DERRINGER DISCOVERIES
podcast episodes

Stirring Things Up with Spoon (No Forks Allowed)                                                                        What’s sleek, versatile, and responsible for some of the most addictive indie rock grooves since the early ’90s? Nope, not your favorite kitchen utensil—it’s Spoon, the band! With over 1.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a knack for sneaking their sound into movie soundtracks and music charts, Spoon has been serving up sonic brilliance from Austin, Texas since 1993. That’s more than three decades of musical flavor, folks.                                                           Whether you’re a longtime fan or just wondering why your hipster friend keeps name-dropping “Britt Daniel,” this episode is your golden ticket. Team Derringer (Laura, Alton, and Paul) is joined by the one and only Dan Friedman—musician, environmentalist, and head honcho of the Music and Planet Project—to help us dig into Spoon’s tastiest tracks and quirkiest trivia.                                                           🎧 Never heard of Spoon? Perfect. We’ll introduce you like it’s your first indie rock crush.                                                           🎧 Already a fan? Then riddle us this: why did Britt Daniel name the band Spoon? We’ve got the answer—and yes, it involves a 1970s hit that we’ll play a snippet of just to keep things spicy.                                                           So grab your headphones, skip the silverware drawer, and join us for a deep dive into one of indie rock’s most enduring and enigmatic bands. It’s Spoon-fed goodness, no assembly required.
 

EPISODE OVERVIEW                                                                                      Get ready to celebrate the legacy of one of music’s most iconic storytellers -                                          Billy Joel                                        . As news breaks that the Piano Man is undergoing treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH),                           Team Derringer                          takes a heartfelt and humorous dive into his extraordinary catalog. But this isn’t your typical “greatest hits” tribute.                                                           We’re joined by a very special guest: 22-year-old singer-songwriter and pianist                                          Max Weinman                                        from Arizona.                           Max                          doesn’t just admire                           Billy Joel                                        -                          he channels his spirit. With a striking resemblance to a young Billy and a musical sensibility to match,                           Max                          brings a fresh, passionate perspective to                           Joel’s                          work.                                                                         IN THIS EPISODE                                                                                                            Max shares how he first discovered Billy Joel and how the Piano Man shaped his own songwriting journey.                                                                He rates his fandom on a scale from 1 to 10 (spoiler: it’s high).                                                                And he reveals his Top 3 favorite Billy Joel songs - none of which were chart-toppers. That’s right: no “Piano Man,” no “Uptown Girl,” no “Just the Way You Are.” Instead, Max takes us deep into the vault with three underrated gems that deserve the spotlight.                                                                                              But that’s not all.                                                           After the countdown, we flip the mic and shine a light on                           Max                          ’s own music.                           Laura                          ,                           Paul                          , and                           Alton                          each choose a track from                           Max’s                          2024 debut album - “                                          Julia                                        ,” “                                          In Our Silence                                        ,” and “                                          A Sonata for Yesterday                                        ” - and invite                           Max                          to share the stories behind the songs. It’s a powerful moment of connection between musical generations.                                                           Whether you’re a lifelong                           Billy Joel                          fan or discovering                           Max Weinman                          for the first time, this episode is a celebration of melody, memory, and musical storytelling.                                                                                        WANT TO JOIN THE SHOW?                                                                                                                   Be a Special Guest                                                                                                                   Want to be a Special Guest like Max? All you need is enthusiasm and a love for Derringer Discoveries! (Plus, subscribing to our newsletter and listening regularly helps!)                                                                                                                   Be a Featured Music Artist                                                                                                                   To be featured as a Musical Artist on Derringer Discoveries, you'll need 10,000+ monthly listeners on Spotify.                                                                                                                   How to Get Involved:                                                                                                                                   Want to be a Special Guest? Drop us a line at                                              feedback@derringerdiscoveries.com                                              with the major artist you'd like us to feature, plus your Top 5 favorite songs by that artist.                                                                                                                                                  Want to be a Featured Music Artist? Send us an email and include a Spotify link to your music at                                              feedback@derringerdiscoveries.com                                              .                                                                                                                                  SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: BILL JOEL INSPIRED                                                                                                                                   This episode features a                                              Spotify playlist                                              celebrating songs from the episode, plus other global artists who inspire us. If you're an artist inspired by this episode, send us a Spotify link to your song - if it fits the format and is a solid track, we’ll add it to the playlist (as long as you're a regular Derringer Discoveries listener!).
