Almost Famous Enough

Brandon on Yukon Blonde, solo music, and building a sustainable creative life
Brandon talks with Glen Erickson about balancing his long-running role in Yukon Blonde with solo work, how a busy Canadian indie career has evolved over 20 years, and what it takes to keep making music without burning out. They also discuss the Vancouver music scene, trusted collaborators, and how visual art continues to shape his songwriting.
Feature moments
Brandon reflects on early acclaim, touring momentum, and the burnout that followed.
He explains how Yukon Blonde rebuilt its team and made the band more sustainable.
Brandon and Glen discuss Vancouver’s music community and why Green Auto matters.
Brandon shares how collaboration helped shape his solo EP Pressed Flowers.
 
ep52 Brandon Wolfe Scott non blonde
released October 22, 2026
1:32:01
https://brandonwolfescott.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/brandonwolfescott/
https://www.youtube.com/@brandonscott1984
hosts: Glen Erickson, Alexi Erickson
AFE: https://www.almostfamousenough.com
AFE instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostfamousenough
AFE Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1o1PRD2X0i3Otmpn8vi2zP?si=1ece497360564480
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:11 Balancing solo work with a full-time band
00:05:09 Why Yukon Blonde stays the priority
00:07:28 The awkward middle stage of a music career
00:09:10 How longtime fans respond as the band evolves
00:11:25 Early acclaim, CBC Radio 3, and what success felt like
00:13:26 Touring, burnout, and writing solo songs
00:16:13 Mismanagement and hard lessons
00:18:23 Rebuilding the team and making the band sustainable
00:20:43 Vancouver bands and scene connections
00:23:17 Flaming Lips as an early creative influence
00:24:20 Growing up in Quesnel and finding a path into music
00:27:23 The long runway to becoming a solid band
00:28:23 Women, Calgary’s indie scene, and musical peers
00:30:07 What’s thriving in music and why Green Auto matters
00:33:15 Green Auto Fest and DIY infrastructure
00:35:17 Shape and Space, visual art, and film-adjacent work
00:38:42 Creative control over art direction and album visuals
00:41:02 How the solo records differ from Yukon Blonde
00:43:14 Slide guitar, harmonies, and Beatles influences
00:47:09 Pressed Flowers and letting go of control
00:48:11 Collaborating with Gavin and James
00:52:28 Playing live with Dan Mangan and testing new songs
00:54:29 Why the solo project has stayed EP-based
00:58:30 Post-fame with Alexi
Almost Famous Enough is a series of conversations centered around the music industry, pulling back the veil on what it really means to “make it”. Our podcast features guests who know the grind, who have lived the dream, or at the very least, chased the dream. Through these conversational biographies, truth and vulnerability provide more than a topical roadmap or compile some career advice; they can appeal to the dreamer in us all, with stories that can teach us, inspire us, and even reconcile us, and make us feel like we made a new friend along the way.

Joel Plaskett on music, identity, and the tension between analog life and AI
Joel Plaskett joins Glen Erickson for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from privacy and digital fatigue to the realities of sustaining a long music career. They unpack what it means to make art in an increasingly algorithmic world, reflecting on place, age, and the changing shape of creative work. Joel shares how his life has been split between Nova Scotia and Vancouver Island, why that tension remains creatively productive, and how honors like the Order of Nova Scotia and the Portia White Award fit alongside his local identity. The conversation also explores Thrush Hermit, the Halifax music scene of the 1990s, building a studio, and why he still feels compelled to make new work rather than settle into legacy mode.
Key topics
Joel’s move to Vancouver Island while maintaining ties to Nova Scotia, family, and his studio and business.
Digital privacy, data collection, AI, and the risks of algorithmic culture.
Why humanities, philosophy, and art matter beyond material efficiency.
Aging, touring, and the realities of sustaining a music career into your fifties.
Thrush Hermit, the Halifax scene, and regional music identity.
Artists like Nick Lowe and Gillian Welch as examples of staying creatively vital over time.
ep51 Joel Plaskett thinking out loud
released October 15, 2026
1:47:18
https://joelplaskett.com/
https://www.instagram.com/joelplaskett
https://www.youtube.com/@joelplaskett
hosts: Glen Erickson, Alexi Erickson
AFE: https://www.almostfamousenough.com
AFE instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostfamousenough
AFE Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1o1PRD2X0i3Otmpn8vi2zP?si=1ece497360564480
Almost Famous Enough is a series of conversations centered around the music industry, pulling back the veil on what it really means to “make it”. Our podcast features guests who know the grind, who have lived the dream, or at the very least, chased the dream. Through these conversational biographies, truth and vulnerability provide more than a topical roadmap or compile some career advice; they can appeal to the dreamer in us all, with stories that can teach us, inspire us, and even reconcile us, and make us feel like we made a new friend along the way.
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:24 Moving to Vancouver Island and living between coasts
00:07:37 Nova Scotia, recognition, and identity
00:12:20 Turning 50 and finding a sustainable pace
00:18:45 Defining success beyond recognition
00:25:37 Building a studio, shop, and creative community
00:31:23 Restlessness, risk-taking, and creative focus
00:35:47 Burnout, aging, and digital saturation
00:38:31 Maps, algorithms, and the value of getting lost
00:41:12 Speed, communication, and Marshall McLuhan
00:44:26 AI, meaning, and the limits of efficiency
00:47:07 Imperfection, analogue sound, and making art human
00:50:14 The efficiency paradox and the cost of “more”
00:55:07 Making space to think instead of react
01:01:15 Thrush Hermit and the Halifax indie-rock scene
01:07:21 Touring lore, regional scenes, and early career lessons
01:15:42 Staying creatively alive across a long music career
01:19:12 Playing the hits while still making new work
01:23:10 Why long-form conversations still matter
01:26:35 Post-Fame with Alexi

