EPISODE · Jun 9, 2026 · 45 MIN
OpiumWesternRadio-002-Going to the Well
from Opium Western Radio · host Kimberly K Henrie
Welcome back to week two of Opium Western Radio! This week, the guys are back in the studio with Kimberly to unpack what it really takes to transition from a "bedroom warrior" to a professional gigging musician, the timeless magic of analog energy, and the wild backstory behind their track, "Make Me Love You".Whether you're a lifelong crate-digger or a digital native, grab a glass of wine, turn up the speakers, and dive deep into the classic rock melting pot with us.Inside The Episode:The Saturday Monsoons: Dane recaps his recent solo gig at the Tree House and how a sudden storm brought out the best in the local crowd.Going to the Well: A look inside the band's massive eclectic influences—from Chicago and Jeff Beck to Zappa and jazz-infused rock—and how those diverse sounds become the secret sauce for their jam sessions.The Work vs. The Play: Why making music look effortless actually requires a "shit ton of work", the grit it takes to conjure up your mojo at will, and why the best performances are a pure energy exchange with the audience.Mechanical Soul vs. Digital Ether: The band gets nostalgic over vinyl, eight-tracks, and home-recorded cassettes, breaking down why the human ear responds so beautifully to the mechanical, healing reproduction of sound.The Story Behind "Make Me Love You": Dane shares the true (and edgy) backstory of a chance encounter with a Myspace redhead at a country bar in Wichita, and Steve explains how he used his music theory background to build the track's massive, stacked vocal harmonies.Studio Archives & A Live Jam: The guys share an update on heading back into the studio to retrack some archive gems and wrap up the show by writing a brand-new track right on the spot."If it's badass and cool now, guess what? 20 or 30 years from now, it still will be. It never goes out of style." — DaneMentioned in this Episode:Artists & Tracks: Chicago (25 or 6 to 4), The Doors, Jeff Beck, Chick Corea, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Ozzy Osbourne (Crazy Train), Paul McCartney, and Kansas.The Gear & Nostalgia: Classic Klipschorn speakers, eight-track tapes, and the lost art of holding your finger on a cassette recorder record button.Let's Party!Opium Western is always on the hunt for the next great stage, and yes—they play private parties! If you have a reason to celebrate (or even if you don't), reach out to Kimbetly to get the band booked. As Steve says: "Just have a fricking party!"Connect With Us:Website:http://www.opiumwestern.comListen & Subscribe: Available wherever you get your podcasts.Opium Western Radio: No script, no filter, just the music and everything around it.Opium Western:Dane Mulligan - vocals, guitarSteve Froese - drums, vocalsBryan Lawson - bassOpiumWestern.comFor Booking Info: (541) 399-6878 or [email protected] Western Radio produced in part by King Henrie Creative LLC.
What this episode covers
Welcome back to week two of Opium Western Radio! This week, the guys are back in the studio with Kimberly to unpack what it really takes to transition from a "bedroom warrior" to a professional gigging musician, the timeless magic of analog energy, and the wild backstory behind their track, "Make Me Love You".Whether you're a lifelong crate-digger or a digital native, grab a glass of wine, turn up the speakers, and dive deep into the classic rock melting pot with us.Inside The Episode:The Saturday Monsoons: Dane recaps his recent solo gig at the Tree House and how a sudden storm brought out the best in the local crowd.Going to the Well: A look inside the band's massive eclectic influences—from Chicago and Jeff Beck to Zappa and jazz-infused rock—and how those diverse sounds become the secret sauce for their jam sessions.The Work vs. The Play: Why making music look effortless actually requires a "shit ton of work", the grit it takes to conjure up your mojo at will, and why the best performances are a pure energy exchange with the audience.Mechanical Soul vs. Digital Ether: The band gets nostalgic over vinyl, eight-tracks, and home-recorded cassettes, breaking down why the human ear responds so beautifully to the mechanical, healing reproduction of sound.The Story Behind "Make Me Love You": Dane shares the true (and edgy) backstory of a chance encounter with a Myspace redhead at a country bar in Wichita, and Steve explains how he used his music theory background to build the track's massive, stacked vocal harmonies.Studio Archives & A Live Jam: The guys share an update on heading back into the studio to retrack some archive gems and wrap up the show by writing a brand-new track right on the spot."If it's badass and cool now, guess what? 20 or 30 years from now, it still will be. It never goes out of style." — DaneMentioned in this Episode:Artists & Tracks: Chicago (25 or 6 to 4), The Doors, Jeff Beck, Chick Corea, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Ozzy Osbourne (Crazy Train), Paul McCartney, and Kansas.The Gear & Nostalgia: Classic Klipschorn speakers, eight-track tapes, and the lost art of holding your finger on a cassette recorder record button.Let's Party!Opium Western is always on the hunt for the next great stage, and yes—they play private parties! If you have a reason to celebrate (or even if you don't), reach out to Kimbetly to get the band booked. As Steve says: "Just have a fricking party!"Connect With Us:Website:http://www.opiumwestern.comListen & Subscribe: Available wherever you get your podcasts.Opium Western Radio: No script, no filter, just the music and everything around it.Opium Western:Dane Mulligan - vocals, guitarSteve Froese - drums, vocalsBryan Lawson - bassOpiumWestern.comFor Booking Info: (541) 399-6878 or [email protected] Western Radio produced in part by King Henrie Creative LLC.
NOW PLAYING
OpiumWesternRadio-002-Going to the Well
No transcript for this episode yet