Never Not Funny fans have been clamoring for more of Pat Francis, and now they can enjoy a weekly dose of Third Chair. Francis and Gary Lucy co-host Rock Solid, the first podcast to be presented by Never Not Funny.
"Jimmy [Pardo] and Matt [Belknap] called me and said 'We need to have a Never Not Funny meeting,'" says Francis. "And, I knew that the last time they said that, Mike Schmidt got fired. So, I didn't quite know what it was. But, they said 'We want to expand and have podcasts that fall under the Never Not Funny umbrella.' Jimmy was very complimentary about the music reviews I've been writing for Pop Culture Beast ... and he said 'We'd like to do a music podcast like that.'"
"It was the only podcast that made sense to present under the Never Not Funny umbrella," says Pardo. "It's important for new podcasts to be specific, to have a theme. And this idea just seemed right."
Francis immediately knew that the best format for the podcast would include a co-host. "Just one guy talking, that's hard to do. If you're not good at it, it's unlistenable. I didn't think I could do that." Writer and producer Gary Lucy was a mutual friend of the NNF crew and a music lover. "We are both passionate about music. He seems to skew more towards the indie rock and he's more open to new music. I'm someone who likes the bands I've always liked." After Francis made the co-host suggestion, Pardo contacted Lucy.
"A week later we did it. That's what's great about podcasting: If you wanted a radio show, you'd be on a year later, or not at all. We also have the facility at On the Page studios [where Never Not Funny and other podcasts also record], and Matt agreed to produce."
By including 29 seconds or less of each music clip, and by essentially promoting the music they include, Francis believes that Rock Solid avoids any clearance issues potentially plaguing a music-based podcast.
Francis and Lucy have a few ideas for future episodes, and with a tight focus and two entertaining hosts passionate about music, new themes can emerge organically. Francis is also open to the possibility of expanding the format. "Down the road, I'd like to get some musical guests in the studio." Like who? Eddie Money, Eddie Trunk and musically-gifted Tawny Kitaen are all on Francis' list.
In a podcasting climate rife with untethered riffing, Rock Solid's backing and focus give it a genuine chance to thrive.
ROCK SOLID, EPISODE 1: DEBUT ALBUMS
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