143: Danny McNamara - Embrace

In this bonus episode, Russ Pritchard shares his journey from early struggles to playing stadiums with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, offering insights into success, songwriting, and the music industry.

Join us for a recorded live episode with Clive Deamer of Portishead, who analyses and reflects on the iconic Roseland NYC 1997 show, which is regarded as one of the greatest live albums of its era. A surprisingly emotional experience, we dive deep into the show itself, the period around the rehearsals and Portishead’s legacy. Thank you to Steve Baker from The LongPlay Sessions for putting on the event, we may well do more. If you’d like to do a similar event with us - contact us at [email protected] Please support us to help enable young musicians to access educational content for free by buying some merch! https://the-stageleft-podcast.printify.me/

Join us as Colin MacIntyre of Mull Historical Society shares insights into the psychology of songwriting, album creation, collaboration with authors, and the importance of storytelling in music and literature. Key Topics: - The emotional journey of album release - The process of songwriting and knowing when a song is finished - Collaboration with authors and visual storytelling - The importance of human stories in songwriting - Balancing control and collaboration in music production - The influence of personal history and environment on creativity We exist to provide free educational content, so p lease support us by tapping into our merch range here... the-stageleft-podcast.printify.me

On this episode of The StageLeft Podcast, Chris Simpson sits down with Jack Bates — bassist for Smashing Pumpkins and Peter Hook & The Light — to discuss the reality of stepping into one of music’s most iconic musical legacies. From balancing tours between Billy Corgan and Peter Hook, to playing alongside Jimmy Chamberlin, to recording with the late Mark Lanegan, this is a deep dive into musicianship, identity, touring life, pressure, and what it really means to become a “stage left” musician at the highest level. Jack opens up about: • Growing up with Peter Hook as a father • The emotional reality of performing Joy Division and New Order songs nightly • How Smashing Pumpkins rehearsals actually work • Locking in musically with Jimmy Chamberlin • Why being “easy to be around” matters more than technical ability • Touring life, introversion, and handling pressure on stage • Recording Mark Lanegan’s final album • Choosing setlists for Peter Hook & The Light • Fan culture, validation, and identity in music • Why some songs change every night on stage A fascinating conversation about musicianship, legacy, pressure, creativity and life inside some of alternative music’s most influential worlds. Edited by Darcy Dewar Socials by Alex Fordham YouTube by Beth Iles Merch: The StageLeft Podcast Merch Store

“We stepped onto the Pyramid Stage and realised… they were just people doing the same thing as us.” If Amber from The Japanese House hadn't shut her fingers in a door, would Willy Bish be where he is now? Multi-instrumentalist Willy Bishop joins The Stage Left Podcast to share his journey from maths student to a deep dive into CMATs iconic performance on the Glastonbury Festival Pyramid Stage. We hear about his pivotal role in The Japanese House and Declan McKenna, including exploring Matty Healy and George Daniel's production techniques, Willie offers an honest look at touring, studio life, and what it really takes to succeed as a modern musician. A practical, behind-the-scenes conversation covering creativity, chaos, and staying grounded in the music industry. “A better performance comes when you stop chasing perfection and just accept what you’ve got.”