 

EPISODE OVERVIEW                                                                                      If you don't immediately recognize the name                                          Damiano David                                        , you need to stick around—because he is clearly on the rise. Back in 2015, he was playing the streets of Rome before his band                                          Måneskin                                        became an international sensation. With three major albums selling millions of downloads since 2017,                           Måneskin                          now has over 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify, ranking among the Top 500 recording artists in the world—not just in Italy, but globally.                                                           Now, without breaking up the band,                           Damiano David                          launched his solo career in May 2025 with his debut album, and he's rapidly making history. Prior to its release, his solo work had 7 million monthly listeners—but since May 2025, that number has skyrocketed to 12 million monthly listeners. That’s a 5 million listener increase in just one month—an achievement few artists can claim.                                                           As of now, June 2025,                                                     Damiano David                          has a packed schedule with exciting events lined up! Here are some of his upcoming projects and performances:                                                                                                              Major Festivals                            : He'll be hitting some of the biggest music festivals, including Rock Werchter in Belgium (July 3-6), Lollapalooza in Chicago (August 1-3), and Osheaga in Montreal (August 1).                                                                               Solo Shows                                                      : Fans can catch him at An Evening With Damiano David in London on September 28-29.                                                                               North American Tour                            : He has multiple solo concerts across the U.S. and Canada, including stops in Seattle (November 21), San Francisco (November 23), Los Angeles (November 25), Chicago (November 29), and Brooklyn (December 8-9).                                                                               International Dates                            : His tour extends worldwide, with performances in cities like Milan, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, and São Paulo.                                                                                                                           SPECIAL GUEST: CAMILLA PASSANI                                                                                      Joining Team Derringer in this episode is special guest                                          Camilla Passani                                        , a longtime listener and recording artist from Rome. Back in                           2016                          ,                           Camilla                          shared an open mic stage with                           Damiano                          in what would become a                           fateful night                          in her career. She dives into the details of that unforgettable moment and shares her three favorite songs (so far!) by the mega-superstar while we play snippets.                                                           Not only that—this episode also features                           music from Camilla                          herself, who now joins us as an Honorary Derringer, a title earned from listening to our podcast for over                           three years                          .                                                                                        WANT TO JOIN THE SHOW?                                                                                                                   Be a Special Guest                                                                                                                   Want to be a Special Guest like Camilla? All you need is enthusiasm and a love for Derringer Discoveries! (Plus, subscribing to our newsletter and listening regularly helps!)                                                                                                                   Be a Featured Music Artist                                                                                                                   To be featured as a Musical Artist on Derringer Discoveries, you'll need 10,000+ monthly listeners on Spotify.                                                                                                                   How to Get Involved:                                                                                                                   Want to be a Special Guest? Drop us a line at feedback@derringerdiscoveries.com with the major artist you'd like us to feature, plus your Top 5 favorite songs by that artist.                                                                                                                   Want to be a Featured Music Artist? Send us an email and include a Spotify link to your music at feedback@derringerdiscoveries.com.                                                                                                                   INFO & SHOW NOTES:                               www.derringerdiscoveries.com/084                                                                                                                                  SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: DAMIANO DAVID INSPIRED                                                                                                                                   This episode features a                                              Spotify playlist                                              celebrating songs from the episode, plus other global artists who inspire us. If you're an artist inspired by this episode, send us a Spotify link to your song - if it fits the format and is a solid track, we’ll add it to the playlist (as long as you're a regular Derringer Discoveries listener!).
