Back to the Light

New episode: A Driving John Hughes Movie with Brian Venable (Lucero, The Venable Exploration Society)

August 3, 2021

Host J.D. Reager talks to Lucero guitarist Brian Venable about his early days in the Memphis punk scene, picking up guitar and co-founding Lucero, the highs and lows of life on the road, the decision to get sober, balancing fatherhood with being a working musician, and his many side pursuits. J.D. also spins two songs by Brian’s new electronic/dance project,

New episode: Three Good Songs with Jeff Powell (Take Out Vinyl, The Afghan Whigs/Alex Chilton engineer)

July 27, 2021

Host J.D. Reager talks to recording engineer and producer Jeff Powell about his early career at Ardent Studios, working with The Afghan Whigs and Alex Chilton (both solo and in Big Star), learning to cut music vinyl, the move from Ardent to Sam Phillips, and starting his own business, Take Out Vinyl. Available via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Amazon

New single release: Loose Opinions

July 23, 2021

Back to the Light Records is very pleased to announce the release of the single (and video) for “Yesterday Never Arrives” from the forthcoming Loose Opinions (Graham Burks from Pezz, Sweet Knives, Perfect Vessels, etc.) LP Shadow of a Shadow. The full album will release on August 20 – for now, check this: Or this: Shadow of a Shadow by

New episode: Spray Them All with J.B. Horrell (Aquarian Blood, Ex-Cult)

July 20, 2021

Host J.D. Reager talks to Aquarian Blood singer and guitarist J.B. Horrell about their history together recording J.B.’s previous band Noise Choir, the time his band Reginald performed both for and with inmates at a Shelby County correction facility, finding unexpected success with Ex-Cult, the healing power of music in the midst of personal tragedy, collaborating with his wife Laurel,

New episode: The Idea and the Energy with Sherman Willmott (Memphis Listening Lab, Shangri-La Projects)

July 13, 2021

Host J.D. Reager talks to Sherman Willmott about the newly opened Memphis Listening Lab and the vast collection of music it houses, the journey from selling Stax bricks at Shangri-La Records to the creation of the Stax Museum, making the professional wrestling documentary Memphis Heat, and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives him. J.D. also makes a big announcement about a

New release: Arthhur

July 9, 2021

Today is the day! Occult Fractures, the new full-length album by Chicago dance-punk trio Arthhur, is out in digital formats and on CD! Get it here: Occult Fractures by Arthhur You can also listen to Occult Fractures on Spotify, Apple Music and all the other streaming services.

New episode: Spreadsheet Freaks with Mike Fox (Arthhur)

July 6, 2021

Host J.D. Reager talks to Chicago musician Mike Fox about the origin of the two-H spelling of “Arthhur,” migrating from Ohio to Chicago, the evolution of Arthhur from an indie solo project to a disco-punk trio, the band’s love of Microsoft Excel, making the new album Occult Fractures, returning to live performance, and more. J.D. also spins “Ripped and Dumb”

New episode: New Beats, New Rhythms with Howard Grimes (Hi Rhythm, Al Green, Ann Peebles)

June 29, 2021

Host J.D. Reager talks to legendary Memphis soul musician Howard Grimes about coming up as a drummer in the ’50s, working with fellow legends such as Rufus & Carla Thomas, William Bell, Al Green, Ann Peebles, O.V. Wright and Willie Mitchell, writing his new autobiography Timekeeper, and how Memphis music has evolved over the years. J.D. also spins two songs

Loose Opinions vinyl pre-order!

June 28, 2021

Back to the Light is pleased to announce that the pre-order for the new Loose Opinions LP Shadow of a Shadow is now live at looseopinions.com! Loose Opinions is the new project of Graham Burks – a talented Memphis musician and songwriter that you may remember from bands like Pezz, Perfect Vessels, Sweet Knives, Small Room, Magic Kids, etc. The

New episode: Memphis Trip Week Two with Graham Burks and Neil Bartlett (Loose Opinions), Arthhur

June 8, 2021

Host J.D. Reager gives a quick update on his first week in Memphis and upcoming shows at B-Side and Black Lodge before turning over the podcast to Graham Burks and Neil Bartlett from the band Loose Opinions. Then J.D. plays a cover song that he recorded during the pandemic and makes an exciting announcement about the Chicago band Arthhur.

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