Chuck Shute Podcast

Todd Kerns (Slash, Bruce Kulick, Heroes & Monsters)

January 06, 2023 Todd Kerns Season 4 Episode 311
Chuck Shute Podcast
Todd Kerns (Slash, Bruce Kulick, Heroes & Monsters)
Show Notes Transcript

Todd Kerns is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer. He is best known for being the bass player and backup singer in Slash’s solo band. Other bands and musicians he’s worked with include The Age of Electric, Toque, Bruce Kulick, and Faster Pussycat. His latest project is called Heroes & Monsters and includes guitarist Stef Burns (ex Alice Cooper) & drummer Will Hunt (Evanescence). We discuss the new band, working with Slash, singing vs playing bass, his Bill Murray story and more!

00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Todd Singing
02:46 - Songwriting Process & Slash
05:24 - New Project as a Trio & Stef Burns
07:41 - Will Hunt & Making the Record
09:45 - Singing Vs. Playing Bass Only
12:15 - Heroes & Monsters New Album
20:26 - Work Ethic & Inspiration
24:40 - Bill Murray Story
26:52 - Cat Charity
28:14 - Outro

Todd Kerns website:
https://toddkerns.com/#home

Chuck Shute website:
http://chuckshute.com/

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Thanks for Listening & Shute for the Moon!

Chuck Shute:

All right, coming up today we have musician Todd Kerns. He is best known for being the bass player with slashes band, but he's actually started out as a singer in the Canadian band, the age of electric and he's played in faster pussycat for a while he sings with Bruce Kulick, formerly of kiss, and he's done some other cool projects and today he is here to discuss his latest thing. Heroes and monsters with guitarist Steph burns and drummer will hunt. It's an amazing new album and we're going to discuss that plus things that he's learned from working with slash and Myles Kennedy his Bill Murray story and more. Stay right there cool, welcome Todd Kerns, I'm a fan. I'm a fan of slash. I'm a fan of you. This is amazing. So how you doing?

Todd Kerns:

Thank you. I love the shirt.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, I got the other one too. It's like the Dickies one. Did you see these?

Todd Kerns:

Wow. Yeah, those are great. Yeah, right. Yeah, it

Chuck Shute:

was really wrinkled. So I didn't want to wear it.

Todd Kerns:

And Oh, where are you?

Chuck Shute:

I'm in Scottsdale, Arizona. Ah,

Todd Kerns:

beautiful. Yes.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, we I saw you on the last tour was slash. And I feel like I've seen you a couple times. But was that the first tour that you didn't let you sing a song?

Todd Kerns:

No, I've been singing since the beginning. Pretty much. I'll probably somewhere in 2010 They started kind of like, I think I started with like, we're all gonna die, or Dr. alibi or one of those songs. And then suddenly, there was some guns and roses and this and that Myles started to kind of enjoy the idea of like, go ahead, you sing a couple songs. I'm gonna go have a smoke, although he doesn't smoke, but

Chuck Shute:

I was blown away when I heard you sing. I was like, Wow, thank you. He's gonna give miles a run for his money a little bit

Todd Kerns:

like, well, I don't know that. But yeah, I appreciate that. No, it's been it's been a lot of fun. I mean, I sort of when I joined the, you know, as a guy who sings, it's sort of your gig is playing bass. And then, you know, we started doing the recordings and, and then it became like, you know, Miles was just very good about like, well just go sing that and go sing this. And Miles is, you know, the guy who sings most of his own harmonies on things like altar bridge, and all that kind of stuff. So, for me, it was he was just really good to me that way. I mean, to the point that later on, in the later records like, world on fire, or living the dream, it became more like, he would do his bits, and then he would just you got the background vocals, he would, wouldn't really worry too much about what I was singing. So. So it became kind of almost like, you know, a lot of the show, I'm sort of strapped to the mic, because I'm, you know, doing my thing. Okay.

Chuck Shute:

So how does that work? I guess it's a two part question like with songwriting. So with slash you got, you know, slashes and Guns and Roses, too. So does he need to bring those riffs to Guns and Roses first, and then Axl goes, now you can keep those ones for your solo stuff? And then how does that work? Also for you, like, do you have to bring your good stuff to slash first and slash goes, now you can keep that for your soul stuff? Or is it all just a free for all and anybody can do what they want?

