Welcome back to another electrifying episode of Matt Connarton Unleashed! We’re thrilled to reconnect with the incredibly talented Jon Pousette-Dart, who’s making his return to Manchester, New Hampshire’s Rex Theater on June 5th at 7:30 PM. It’s been since September 2024 since Jon graced our show, and boy, do we have some ground to cover! From his enduring musical partnership to his thoughts on artistic expression in today’s divided world, this conversation is packed with insights that every music lover needs to hear.

Key Topics Discussed

The Power of Musical Partnership

• Jon’s 25-year collaboration with Jim Chaplaine has evolved into something truly special
• Their chemistry transcends typical musician relationships - “he’s like a musical brother to me”
• The duo format allows for intimate, organic performances where songs truly shine
• Both musicians share connections with legendary players like Al Anderson from NRBQ

Adapting to the Streaming Era

• The Album Dilemma: Jon’s revelation about his “best record ever made” becoming nearly invisible in today’s market
• Strategic shift from full albums to regular single releases with videos
• Recognition that attention spans have shrunk to “five or ten seconds or less”
• Embracing constant content flow rather than waiting between major releases

Creative Evolution and Competition

• The challenge of competing against your own legacy (echoing Paul Stanley’s observations)
• Why continuing to create and evolve remains essential for any true artist
• Music as a “first love” that demands constant forward movement
• Finding silver linings and expressing current experiences through art

Studio Collaborations and Dream Teams

• Working with Nashville legends at Ronnie Millsap’s studio
• Collaborating with the late, great Bill Warndick
• Recording with dream musicians including Reggie Young, David Hungate, and Glenn Morrow
• Upcoming film project with an Argentine director

Art, Politics, and Authentic Expression

• Discussion of “Put Your Gun Down” and its origins with the Anti Handgun Coalition
• Strong stance on artists’ rights to express political views
• The importance of substance over “pure entertainment”
• Why protest songs and meaningful messages are integral to artistic expression

Notable Quotes

“We’ve been playing for so long together that there’s just it’s a really nice chemistry and we kind of have a good idea of what each other are is going to do… he’s like a musical brother to me.”

“I’ve found that I’m putting out singles with videos regularly, so I don’t wait… there’s a constant stream of things coming rather than waiting for a long time, putting out a release, seeing a few cuts get through.”

“I completely concur that… protest songs, anything that’s all important, all important parts of expressing the integral things that need to be spoken about.”

“You have to have heart and soul and be saying the things that are important to you as an artist through every medium that you deal with.”

Don’t Miss This Show!

Jon Pousette-Dart Duo
June 5th, 7:30 PM
Rex Theater, Manchester, NH

If you haven’t experienced the Rex Theater, this is your perfect opportunity. Jon and Jim will be performing material spanning Jon’s entire catalog - from the classic Capitol Records tracks to recent solo work and some intriguing covers you won’t hear anywhere else.

Listen to the Music

We featured Jon’s latest singles during the show:
- “Better Every Day” (co-written with Gary Nicholson)
- “Can We Just Talk”

Both tracks showcase Jon’s continued evolution as a songwriter and his ability to work with top-tier musicians who bring his vision to life.

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