Chevy Beaulieu talks through the long road from playing family gigs in the Northwest Territories to signing with 604 Records and releasing his self-titled album. He also shares how his roots, his mixed background, and a wide range of influences shaped a sound that sits between traditional country, outlaw country, rock, and a little bit of everything else.This is a story about learning the craft first, then learning the business later. Chevy also gets honest about the frustration of being ignored by labels, the value of staying authentic, and why he believes “overnight success” is a myth.
Key topics
Chevy Beaulieu explains the pronunciation of his last name and the family history behind it, including his father, a three-time Canadian fiddle champion.
Music was always around him at home through fiddle tunes, family band performances, and influences like Merle Haggard, Texas Tornadoes, Doug Kershaw, and Cajun music.
Family gigs meant being “always ready,” with little rehearsal and a set list built around weddings, bars, First Nations gatherings, funerals, and old standards.
His first self-released album, Firecracker, came out in 2019 while he was still working full time at a diamond mine and had no real understanding of royalties, registrations, or the business side of music.
Chevy describes the frustration of submitting demos and often getting no response, including blunt rejections from labels that did not even listen to the songs.
He eventually signed with 604 Records after being invited down for what he thought was just an acoustic office performance, not a real audition.
He also talks about the realities of touring, casino gigs, and why live music pay has become harder for working musicians.
https://chevybeaulieumusic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/chevy_beaulieu_music
https://www.youtube.com/@chevybeaulieu2294
ep50 Chevy Beaulieu is a bush baby
released October 8, 2026
1:34:44

hosts: Glen Erickson, Alexi Erickson
AFE: https://www.almostfamousenough.com
AFE instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostfamousenough
AFE Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1o1PRD2X0i3Otmpn8vi2zP?si=1ece497360564480
Almost Famous Enough is a series of conversations centered around the music industry, pulling back the veil on what it really means to “make it”. Our podcast features guests who know the grind, who have lived the dream, or at the very least, chased the dream. Through these conversational biographies, truth and vulnerability provide more than a topical roadmap or compile some career advice; they can appeal to the dreamer in us all, with stories that can teach us, inspire us, and even reconcile us, and make us feel like we made a new friend along the way.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:02:42 - Meeting Chevy Beaulieu
00:07:01 - Roots, Heritage, and Identity
00:09:12 - A Family Legacy of Music
00:14:32 - The Family Band and Learning the Craft
00:18:33 - Early Songwriting and Finding Direction
00:23:37 - Developing a Voice as an Artist
00:25:16 - Funding the First Record
00:32:13 - The Story Behind the Name Chevy
00:33:26 - Rejection, Demos, and Breaking Into the Industry
00:36:54 - Finding a Home at 604 Records
00:42:02 - Country Music Influences and Musical Identity
00:49:25 - Songs, Covers, and Country Music Legacy
00:53:24 - Signing a Deal, Waiting, and Building a Team
01:00:59 - New Music, Awards, and Life on the Road
01:15:08 - Post-Fame with Alexi

Glen Erickson talks with Jon Bryant about the winding path from art school album covers to a career in indie folk, acting, and voice work. The conversation traces the moments that shaped Jon’s creative identity, including early luck, personal loss, the Nexium experience, pandemic disruption, and how fatherhood and returning home to Nova Scotia informed his upcoming record Harbor. They also dig into what it means to market art honestly in the age of social media, how vulnerability can deepen connection without becoming a gimmick, and why Jon sees his voice as the center of everything he makes.
Key topics
Jon’s art-school assignment that sparked his first album, and the unexpected Apple Canada breakthrough.
Building an audience through DIY touring, visual design, and changing approaches to marketing.
His reflections on church culture, Nexium, and the complex mix of harm and belonging.
The pandemic’s impact on his career, his creative identity, and connecting with fans.
Acting, voice work, fatherhood, and the return to Nova Scotia that shaped Harbor.
https://www.jonbryantmusic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jonrbryant
https://www.youtube.com/@JonBryant
ep49 Jon Bryant is more at home
released October 1, 2026
1:55:17