Todd Kerns:

I think it's always a free for all. I think the big thing with with slash is is like, you know, what I've always giggled about is, you know, the guy writes every single thing he you know, he just starts playing guitar, and I always, you know, play a riff. And I always, my joke is always like, well, I'll be watching a kid play that on YouTube next year. And he always kind of giggles but it's kind of like, it's usually true, every riff he plays is some sort of iconic, you know, classic riff, you know, you just can't help it. But like, everything he everything he comes up with turns into just an icon of a riff, you know, so. So the stuff that I come up with generally, I, you know, I don't, I don't even know where it would wedge in within his world, because he comes in with 1000 guitar riffs that are like, amazing, you know, and then I don't know how it works in the in in the slash, and Guns and Roses world I don't know what I wish I had more to report. I don't know what they're doing with new music and whatnot, but I assume I like him, he like me, it's always very sort of project oriented. If you're working on a record, be it conspirators, you know, if that's what we're working on, and all of our energy goes into that at that moment. So and everything, you know, knowing that you're going to be working on a on a conspirators record in three months from now or in, in in a year from now or whatever, it's kind of like you're kind of like gearing towards that as it's happening. And I think that that's probably exactly the way he works as well, although slashes are very big compiler of riffs. And he's always got like stuff kind of like, you know, boiling. Okay. And then he comes in and and I got this and I got that and I got this. I got that. Yeah.

Chuck Shute:

So has he has he heard that heroes and monsters have you had feedback from him? No, I

Todd Kerns:

haven't had a chance to send him anything yet. I think he's Yeah, he definitely saw a couple of the videos because he he you know, just sort of said that's really cool or whatever I you know, just kind of catching it in in Social Media for him, you know, which is that sort of stuff is always sort of floating around. But he's been always been very supportive of that stuff. You know, we I always have done a lot of other things on the side. And he's always been very, very friendly and cool about that kind of stuff. You know, he's got a lot on his plate. So, yeah, he's always doing a lot. So I for sure bombard him with all the stuff that I have going on. Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

so with this project, I mean, you've uh, so I love that it's a trio, by the way, that's really cool. That makes sense. Does that make it easier for touring and stuff to with like, the prices, you know, because I know it's expensive to tour and I only need to pay three people instead of like five or six.

Todd Kerns:

It makes you realize what, what genius is rush word, doesn't it? It just kind of like, you know, three flights, three hotel rooms, you know, all that kind of stuff. It goes a long way. You're thinking like, man, that would be pretty genius. And I started in in a trio when I was a kid. And to kind of find myself doing it. Now. It's sort of an obvious thing as a guy who plays bass and who sings that it's kind of like it would be an obvious place to kind of find myself. But yeah, it's it's it's really fun. I think that that's kind of, like you say there is a business aspect involved in touring is actually the number one thing about touring is how you're going to make it work. And that's kind of where I'm at with, with everything that I do so with with, with this, it's kind of like well, we can make that work. Of course, you're talking with three guys who are very busy as well who are trying to like, find a moment to go and play together. We finally found it a second ago and play together in Italy for a few weeks and now it'll be fun.

Chuck Shute:

Oh, that's really cool. Yeah. So Steph burns so he is he currently with Huey Lewis or who's his current other band,

Todd Kerns:

he plays it with an artists from Italy named Vasco Rossi who is like a massive a massive artists. So he's been living in Milan a long time. So he's had quite a quite a quite an adventure and quite a cool life being able to kind of, you know, kind of have a whole other existence over there. He's from the Bay Area, but he's been been in Italy for a long time. But he's played with a lot of cool people as you seen Alice Cooper and a bunch people like that. So but he's, uh, he's done a lot. Yeah, but he's mostly over there. And then he does his own thing. And now this you know, with me,

Chuck Shute:

yeah, it's a love his guitar work on this. And it was funny because I was looking at it said, he played on the Hey, stupid album. So I was like, that's like the era where they were on Wayne's World. I was like, I wonder if he was in and he was he was in Wayne's World. So that's a cool resume. No, I

Todd Kerns:

don't I don't think he's actually in Wayne's not thinking about it. No, he but he played on the record. And then he eventually ended up touring with him. I think slash plays on a stupid as well, if I'm not mistaken. Wow, small world.

Chuck Shute:

And then you go, we'll hunt who's currently in Evanescence. But he's played with everybody. Vince Neil Tommy Lee slaughter. What Black Label society? I mean, this guy is an insane draw. How did you find? Did you just know these guys already? Or how did you get these guys to be in your band?

