportunity to be on a published CD and being heard by a whole new audience. Similar to what I do each week with Pop Garden Radio, the CDs share the great indie artists for all to hear and enjoy.
LM: What are you hoping this latest CCR compilation will do and what might YOU do differently this time? (if anything)
ADAM: I’ve learned a lesson in the past that these projects take time and should not be rushed. I also now know that it’s OK to accept help from others. It’s a group effort, under the Pop Garden Radio Presents banner. I want the CCR disc to reach a wider audience this time around. The artists are all excited about it and I am certain that people will really dig what we have done
LM: What fuels the passion behind PGR Radio?
ADAM: Since the beginning, back in 2005, I have thought of the show as me in my living room, hanging out with friends, sharing the songs that I am into. The show still has that same feel as it did way back when I first loved music. I grew up around Country Music, and musicians. It’s always been in my life. I can remember listening to my Dad playing guitar all night and how much I loved every second of that.
By having many friends who are musicians and artists, I get the privilege and joy of sharing their music with the listening audience. It’s an honor, really. It will always touch my heart when I get to air new music on the show. Very recently an artist from L.A. was visiting Miami, FL, which is about 3 hours from me. She drove all the way up from Miami to be interviewed and to play a few songs and head right back to Miami. It blows my mind that someone would do that just for the show.
LM: Is there an online “live” chat available during your shows that we can share with out readers?
ADAM: There isn’t one any longer, no. The audience can always listen live at http://www.1510wmel.com and at http://www.popgardenradio.com . Archived shows are available on the Pop Garden Radio page as well.
LM: COOL!!!! Do you play only current music or a mixture of old AND new music? (and the reason behind the music you CHOOSE to play)
ADAM: It’s a mix of old, new, classic, comedy and off the wall stuff. An eclectic mix. I mean, were else could you hear Jethro Tull, followed by The Partridge Family and closed out with The Corner Laughers. Another would be Bread, followed by Meatloaf and closed out with another Bread song. (Think about that for a moment)
ADAM: I chose songs that feel good and move me in some way. They don’t always have to have that jangle, they just have to feel good. I’m not sure if that makes any sense at all. When a song moves me, I’ll play it.
LM: Where do you hope to be in 5 years with radio and the music you release?
ADAM: In 5 years I would be happy to still be on WMEL sharing the music that I love. Maybe I could be on the air more than just the one night a week.
LM: Do you have plans for any more PGR on the Rock on the Road festivals/shows? Why or Why not?
ADAM: My day job has changed in recent years so I haven’t had the opportunity to have another Rock on the Road show in a while. I miss it. Those shows were a lot of fun for everyone. I do get asked frequently when the next one is though. Michael Slawter (Heyday Guitars) and John Borack (Popdudes) were both a great help with those shows, and they are both still on my side.
LM: What are you most excited about in the music world right now? (bands, the music industry, upcoming festivals, an upcoming promotion on the station, upcoming projects, etc).
ADAM: Oh goodness, there seems to always be something new coming out. Each year someone new pops up. This year I’ve already been introduced to artists like Sean Solo, Irene Pena and Dieselle May and I look forward to hearing more from them.
LM: Are you currently looking for more artists and bands to play on your show? If so, where can musician’s send their music? Also, what about comedy music/artists?
ADAM: I’m always looking for new music. The contact page is at Pop Garden Radio Contact Page and my email address is popgardenradio@gmail.com. Music, comedy, spoken word, ….yep, I’m always looking for something new.
Now we step in to….
ADAM THE ARTIST
LM: You’ve done your own creative projects in the past, like Ruin the Rain (which I hear is coming soon to PGR’s Bandcamp page) along with some of your own original comedy. Any plans to do more of either in the near future?
ADAM: I’m working on my next comedy CD right now, also slated for an October 2017 release. It is called Mullet Over.
This comedy album will be something different from my last comedy albums. In addition to individual tracks featuring the characters that people have come to expect from me, there will be a full suite entitled Sowbelly City. Side two, if you will. The suite will feature Uncle Red Chester and his co-horts with a common plotline.
LM: …and other original music?
ADAM: I’ll have a song on the Creedence project as well. Just this week, Ruin the Rain started collaborating on new music. It’s the first time since 2005, actually. I’m very excited about that as I have really missed those guys.
LM: Who to you, is your targeted audience right now? Are you working on growing your audience? If so, what do you have in mind?
ADAM: I get asked this often. I don’t know what my target audience is. I mean, I want people with good taste in music and a sense of humor to be able to find something in the show. They could be 8 or 80, doesn’t matter to me, as long as they enjoy what I am presenting to them.
LM: Do you also listen to radio shows outside of your own?
ADAM: I listen to a lot of country music and oldies, and occasionally I will listen to the Beatles channel on XM.
LM: HOW and WHERE do YOU discover new music?
ADAM: Social media is great for this. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are all great sources. Noisetrade is another wonderful resource. Bandcamp is a good too and you can purchase the music directly from the artist.
AND NOW….FOR THE LAST AND MOST MAGICAL QUESTION OF ALL…..
LM: What do LOVE to do for fun and what is your favorite way to relax?
ADAM: Walt Disney World is my oasis. It’s my escape, my relaxation time. I’ve had many conversations with artists to and from the parks. Heck, not only have I been interviewed on other radio stations from Magic Kingdom, my first telephone interview with my current job was done on the dock at Tom Sawyer Island.
NICE!!!! Thanks Adam!
And thank YOU, readers, for reading!
You can check out Adam’s radio show at:
Pop Garden Radio
AM 1510, FM 94.7, 99.9, 100.7 WMEL
Friday Nights
12:05am Eastern!
POP GARDEN LINKS
Pop Garden Radio Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/popgardenradio/
Pop Garden Radio home page http://popgardenradio.weebly.com/
Pop Garden Radio on BANDCAMP http://popgarden.bandcamp.com/
Commotion: A Tribute to CCR https://www.facebook.com/pgrccr/
EXTRAS!!!
*Disney World’s Magic Kingdom GALLERY of PHOTOS
*Disney World’s Magic Kingdom PDF Brochure
*The number 5 image taken from free public domain pictures.
Mychols Fabulous Playground 