 

ABOUT THE EPISODE                                                                        Join                           Derringer Discoveries                          hosts Paul, Laura, and Alton in this exciting episode where they are joined by the talented Canadian musician                           Kevin Franco                          , who records under the name of                           The Muster Point Project                          . In this episode, we shine a spotlight on Kevin’s song “I’ve Heard It All,” a musical treasure trove filled with dozens of references to Canadian artists and their iconic songs who have shaped Canada’s musical identity over the years!                                                           HIGHLIGHTS                                                                                               Meet Kevin Franco and dive into the creative process behind                                             The Muster Point Project                                           .                                                  Explore the meaning and inspiration behind “                                          I’ve Heard It All                                        ”.                                     Discover the rich tapestry of Canadian music references woven into the song.                                                                                 JOIN US                                                           Don't miss out on the fun— click the play button above to listen to our latest podcast episode and uncover the hidden gems of Canadian music! And for all you music aficionados, be sure to check out the show notes for the complete lyrics to “                           I’ve Heard It All                          .” We've also included links to all the Canadian artists mentioned in Kevin’s song (we think!), so you can explore their amazing work.                                                           Tune in, sing along, and celebrate the vibrant world of Canadian music with us!
 

WHAT IS A TROUBADOUR?                                              Simply put, a troubadour is a poet whose words come to life through music. With lyrics at the heart of their craft, troubadours use melodies to enhance the storylines they tell.                                  In today’s world, the term “troubadour” is often swapped for “singer-songwriter,” a label as universal as it is captivating. Some troubadours pour their hearts into performing the words of another poet, while others pen their own lyrical masterpieces. Regardless of who writes the words, a troubadour's ultimate mission is to forge an emotional connection with their audience—bringing stories to life and keeping listeners hooked, eager to play the song on repeat. Each time you listen, another layer of meaning emerges, creating a timeless experience worth thousands of plays.                                               IN THIS EPISODE                                              We—                         Team Derringer                        (Laura, Alton, and Paul)—are thrilled to welcome Brooklyn-based songwriter                                       Marv Conan                                     to                         Derringer Discoveries                        ! As you listen, you’ll hear how Marv takes pride in representing Brooklyn over the broader NYC—though we did convince him to sneak in “NYC” for the outro voiceover.                                  Marv has recently released a heartfelt tribute titled                                                      Judy Joan & Buffy                                                   , inspired by three iconic troubadours who shaped his youth in the early 1960s. Their stories begin in Greenwich Village in the U.S. (for two) and one in Canada—with some controversy on the latter! Want to learn more? You’ll have to tune in!                                  These three musical legends—                                       Judy Collins                                     ,                                       Joan Baez                                     , and                                       Buffy Sainte-Marie                                     —were a lifeline for                         Marv                        during his time in the U.S. Army in the 1960s. He spent countless hours listening to their songs on vinyl, immersing himself in their transformative art. Now, decades later,                         Marv                        honors them with his own song,                                                      Judy Joan & Buffy                                                                .                                                           WHAT TO EXPECT                                              Join                         Team Derringer                        as we chat with                         Marv                        and delve into his creative process. You’ll hear snippets of                                       Judy Joan & Buffy                                     , beautifully performed by UK’s                                       Victoria BeeBee                                        ,                                     known for touring with                                       Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel                                     .                                  Plus, we explore the careers of                         Judy Collins                        ,                         Joan Baez                        , and                         Buffy Sainte-Marie                        —three troubadours who forever shaped the folk music landscape. With                         Marv’s                        guidance, we highlight two songs from each legend, showcasing why these incredible artists are worth rediscovering.                                  So, press play and join us on this musical journey. You might just find yourself falling for these legendary troubadours all over again.                                               The theme song for                                     Derringer Discoveries                                     is                                                   Your Sister's Room                                                  by the band,                                                   Ho Jo Fro                                                  .                                                           If you enjoyed this episode, please "Follow" our podcast and tell others about Derringer Discoveries. Find all Derringer Discoveries episodes on our website:                                          www.derringerdiscoveries.com/episodes                                        .                                                           You can also follow us on social media:                                          Instagram                                        ,                                          Facebook                                        ,                                          Threads                                        ,                                          X                                        , and                                          BlueSky Social                                        and you can keep up with all things                           Derringer                          by                                          signing up for our newsletter                                        . We appreciate every listener!                                                           Thank you for listening to                                     Derringer Discoveries                                     !