Todd Kerns:

Well, we'll it has been a friend for a long time he plays in Evanescence now, and we, he just reached out and sort of hey, man, I'm doing this thing. Would you be interested in in knocking some stuff? Right? I mean, the the biggest component was locked down, you know, being being sort of, you know, not doing anything, frankly, I just sort of hanging around. So when it became like, Can you can you? What do you think about knocking some ideas around? Like, yeah, absolutely. I'm not doing anything, literally, I'm not doing anything. So. So it became, it became fun to just kind of like, you know, put some ideas down, send it off. Again, and it's like, it's, it's the it's the locked down. And the 21st century that makes this thing possible because we live in a day and age where you can send files around and, and make music together without it being sort of having to all get together in in LA and, and make a record. It's just kind of like we did it completely remote.

Chuck Shute:

Wow. So even the song writing everything and the production, everything.

Todd Kerns:

100% Yeah, it was all done. Like, I'd never even met Steph burns in person, although we'd spent intimate hours, you know, working on songs and stuff. Basically, I get how you and I are talking right now. And then we hadn't even met in person until we went to make videos for this record. Such a weird thing to say. But that's a very modern, modern thing,

Chuck Shute:

I guess. Yeah, it's cool. It's definitely I wouldn't have the opportunity to interview all these great musicians if it weren't for the Zoom technology. I mean, I guess I can do the I was doing the phone calls before and it was like, those are rough, though. It's like you can't see the person. It's kind of staticky. This is way

Todd Kerns:

better. So I agree. I agree. Yeah, it's more of a personal thing to you. Yeah.

Chuck Shute:

Now what do you like? Because obviously, you play with slash you play bass and just where you just play bass, and then obviously now you're fronting this band. Is there one that you prefer? Or do you kind of like because I know for me, like I interview musicians, but I also interview like authors. And the authors are really interesting because I'll get into these really deep thing So then it's like fun to like, okay, let's just talk about fun stuff. Like, uh, you know, with a rock star, that's way more fun. Do you like both? Or if you could only do one would you just do just fronting the band.

Todd Kerns:

Um, I think that's been kind of the most satisfying thing in my career is the ability to kind of like, you know, move into different areas and do different things. And it keeps your brain sharp, it keeps you fresh all the time. I mean, I am a singer, I've always been a singer. So I think that that's, you know, one of the great joys is just doing it. So I think that that's, I feel like in the slash camp, it's pretty damn satisfying. I don't feel like unsatisfied doing that. But, you know, that said, I do really enjoy singing. So I think that, you know, if all if, I guess if you put a gun to my head, I guess singing songs and playing music for people is kind of what I love to do. I mean, I would I wouldn't be opposed to doing, you know, being in a band where I was singing and another guy was singing, you know, like a Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley kind of thing. You know, that that kind of idea. But yeah, it's it's sort of a, that's a very good question. Because it's one of those things I really haven't. I think life has been moving too fast to really sit down and think about like, do I prefer this? Or do I prefer that it's kind of like, I just enjoy it all. So I just kind of roll with it.

Chuck Shute:

That's awesome. Do you ever sing just singing and not playing the bass? Or does it would it feel weird to sing without a bass or guitar? No,

Todd Kerns:

I do. I actually like it. There was I was in a band back in the 90s, where we late 80s, into the 90s, where I was just a singer. But And these days, there's a show here in Las Vegas that I do with, it's called raiding the rock vault down at the Rio. And it's with guys from Whitesnake and art and a bunch of different bands. And, and I just sing in that show, you know, it's like, they just, you know, get to go down there and sing some cool, classic rock covers, and it's fun, you know, it's like, like I say, it's like, I don't really think about it in a funny way. Like it is. It is, it is, you know, like, I'm accustomed to having a guitar, my hands are based on my hands. But I'm just getting up and singing is kind of like, you know, it's fun, you know, as I don't really think too much about like, what I'm not doing is more a case of just kind of like, just don't screw these lyrics up, or whatever.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, well, I love the new album. Again, it's heroes and monsters right now. And it's one of those things where this is like one of those albums where you like every song. And right now my first the first three songs are probably my favorite, but if he asked me in a month that could change. Now what was the decision to go with a full album, versus just a few singles or EPS? Because it seems like now everyone's just like putting out a song a month instead of like, Alright, we're gonna put out a full album.

