Big Yellow Podcast

Well, this is another milestone for Big Yellow Podcast: our first guest who has sold out Madison Square Garden.

My guest today is the exceptionally talented Lizzy McAlpine, who is scheduled to play MSG in June of 2027, but that’s frankly just one bit of her incredible resume. She’s also acted on Broadway and she just recently released her fourth studio album, Angel, which is much of the focus of our conversation here.

She’s also, of course, a huge fan of Joni’s, as you’ll be able to tell from our chat and from listening to Angel, which was inspired heavily by albums like Blue and Hejira.

But I’ll let Lizzy do that explaining! More information about Lizzy’s music and her tour can be found on her website.

As always, thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

I must thank my friend Matthew Ingate for getting me connecting with Naomi in Blue, my guest for this episode. I can’t emphasize enough how grateful I am that many of you out there have helped point me in the right direction in terms of incredible interview guests.

The British-Chilean singer-songwriter Naomi in Blue — she’ll explain her stage name in this episode, fear not — has released her debut (!!) album, Is This Body Mine? and it’s an wonderfully visceral piece of work. She draws from Joni, but you’ll also here essences of people like Patti Smith, Fiona Apple and Nico here.

More on Naomi’s music on herBandcamp page.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

We’re on a bit of a roll here at Big Yellow Pod. Today I present you with a wonderful conversation I had with Brianna Falcone, a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles — I stumbled across a video of her covering Joni on Instagram of all things.

As we note in the show, Brianna has a new song coming out on September 12th, which she recorded live, outside under a tree. But there’s plenty more of her work to explore via her website if you should choose.

As always, thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to another Big Yellow Podcast interview episode! Today’s guest is Violet Grohl, a singer-songwriter out of Los Angeles who released her debut album, Be Sweet to Me, in May of this year.

If you listen to Be Sweet to Me, and I hope that you do, you’ll hear its most prominent influences — acts like the Breeders, L7 and other punk rock sorts. (You can probably guess where that came from if you think just a little bit about her last name…)

But Joni, Violet tells me, is a foundational influence for her, as you’ll hear in this episode. (And if you want more on Violet, check out her website, where she’s got a whole bunch of tour dates listed for this year.)

As always, thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

We’re wrapping up the final four of Joni’s studio albums today: ‘Taming the Tiger’ (1998), ‘Both Sides Now’ (2000), ‘Travelogue’ (2002) and ‘Shine’ (2007).

As I mention in this episode…full transparency here: I’m not totally sure where this show will go from here. There likely won’t be consistent guests, but trust me when I say I’m always hearing about new people that I think would make excellent guests, the kind that are carrying similar artistic torches to the one Joni did and still is. If anyone out there has recommendations, I’m always ears.

As always, thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

Wildly enough, this is episode 50 (!!!) of Big Yellow Podcast. For that, I must express my gratitude to all you listeners for being so supportive and excited about this show. This show is truly a passion project and I’m so glad others have found the same joy in it. Thank you, endlessly, for that.

But without further adieu…here is episode 50, featuring the Grammy-nominated and all around wonderful human being Courtney Barnett. Her new album, Creature of Habit, was released on March 27, and she’ll be touring this year behind it. All the details on that can be found on her website.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

I first learned of Courtney Marie Andrews, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, via an album of Tom Waits covers called Women Sing Waits. That title speaks for itself, and Courtney does a brilliant version of “Downtown Train" on it.

Personally, I love Courtney’s 2020 album Old Flowers, especially “Burlap String.” It was on repeat often during the early post-pandemic months when there still wasn’t much to do except take walks around the park.

That’s all to say: I’m a fan. So it was a wonderful treat when she agreed to meet me in person at a bar in the East Village to talk about her brand new album Valentine, which comes out January 16, plus the ever-shifting influence of Joni Mitchell on her work. Courtney is as lovely to speak with as it is to listen to her music and I’m quite grateful to have spent a bit of solo time with her. Highly recommend checking out the new album and keeping an eye on her website— she’ll be touring behind the album this year!