 

Team Derringer                        is back with a bang! In this episode, Laura, Alton, and Paul take you on a wild ride through the music scene without a featured artist or guest host. Instead, they spotlight three amazing acts that have recently landed on their radar!                                               First up, we have the Swedish sensation,                                          The Tallest Man on Earth                                        . Spoiler alert: he's not actually the tallest man on earth, but his talent sure is towering! Next, they chat about                                          Penelope Road                                        , an up-and-coming young band known for harmonies so tight they’ll make your spine tingle! And don't miss out on the lowdown about                                          Beach Bunny                                        , a pop-rock/pop-punk powerhouse from Chicago that’s racking up over 7 million monthly listeners on Spotify. What’s in the water in Chicago?!                                                           We've addressed some burning questions like: How tall is                           The Tallest Man on Earth                          really? Which track turned                           Penelope Road                          into TikTok darlings? And who exactly is                           Beach Bunny                          's oldest fan?                                                           As an added bonus,                           Team Derringer                           highlights a new EP recently released by friend-of-the-podcast,                                          Bryan Cooper                                        . You won’t want to miss his new release,                                          Cognition by Proxy                                        .                                                           Craving more details? Tune in to the full episode!                                                           Find the artists here:                                                                                               The Tallest Man on Earth:                                             https://thetallestmanonearth.com                                                                                             Penelope Road:                                             https://www.instagram.com/peneloperoad                                                                               Beach Bunny:                                          https://www.beachbunnymusic.com                                                                Bryan Cooper:                                          https://www.bryancooperofficial.com                                                                                                            The theme song for                           Derringer Discoveries                          is                                          Your Sister's Room                                        by the band,                                          Ho Jo Fro                                        .                                                           If you enjoyed this episode, please "Follow" our podcast and tell others about Derringer Discoveries. Find all Derringer Discoveries episodes on our website:                                          www.derringerdiscoveries.com/episodes                                        .                                                           You can also follow us on social media:                                          Instagram                                        ,                                          Facebook                                        ,                                          Threads                                        ,                                          X                                        , and                                          BlueSky Social                                        and you can keep up with all things                           Derringer                          by                                          signing up for our newsletter                                        . We appreciate every listener!                                                           Thank you for listening to                                     Derringer Discoveries                                     !
 

Regardless of one's opinion about                                       Bob Dylan                                     's voice and musicianship, he is an undisputed legend with an extensive catalog of classic songs that continue to be covered by just about every artist in every genre on this planet.                         In the wake of "                                                   A Complete Unknown                                                  ," the impressive new movie about                                     Dylan                                     , the legend has reached new heights with a new audience, and everybody wants a piece of the                                     Dylan                                     pie, including us!                                                           We are                           Team Derringer                          (Laura, Alton, and Paul) of                           Derringer Discoveries                          . In this episode, we are joined by recording artist                                          Colm Gavin                                        of Dublin, Ireland, who is on tour with                                          Dean Friedman                                        (see                                          EP74                                        ).                                              The                         Gavin/Friedman                        tour will feature a concert at the                                       Triad Theatre                                     in New York City on March 22, 2025. One week later, on March 29,                         Dean Friedman                        will join                         Team Derringer                        at the                                       Derringer Discoveries' Park Street Coffee House                                     in Charlottesville, VA (US). See below for ticket information.                                  What are your Top 5 favorite                         Dylan                        songs? Tune in to this episode to hear                         Colm Gavin                        's Top 5, and tell us if you agree or have your own list by emailing                                       feedback@derringerdiscoveries.com                                     . Who knows, your list might make it into our next music adventure newsletter!                                               Colm                        and                         Team Derringer                        share their thoughts on "                         A Complete Unknown                        ," and we put                         Gavin                        on the spot not once, but twice! How does                         Gavin                        rate                         Dylan                        on a scale of 1 to 10? And what are his feelings about the movie? Tune in and discover!                                  Want to be a                         Featured Artist                        on                         Derringer Discoveries                        ? You'll need 10,000+ monthly listeners on Spotify. But if you want to be a                         Special Guest                        , all you need is a bucket of enthusiasm and a love for Derringer Discoveries (yep, you ned to be a regular listener!).                                  If you want to be a                         Special Guest                        ? Drop us a line at                                       feedback@derringerdiscoveries.com                                     and let us know which major artist you want us to feature, along with your Top 5 favorite songs by that artist. Write to us, and we promise to respond!                                  