Todd Kerns:

Yeah, you're not wrong. We I do a project called tuk with Brent Fitz, from slashes band, Canadian thing that we do. And we do put out singles. And it's sort of a different conversation about like, well, do we compile them together? Do we release it as a record? I know, I think that the three of us and with with frontiers are very much sort of like let's compile together a record. I mean, it's, it might be becoming an antiquated idea to have 1012 songs in one package, or at work, you know, the whole thing maybe that's becoming a thing of the past, I don't know. But I think as long as it's still a thing, I think it's something I'd like to lean into for as long as possible. Someday when it's sort of like that's not a thing anymore. You put out Hound Dog on a 45 and then a visa he was basically back to the 50s now isn't putting out singles but um, I think we just decided to kind of collectively make it a record, you know, I mean, and and within that sort of the decision to try and do a you know, proper journey of it as far as like it's not 10 versions of the same song it's sort of some ups and downs and some given go and some bobbing and weaving and I think that's part of the fun of making a collection of songs it should be sort of up and down. Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

it's cool uh, you know, another song I really liked was the cover that you guys did have sweet set me free. The drumming on that is insane. I was like, Is it is it just is he doing some sort of studio trick? Is there like six drummers on this? Because it doesn't sound like one man drumming but what made you decide to cover that because I know Vince Neil covered that which will was in Vince Neil.

Todd Kerns:

I don't think they probably played it live but I don't think he played on that recording either. But no, no, he

Chuck Shute:

didn't replay on the recording now but we we knock boxes as probably no offense to Vicki but well, Vic

Todd Kerns:

Vic plays in like, once he played with like Miley Cyrus or something like that. Yeah, he's in something very interesting that I might be wrong on that. But I thought he was playing with Pretty Boy Floyd. The last I heard would be I mean, but he was doing something kind of like bizarrely like mainstream there for a while. It's cool. But anyway, ya know, we we knocked around a bunch of ideas and kept coming back to that song. And it was just kind of like, let's just lean into it again. I knew it'd be a massive showcase for will. Because he's you know, you He's just one of those guys that can play anything really, he's just a monster drummer. And then, you know, and it's one of those songs that has elements of everything that I like big vocals you know, all that stuff. That's just sort of all the things that I really love about rock and roll. So it just sort of came together, it felt like you kind of fit that into the record pretty well, too. So that that's, you know, suites, one of those bands that I you could cover, you could just randomly cover any of their songs, and you'd find a good one to cover.

Chuck Shute:

No, that's amazing. Yeah, no, tell me about the song. Let's write it. Because I think that's one of my favorite songs. It's, it's so it's weird. It's unique. But it's like familiar at the same time, I'm hearing like 70s influences, like, I don't know, almost here, like a little bit of class, Cheap Trick queen, Beatles. But it's got the heavier guitars got a killer solo, it's got the harmony vocals, like, I just love the song, it tells me how you got inspired to make that song.

Todd Kerns:

That's funny, because I think all those references you just mentioned are kind of like all in there. And I think that's kind of what I love about it, too, is that sort of, you know, like, sort of the pop isms are in there, the big sing along chorus. So that kind of stuff makes it really fun. And you know, there's this sort of stacked sweet harmonies that happen or queen a little bit. That kind of stuff is sort of very much, you know, natural. When you get three guys together. There's a sort of communal idea of the music that you like, but then each guy has his own thing that he's also into. So everybody kind of brings their own sort of their own dish to the potluck, as it were, you know, and I think that that sort of comes out in many occasions, like something like, let's write it, and I think let's write it really is really a strong example of what what what I like and what I think that people know me for. I think people will go like, Oh, yeah, okay, that that sounds like something, even though I think the the giant, the lion's share of the idea came from staff to some degree. But um, yeah, it just kind of has like a lot of the right elements to it. And I think that that's a lot of the references you brought up. You nailed it. I was like, wow, there it all is.

Chuck Shute:

Is that a lot of the album, because I'm kind of hearing some of that it almost has a little bit of that kind of Guns and Roses, Sunset Strip, a kind of like LA guns kind of sleazy rock that I love personally. Are you influenced by that? Or is it more that you guys just have the same influences? You're all influenced by the 70s, punk and rock and that kind of stuff?