I hope you’ll excuse the extra background noise/music in this episode. It’s a bit distracting, but it’s the sound of two gals in a New York City bar talkin’ about Joni.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

We’re moving right along here through Joni’s 90s albums. This one might be my favorite of the decade: 1994’s Turbulent Indigo.

Thanks for listening — wishing you a happy and healthy start to the holiday season x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the ‘90s era of Joni Mitchell! You may find some relief here from the over-produced sheen that was the ‘80s, but you will find music no less challenging on 1991’s Night Ride Home.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

Firstly, a big thank you for your patience these last few weeks. Life has been chaotic, in a word, but here I am with a new episode, Today’s focus is one of my personal favorites…

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

We are just chugging right along here with Joni’s ‘80s albums. Next up: 1985’s Dog Eat Dog.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

Many thanks to you all for being patient with me while I took some time off from Big Yellow Pod. I’m hoping to get back into more of a posting routine now that my apartment move is over…

Anyway! Let’s talk about 1982’s Wild Things Run Fast.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

As I mention in this episode, it’s possible the world may not have gotten to know Joni Mitchell the way it ultimately did without Judy Collins, who was an early champion of her work in New York’s Greenwich Village and whose covers of “Both Sides, Now,” “Chelsea Morning” and others helped put Joni in a position to continue soaring upwards.

For those unfamiliar with the story: It was Judy who once got a call in the middle of the night from Al Kooper, who told her she simply must hear this new singer-songwriter. He put Joni on the phone, who sang “Both Sides, Now,” and Judy immediately recognized the magic.

Judy has been a beautiful and inspiring force in the music world for 60 some years and she’s still out there, at 86, delighting audiences with her insight, charm and wisdom. Thrilled to say: here is the next episode of Big Yellow Podcast, featuring Judy Collins.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

It’s amazing how crippling and yet how wondrous social media can be. Without it, I would not have learned about a talented, East Coast indie band called Shallow Alcove. I stumbled upon an Instagram video of members Grace Krichbaum and Dan Harris doing a cover of Joni’s “California.”

Grace and Dan were kind enough to come on the show to talk about Joni’s influence on their work, plus the trials and tribulations of being touring musicians in 2025.

Coincidentally, Shallow Alcove has a brand new EP out today called Doggy Paddle. You can check that out, as well as show dates and more, via their website.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

Cover bands get a bad rap. With the right people, they can be beautiful tributes to music that deserves to live on in local venues or online, made by musicians who care.

Big Yellow Taxi, a cover band based in Massachusetts that performs the music of Joni Mitchell, is an excellent example of that. I recently spoke with two of its members, vocalist Teresa Lorenco and multi-instrumentalist Rich Cahillane, about bringing Joni’s music to audiences who might not otherwise get to hear it and how they’ve grown as artists themselves along the way. (You can check out their concert schedule on their website.)

Not to mention…this marks the very first LIVE performance on Big Yellow Pod!!! I am overjoyed.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

Terri Thal has spent her life working in the world of not-for-profit and social justice. She also happens to hold the title of being Bob Dylan’s first-ever manager. More on that here…

But Terri also crossed paths a number of times in Greenwich Village with Miss Joni Mitchell. And that’s what we talked about here in this episode. (Here’s a link to her book that I mention.)

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

In the late ‘70s, an unlikely couple came together in the form of jazz legend Charles Mingus and singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. The result was 1979’s Mingus. Here’s a little look into how it got made.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

A look at Joni’s first double album and ninth release overall, 1977’s Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

Last fall, I traveled back to my hometown of Buffalo for the Thanksgiving holiday and what should I be greeted with? A Joni Mitchell tribute concert by Lauren and the Good Souls.

Led by Lauren Faggiano, this group has it all — horns, harp, mandolin, etc. — and some great versions of Joni classics, deep cuts and fan favorites.

Here’s my conversation with Lauren. You can check out the band’s website here.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe

A brief look at Joni’s 1976 album Hejira.

For more on this release, check out my interview with Ian Grant of Jokermen fame.

Thanks for listening x

* Allison

Get full access to Big Yellow Podcast at https://allisonrapp.substack.com/subscribe