hosts: Glen Erickson, Alexi Erickson
AFE: https://www.almostfamousenough.com
AFE instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostfamousenough
AFE Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1o1PRD2X0i3Otmpn8vi2zP?si=1ece497360564480
Almost Famous Enough is a series of conversations centered around the music industry, pulling back the veil on what it really means to “make it”. Our podcast features guests who know the grind, who have lived the dream, or at the very least, chased the dream. Through these conversational biographies, truth and vulnerability provide more than a topical roadmap or compile some career advice; they can appeal to the dreamer in us all, with stories that can teach us, inspire us, and even reconcile us, and make us feel like we made a new friend along the way.
Chapters
00:00:00 — Introduction
00:02:37 — Glen and Jon’s First Connection
00:07:39 — From First Record to a Music Career
00:10:22 — Art, Design, and Finding a Creative Voice
00:13:04 — Growing Up and Leaving Home
00:15:57 — Learning the Independent Artist’s Grind
00:21:35 — Early Breakthroughs and Building Momentum
00:24:27 — Marketing Music Without Losing the Story
00:31:52 — Vulnerability, Social Media, and Self-Doubt
00:39:06 — Life Changes, Cult Classic, and Creative Growth
00:46:36 — The Pandemic and Finding a New Path
00:51:28 — Therapy Notes, Mental Health, and Songwriting
00:56:58 — When Songs Become Part of Someone Else’s Story
00:58:20 — Acting, Voice Work, and New Creative Outlets
01:02:31 — Identity, Adaptation, and Being Yourself
01:09:49 — The Connection of Live Performance
01:12:01 — Harbor, Parenthood, and Returning Home
01:24:16 — Post-fame with Alexi

Freelance musician and multi-instrumentalist Lisa Jacobs joins me to discuss her diverse career as an award-winning bass player and a dedicated music therapist. We dive into the grit of touring, studio recording sessions, and how she balances the energy of massive festival stages with the quiet intimacy of clinical music therapy. Lisa shares her unique mindset on finding longevity in the music industry, overcoming performance anxiety, and the real definition of confidence.
ep48 Lisa Jacobs finds little joys
released June 18, 2026
1:53:26
https://www.instagram.com/lisajuliejacobs/
Key Takeaways
Dual Dualities & Symbiotic Career Paths: Lisa successfully balances a high-energy performance career with the quiet intimacy of music therapy, allowing both worlds to uniquely inform and feed into each other .
The Clinical Power of Music Memory: Because music is stored across multiple areas of the brain, it acts as a powerful non-verbal tool to unlock memories and restore personal identity for dementia and palliative care patients .
The Reality of Passion Projects: Disproving the cliché myth that loving your job means never working, Lisa emphasizes that even dream careers require immense sacrifice, unglamorous behind-the-scenes toil, and dealing with burnout .
True Confidence is Earned Through Failure: Genuine confidence is not unearned bravado; rather, it is built incrementally by leaning into discomfort, making mistakes, and actively working to get better at a skill over time .
Strategic Cultivation of Small Joys: To survive the grueling demands of the music industry and prevent professional misery, Lisa intentionally hunts for tiny moments of connection and beauty on and off the stage .
hosts: Glen Erickson, Alexi Erickson
https://www.almostfamousenough.com
AFE instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostfamousenough
AFE Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1o1PRD2X0i3Otmpn8vi2zP?si=1ece497360564480
Almost Famous Enough is a series of conversations centered around the music industry, pulling back the veil on what it really means to “make it”. Our podcast features guests who know the grind, who have lived the dream, or at the very least, chased the dream. Through these conversational biographies, truth and vulnerability provide more than a topical roadmap or compile some career advice; they can appeal to the dreamer in us all, with stories that can teach us, inspire us, and even reconcile us, and make us feel like we made a new friend along the way.
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction
00:04:15 Catching up with Lisa Jacobs
00:06:44 Life as a Freelance Musician
00:09:42 The Dual Role: Musician and Music Therapist
00:12:43 The Power of Music Therapy
00:15:45 Connecting Through Music: A Personal Story
00:18:43 Finding Balance: The Performer and the Healer
00:24:34 Rediscovering Self: The Journey of Balance
00:31:40 Understanding Emotional Patterns
00:34:07 The Journey of a Musician
00:37:58 Early Musical Influences and Opportunities
00:41:06 The Freelance Musician's Path
00:46:45 Finding Joy in the Journey
00:53:55 Authenticity on Stage and Off
01:00:01 The Value of Vulnerability in Music
01:03:22 Fashion Influences and Sisterhood
01:06:02 The Power of Personal Style
01:09:17 The Balance of Light and Dark in Music and Fashion
01:14:24 Confidence Through Experience
01:19:23 The Journey of a Musician
01:24:26 Embracing Opportunities and Personal Growth
01:33:04 Post-Fame with Alexi