Todd Kerns:

That Yeah, it's funny that you say that? Because I think I think truly, like, that's just natural. You know. And I think that that all that stuff that you're talking about is just sort of there. I think that that's sort of that's an interesting thing about influences is it's kind of like when people say like, what are your influences? Yeah, it's hard to even really even say, because sometimes you just pick up a guitar and you start playing something and someone will say, it kind of sounds like those are kind of sounds like that. And you kind of go, Yeah, I guess it does, because that's sort of just all in there. All this sort of DNA that you've sort of taken on is all sort of built into you. And I think all that stuff that, you know, when it comes to guns, I mean, that's, you know, that's just a very natural. It's always going to be there no matter what I do. So yeah, I think it is a component of like, all the same, same influences, but of course, those guys are influences as well.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. So how do you stand out as a musician, because I feel like this album is unique. I mean, it has some of those similar sounds, but then you've also got like, some songs with heavier guitars, and then the last song Angele remain, I thought that kind of reminded me that like a Led Zeppelin kind of Battle of Evermore kind of vibe. Do you try to be eclectic? Or how do you try to stand out as a music? It's just so hard with such a flooded market right now?

Todd Kerns:

Yeah, I think that's kind of thing you can't really think about it, you know, I really don't worry too much about like, what's, what's happening or what's not happening on sort of more of the guy that's, you know, we live in a day and age where people are making less and less original music, like all my heroes stopped making music, there's not a lot of new music coming from the kiss or Aerosmith, or any of the bands that I loved as a kid. So I'm always kind of like, let's just, I'm going to keep making music until, until I can't anymore, basically, so that's gonna be a long time. But that said, it's sort of one of those things where, you know, trying to stand out is, is difficult because I think that, like you say, there's a, you know, you put up a music video on YouTube and two weeks later, it's forgotten about maybe sometimes two hours later. You know, it's just the nature of the way things are. So I think you just kind of have to kind of do what you do. And what's one of the things that I appreciate about bands like guns and roses is there never seem to be any sort of pressure for them to kind of like change to match what was going on? I think they just did what they did and and that worked you know, I think you can you can easily sort of get swamped into trying to do something silly like you know, painting myself purple to try and like, you know, be noticed Whatever. It's kinda like, you know what, we just got to do what we do and make music and hope that, you know that, that people kind of get a chance to hear it. And in this day and age, you know, it's the music business is is crazier and crazier every year. So it's kind of like if you get a chance to put up music, I say jump on it.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, no, it's awesome. Well, I think also a part of it is like your work ethic. I mean, you're doing so many different projects. But one of the things that I read an interview with you talking about how you learned kind of from slash that, just the drive, like how he still has this drive to move forward and make great music, even though he doesn't have to, I thought that was really interesting. Like, yeah, that's a good point. He could just quit and be like, Hey, I don't at all like, but he just keeps going. So you feel that same kind of drive to continue to keep making great music and continue playing because you love it, I'm sure as part of it.

Todd Kerns:

Well, that's the big biggest part of it. Yeah, is that you just love it. I can't imagine like, tomorrow, if somebody said, Okay, well, you're done. You know, I mean, I'd be like, Okay, well, like if they said, you know, everything that you're doing right now is all stopping, you're, you're done, all those things are done, it would just be like, then tomorrow, I would just start something new, I would just find something else to do. And I think that there is something to be said about guys like slash who, you know, even before the solo album, or even before the conspirators got together was sort of like, he very well could have just, you know, he accomplished it all. I mean, but he is constantly trying to better himself as a player, which is, which is really inspiring, because, you know, he doesn't have to, he has achieved, you know, some of the most iconic guitar solos when he was 23. I don't know how old he was. But he's a better guitar player today than he was then just as far as like, his his dexterity, and just his ability to stretch out into different different areas. I find that stuff very, very inspiring. And I think, in a lot of ways, I think it kind of like jived with my own sort of take on things where I just kind of felt like, there's 52 weeks in the year, and I want to fill to fill that time, you know, when I do, I'm the kind of guy that I live to work not, you know, work to holiday and vacation kind of thing is sort of like, my vacation. My life is a vacation in a way you don't I mean, like it's, and that's not to say that it's just always a, you know, a 24 hour party. It's it's it's hard, you know, it can be grueling, and it can be really difficult trying to balance work all these things into into a calendar is is can be challenging, but but if you would have told my 14 year old self that this would be my future, I'd have been like, Bring it on, you know, I mean, it's like it's the B sounds like heaven to me.

