Walter Martin spent decades making and playing music, most famously with the indie rock bands Jonathan Fire*Eater and The Walkmen. Recently, he’s started a new crazy good turn, helping people like you and me rediscover the joy of music through his Walter Martin Radio Hour show and Substack.
In this episode, we discuss:
How a single instrument (like the organ) can change how you hear a song.
Why Walter chooses positivity over rock criticism.
Moving past the "judgmental" years to love bands you once dismissed.
The "Crazy Good Turn" of human-to-human music discovery.
Chapters & Timed Links:
[05:07] The Austin Kleon Connection: How two creators found each other through "the magic of the internet."
[07:29] From NYC to Upstate: The origin of The Walter Martin Radio Hour.
[10:16] The Classical Club: Why Walter is diving deep into Strauss and Stravinsky.
[12:07] The Organ Episode: Learning to hear the difference between a Hammond and a Farfisa.
[21:43] Breaking the "Teenage Rules": How Walter learned to love the Grateful Dead and Neil Young.
[23:52] Walter’s Favorite new musician right now.
[28:57] Walter’s Songs: Discussing "The Rat" and the autobiographical beauty of "The Soldier."
[31:33] Who’s done a Crazy Good Turn for Walter?