Brian Berg | That Much Further West Podcast

Jeremy Wilson, lighting up The Helm. Photo by Anne Marie

That’s his name on the letterhead. But long before he started up The Jeremy Wilson Foundation — a nonprofit supporting music artists and crew who can’t afford health insurance — Wilson made a name for himself as singer for the iconic Portland indie rock band Dharma Bums.

He later emerged as a critically acclaimed solo performer and producer, all of which made it an honor to welcome him into The Helm for Episode #60 of That Much Further West Podcast.

Jeremy’s been especially busy lately. He’s just coming down from one of the foundation’s cornerstone events, The Next Waltz — held annually over the Thanksgiving weekend here in Portland — and is already prepping for another big evening of music honoring the late Brian Berg at Doug Fir Lounge this coming Saturday.

As he’ll breathlessly tell you, it’s all been a whirlwind. His nonprofit work since setting up the foundation in 2010 has been “never ending.” It all started as an idea after the local music community rallied to help him cover medical expenses related to a heart condition that proved life-threatening just a few years back.

Jeremy Wilson fills in the “Empty Spaces” live in The Helm. Photo by Anne Marie

In our interview, Jeremy talks about the foundation’s work but he also goes deep into his musical upbringing and the influences that shaped his career. He shares some great stories from his days at the forefront of American indie rock in the late 80s and early 90s, and also plays some songs from his stunning solo record from 2014, “Empty Through Empty Spaces.”

We hope that after hearing Jeremy speak about the work he’s doing with the foundation (and catching on to his infectious spirit), you’ll make a donation to help provide a safety net for our local musicians in need. Also, you can support Jeremy by purchasing a download of his latest record.

This episode features more music from some of our finest local artists, including The Resolectrics, 44 Long, Tin Silver and Missi & Mister Baker. We also share some tunes from podcast favorites such as Matt Woods, Turnpike Troubadours, Hellbound Glory and John Moreland.

So settle in on a rainy day, and dream away. Here’s the playlist:

Newspaper, The Resolectrics
In From The Cold, Missi & Mister Baker
Everybody Has A Way, 44 Long (featuring Paul Brainard)
Empty Through Empty Space (Live In The Helm), Jeremy Wilson
The Sliver, Jeremy Wilson
The Whisper (Live In The Helm), Jeremy Wilson
Let The Poor Man Beg, Jeremy Wilson
Drown, Son Volt
For The Good Life, Joey Kneiser
Repossesed, Hellbound Glory
If The Good Lord’s A Good Ol’ Boy, The eXcavators
Drinking To Forget, Matt Woods
American Flags in Black & White, John Moreland
The Bird Hunters, The Turnpike Troubadours
David, Cody Jinks
Dear Susan, Tin Silver

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Holding down The Helm: Co-hosts Eric, Phil and Mike of That Much Further West Podcast. Photo by Anne Marie

Episode #59 — Seasonal Fall Favorites

A last-minute cancellation left us without a guest for Episode #59 of That Much Further West Podcast, but our fearless co-hosts figured, ‘What the hell? Let’s plow forward anyway.” So with a bare-bones crew on hand, they convened at The Helm to share some tunes from some of their favorite fall releases and promote the slew of shows on tap in Portland over the next few weeks, several involving the best and brightest from the world of alt-country.

Ironically, as the lads were taping this show, alt-country darling Chris Stapleton was cleaning up at the very mainstream Country Music Awards and making a big splash on the nationally televised awards show. The next morning his awards show performance, with pop superstar Justin Timberlake riding shotgun, was the talk of the internet.

The boys at work, with Sadie the dog on the run. Photo by Anne Marie

Mr. Stapleton had already won over the podcast crew with his earnest, whiskey-soaked approach, soon to be on display at his show this coming Thursday at the Wonder Ballroom in our homebase of Portland, Oregon, USA. We kick off the podcast with a song from him and soon follow up with one from Sturgill Simpson, whose show at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland this coming Saturday has been sold out for months.

We also feature a live song from Lucero, our much-talked-about podcast namesakes who are on their way back to Portland for a show at the Crystal on the 18th. And we revisit a couple of albums that we’ve been spinning constantly during the fall —Aaron Lee Tasjan’s “In The Blazes” LP and Bottle Rockets’ “South Broadway Athletic Club,” released a few weeks back on Bloodshot Records.

Whispering Philly — oddly sober and somber — gets demonstrative during the show. Photo by Anne Marie

On a more somber note, co-host Phil Favorite shares a song and a few memories of his recently passed friend Brian Berg, the brains and brawn behind the great Portland band 44 Long. Brian left us for good a few weeks back and the city’s music scene has been in mourning ever since. With tributes from throughout the community pouring in, we’d be remiss to not share a few stories one of Brian’s many awesome songs, in this case “God Loves A Fool” from 44 Long’s iconic debut, Collect Them All.

So have at it folks . . . like a punch to the face, it’s quick, powerful and to the point. And the music is well worth your time on a cool November day. Here’s the playlist:

Might As Well Get Stoned, Chris Stapleton
Beyond The Moon, Old Man Markley
God Loves A Fool, 44 Long
Long White Line, Sturgill Simpson
Really Wanna See You, Lydia Loveless
Lucinda’s Room, Aaron Lee Tasjan
A Dangerous Thing, Lucero
Portland, Drag The River
Picture In My Mind, Freakwater
The Champagne of Tears, Drunken Prayer
Snake Farm, Ray Wylie Hubbard
Monday (Every Time I Turn Around), Bottle Rockets

That Much Further West Podcast

Sharing our favorite Americana, Alt-country and Roots Rock music from the Pacific Northwest

Tag Archives: Brian Berg

Episode #60 featuring Jeremy Wilson

Episode #59 — Seasonal Fall Favorites