Rock Docs Podcast: Listening to Kenny G with Franz Nicolay

Rock Docs is getting close to a major milestone episode, and your hosts, Andy Keatts and David Lizerbram, have something special planned on the horizon. But before we get there, David (Andy is away this week) is spending the week with a wildly successful if critically controversial figure in music: Kenny G.

This week’s episode is on Listening to Kenny G, a 2021 film about the saxophone colossus, directed by Penny Lane. Listening to Kenny G was released under HBO’s “Music Box” series, which also included Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed, but hasn’t been very active as of late. The G man himself sat for extensive interviews and the film dispassionately explores what makes his music both appealing and controversial to audiences and music fans around the world. It’s a rich text, and one could view Kenny as either the hero or villain of the movie.

Plus: Is Kenny G like Phish? Since Andy was unavailable for this episode, he didn’t get a chance to weigh in on this important topic, but David and this week’s special guest bat that idea around a bit anyway.

Speaking of which: This week’s guest is Franz Nicolay, multi-instrumentalist and composer, who records his own music and also is known from bands such as The Hold Steady and the World/Inferno Friendship Society. Franz’s fascinating new book, Band People, features interviews with musicians who have made a career in the music industry, often outside of the spotlight.

Hear the latest episode below and watch the trailer for Listening to Kenny G.