If you have 10,000 or more monthly listeners on Spotify, and want to be featured on a Derringer Discoveries episode, drop us a line and send a link to your music to:                         feedback@derringerdiscoveries.com                        .                                               INFO and SHOW NOTES:                                          www.derringerdiscoveries.com/080                                                                                      This episode features the Spotify playlist "                                          Dylan Inspired                                        ," which includes Special Guest                           Colm Gavin                          's top five                           Dylan                          songs, along with selections from                           Team Derringer                          and other artists inspired by                           Dylan                          , including today's special guest. If you are a recording artist inspired by                           Dylan                          ,                                          send us a Spotify link to your song                                        . If it reasonably fits the format and is a solid song,  we'll include it on the "                           Dylan Inspired                          " playlist.                                                           On                           29 March 2024                          , at 7:00 PM ET,                           Team Derringer                          is sponsoring a concert at our                                          Derringer Discoveries' Park Street Coffee House                                        in Charlottesville, VA (US) with our featured guest from                                          Episode 74                                        , hitmaker                           Dean Friedman                          . Secure your tickets right here:                                                                                        Dean Friedman - In Concert [Charlottesville, VA] Tickets, Sat, Mar 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite                                                                         As a special bonus, attending the Charlottesville concert means you'll meet the three members of                         Team Derringer                        : Laura, Alton, and Paul, in person. We guarantee a warm welcome that will leave you over the moon! Along with endless camaraderie, we'll present you with a commemorative poster and our exclusive                         Derringer Discoveries                        5th Anniversary celebration sticker. These are sure to be treasured as collector's items in a thousand years! And yes, supplies are limited, so grab your tickets today, while you can!                                               If you are not in the Charlottesville area, you can obtain tickets to one of                           Dean Friedman                          's other 35+ concerts throughout the US and UK, some of which include today's Special Guest                           Colm Gavin                          on the bill. Click here:                                                                                        Dean Friedman 2025 US Tour by Concerts, Inc. | Eventbrite                                                                                      If you enjoyed this episode, please "Follow" our podcast and tell others about                                                                                                                                                                                                             Derringer Discoveries                                     . Find all                                                                                                                                                                                                             Derringer Discoveries                                     episodes on our website:                                                   www.derringerdiscoveries.com/episodes                                                  .                                                           Thank you for listening to                           Derringer Discoveries                          !
 

Oasis                        ,                                                 the iconic English rock band, was formed in Manchester in 1991. Led by the Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, the band became one of the defining acts of the Britpop genre. Their debut album,                                       Definitely Maybe                                     (1994), was a massive success and became the fastest-selling debut album in British history at the time. They followed this with                                       (What's the Story) Morning Glory?                                     (1995), which became one of the best-selling albums of all time and solidified their place in music history.                                               The 1990s were a golden era for                           Oasis                          , marked by their chart-topping hits, massive outdoor concerts like the legendary Knebworth shows in 1996, and a highly publicized rivalry with Blur known as the "Battle of Britpop". Despite internal conflicts and changing band members,                           Oasis                          remained a dominant force in the music scene until their split in 20091.                                                           In a surprising turn of events, Oasis announced a much-anticipated reunion tour in 2025, bringing the Gallagher brothers back together after 15 years. The reunion tour has been met with overwhelming excitement from fans.                                                                         Team Derringer                          welcomes talented UK artist,                                          Alexander Joseph                                        , as this episode's special guest. Not only does                           Alex                          love all things music, he's also a sports enthusiast, having coached athletes across various sports, including the inspiring British wheelchair tennis players. In this exciting episode, Alex teams up with Laura, Alton, and Paul to dive deep into the legendary                           Oasis                          and share his top five favorite tracks by the iconic band. Get ready to ride the Britpop wave and relive the magic of                           Oasis                          with Alex's captivating countdown!                                                           Links for this episode:                                                                                                              Oasis                                                           website                                           .                                                                Alexander Joseph's                             LinkTree                                        .                                                                  Raquet in Hand                                         (video) by                           Alexander Joseph                          .                                                   Derringer Discoveries                          '                                          Oasis Inspired                                        playlist.                                                                                 If you enjoyed this episode, please "Follow" our podcast and tell others about                                                                                                             Derringer Discoveries                                     . Find all                                                                                                             Derringer Discoveries                                     episodes on our website:                                                   www.derringerdiscoveries.com/episodes                                                  .                                                           Thank you for listening to                           Derringer Discoveries                          !
 




