Songbird

Feb 19 2022

Songbird Podcast artwork

Songbird is a brutally honest, behind the scenes look at the songwriting and recording process. Based on Marco North's experiences with his debut album, Heaven Get Behind Me, he shares demos, hard-earned lessons, triumphs and finished tracks in each episode.

An expat New Yorker living in Moscow, playing 100-year-old instruments, writing songs about Fellini dying, a French stalker, Kodachrome and California divorces, North shares one bittersweet anecdote after the next in this fascinating deep dive into his sparse, cinematic songs.

Musicians will find inspiration, a healthy serving of laughter and great deal of comfort from this series. Music lovers will get an inside look at the creative process, and the story behind each song.

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The story behind the song | Lord Loves a Workin' Man

Feb 19 2022 47 mins

This "behind the song" episode is all about another SPITBALL classic, Lord Loves a Workin' Man. Marco talks with SPITBALL's rhythm section - Chris Orcutt (drums) and Mike Webb (bass) about the origins of this lurid, muscular instrumental and ask the big questions, like "is this a rockabilly song?" We also talk about the joys of playing at The Continental, and some of our most loyal

The story behind the song | Use Me

Feb 02 2022 39 mins

This "behind the song" episode is all about SPITBALL's cover of Bill Wither's Use Me (often called Use Me Up by mistake). Marco talks with SPITBALL's "engine room" - Chris Orcutt (drums) and Mike Webb (bass) about what makes a great rhythm section and what makes a bad one. We ramble about the pains of aggressive self-promotion, and about that other Fab Four that Peter Jackson made

The story behind the song | Ska'd for Life

Jan 20 2022 44 mins

This "behind the song" episode is all about a SPITBALL classic, Ska'd for Life. This is the first time our listeners will hear both a live CBGBs version as well as a studio version of the track, made at LOHO Studios. LOHO has recorded music for artists such as Ryan Adams, Blues Traveler, Rosanne Cash, The Heroine Sheiks, The Everly Brothers, Art Garfunkel, John Mayer, O.A.R., Linds

The story behind the song | Hairdryer + Home Cookin'

Jan 05 2022 34 mins

SERIES UPDATE: We some terribly sad news to share with our listeners. SPITBALL's glorious singer and guitarist Molly Fitch passed away. With her family's blessing, we are going to continue publishing our interviews with her, and leave the next episodes intact as a document of Molly's thoughts about life, music and life in New York.This "behind the song" episode is all about two of

The story behind the song | Sunshine Superman

Dec 18 2021 27 mins

SERIES UPDATE: We some terribly sad news to share with our listeners. SPITBALL's glorious singer and guitarist Molly Fitch passed away last week, and we are just at a complete loss. With her family's blessing, we are going to continue publishing our interviews with her, and leave the next episodes intact as a last document of Molly's thoughts about life, music and life in New York.

The story behind the song | Raychel + Gun/Parkside

Dec 09 2021 37 mins

SONGBIRD Season Two continues with a double-decker "behind the song" episode, all about Raychel and Gun/Parkside. We ask the big questions, like "Is Raychel our Sweet Jane?" and dig into SPITBALL's nimble, loose style. At any given moment you understand that we rehearsed like crazy and none of this is by chance. Marco speaks with Molly Fitch (vocals/guitar), Chris Orcutt (drums) an

The story behind the song | Coney Island Surfing

Dec 02 2021 35 mins

SONGBIRD returns with a long-awaited Season Two! We jump right into a "behind the song" episode, all about Spitball's signature song "Coney Island Surfing". Decades before Marco became Martin Ruby, he was the tenor sax player in this scrappy pack of knuckleheads, and he explores the surf-punk band's origin story, speaking with Molly Fitch (vocals/guitar), Chris Orcutt (drums) and M

Bonus | What will happen in Season 2?

Apr 01 2021 3 mins

Season 2 will dig into the story of Spitball, an unsigned surf-punk act that was part of the downtown NY music scene in the mid-90s. With never-heard before live recordings from CBGB's shows, and some studio work - this band epitomizes a naive, reckless energy that just has to be heard. They wrote surf tangos, and Joey Ramone loved them. Decades before Marco became Martin Ruby, he

Season 1 Finale | A Tribute to Felix McTeigue

Mar 04 2021 21 mins

In our Season 1 finale, Marco explores the final liner notes for Heaven Get Behind Me, where thanks are given - and we find ourselves in an unexpected tribute to a dear friend. Felix McTeigue was a revered singer-songwriter, and singlehandedly got Marco in front of a microphone, many years ago. The idea to cover one of Felix's songs for the last episode of Season 1 evolved into a c

Heaven Get Behind Me | Liner Notes Part 2

Feb 05 2021 25 mins

In our second liner notes episode we talk through that maddening balancing act of conceiving and producing videos for the music we create. On the one hand, commerce, on the other that desire to make something rare and authentic.