Jon Stickley is the frontman and legendary flatpicking guitarist for Jon Stickley Trio. Jon is a seasoned multi-instrumentalist playing professionally behind the guitar, bass, mandolin, and drums. Jon Stickley Trio released their fourth LP, Scripting the Flip, during the pandemic when Jon also became a father for the first time. He discusses some of the changes he has already experienced as he navigates returning to touring post fatherhood.
In Episode 23, The Live from Banjo Podcast hit the road and headed to Lafayette, GA. With heavy rains just coming to an end and the crowd in full party mode, ready for a series of incredibly acts to take the stage, Jon Stickley and I sat down for a live recording at Forward Festival in May of 2021.Jon is the guitarist and frontman for Jon Stickley Trio. Jon and I discuss his life as a punk rock drummer, his introduction to bluegrass and the mandolin by his best friend, Leftover Salmon banjo player Andy Thorn.We discuss the many bands, instruments, and inspirational musicians that help cultivate Jon’s unique songwriting and playing. We walk through Jon’s childhood, marriage, and newly acquired fatherhood. We also take a look at the serendipitous series of events, including a pandemic, that allowed Jon, a nearly non-stop touring musician, to take a year and a half off to be with his wife. Jon remained home for Julianne’s entire pregnancy, and Jon was also home to welcome his son Callum into the world. It has now been seven months since his son was born, and Jon is finally hitting the road.
He discusses his plans to navigate getting back on the road, with the extreme changes to his life over the past year. In this week’s wrap-up, Crystal and I discuss legendary guitarists Doc Watson and Tony Rice. We look at the history of legendary indie-punk record labels Lookout Records and Fat Wreck Chords. Crystal discusses her distaste for Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life), and I give a little background on Durham’s own. Merge Records. Crystal and I also look forward to our retirement plan as honorary park rangers, utilizing my bear-fighting cyborg appendages. Walter, per usual, likes to make himself known to the listeners. I hope you enjoy this week’s chat with Mr. Jon Stickley.