Chuck Shute:

Hmm. So when you say like, slashes is doing he's a better player. That was interesting. So he's practicing. Is there a lot of as a musician? Is there a lot of what I want to what you say like monotonous things. Does the slash do a lot of like, does he doing finger exercises? Or how is he making himself a better player? Other than just playing his guitar and practicing more? Or is he practicing specific scales and things? Or

Todd Kerns:

I think he's a bit of everything. I think he's sort of one of those guys that always has a guitar in his hands. I'm not sure what he's doing right at this moment. He's probably got a guitar in his hand. But you know, it's weird because guys like Myles Kennedy, Miles is actually a jazz guy, like he came up with through jazz and he's a very skilled guitar player. And and once in a while, he'll be like, the, I'll see the two of them kind of commiserating over some sort of like weird scale, that slash is not, you know, or just some slashes come across? And, yeah, I mean, things like, Anastasia, that riff that off the beginning of Anastasia is something that slash came up with, it's something that he never would have done in, like, in the in the 80s, and 90s. But it just sort of something he kind of came across. And it's, you know, he used to do a guitar solo during the 2010 2011 tour. And in his solo, he started doing that, edit, edit, edit, edit, edit. And we were all like, what is that? That's really cool. And then he was like, then that turned into a song. You know, it's kind of so he's always growing. You know, I think that's one thing about him is he's he's always moving forward. And I think that that's, that's important. I think as as human beings, and as musicians, I think it's important to just keep, I mean, there's always something to be said about the peacefulness of just kind of being comfortable with who you are and what you do. And I think there's a Yeah, that's a big part of all of us as well. But I think for myself, you know, I can only speak for myself in that, you know, I just kind of enjoy these new challenges that come at me and, and I kind of lean into them. Let's, let's, let's just, let's do this.

Chuck Shute:

I fucking love it. I know you gotta get going here. I do have one more question. So I was actually trying to find out the story of how you got hired by slash and I found that story as I was looking for something else. So people can Google that it's Eddie trunk has a cool story. But this is the story. I was actually then I started looking for this one is the story with you and Bill Murray, because I know that you listed Bill Murray you shared a stage with him and I was like, I'm googling Todd Kerns. Bill Murray. I'm like, I can't To find what is the story with this

Todd Kerns:

we had a charity here in town for a guy named Carrie Simon who was a was an amazing chef he has since passed away unfortunately had a terrible form of MS or something but um we had a charity here with slash Sammy Hagar. Alice Cooper. Kip winger Todd Rundgren, cheese it was just the the list went, Oh, a list went on and on. It was a lot of them are escaping me. But I was just playing in the band. I was like, you know, I was playing bass and Matt Sorum was there Billy Duffy from the call was there. And we just kind of played and and then I don't know where somebody somebody goes to me. Bill Murray might show up and I go what I go Yeah, Bill was roommates with Carrie back in. In Chicago in the 70s or something like, really? I go wow, that's so weird. He goes, and they and then somebody asked us like, Do you guys know brandy? Brandy. You're a fan girl. What? Goes sometimes Bill likes to sing that song. So I go. Okay, so I sit down. I learned it. Anyway, long story short, not only the bill show up, he ended up hosting the entire night. Like he kind of like, took over the night. Like he kind of came on stage. It was the weirdest things are standing side stage watching whoever was just kind of opening the show. And then sure enough, Bill Murray walks in, and he's standing in front of me and he kind of turns around, looks amazing. shakes my hand and I go, he's saying tonight he goes, he goes, I'm warming up and warming up. But he never did sing but but he ended up kind of hosting the entire night. He just kind of like he grabbed the mic. And. And he would just say, next up, ladies and gentlemen. You know, Alice Cooper, you know, whatever it is. And it was it was amazing. It was just kind of like, and then he just vanished into the night. Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

that's amazing. Well, that's cool.

Todd Kerns:

Sorry. So yeah, that's our thing. Yeah.

Chuck Shute:

That's amazing. I know you got to get going on I always end with a charity is there is there another charity that you want to promote here at the end, something that's near and dear to your heart? Well, it's

Todd Kerns:

funny, I just started a I was born in a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada, a town called St van and we just started a charity up there for cats, my wife and I both have gotten very involved with we took in three strays here, and not all at once they kind of have been filtering in. And whole stray cat. There's a whole stray cat community here in Las Vegas that I was largely ignorant of. But as time has gone by become more and more involved in in sort of, you know, getting them neuter and trying to find them homes and that kind of stuff. And then this thing came up with this, you know, my place that I was born in Canada, and we started a charity up there and trying to get the it's an existing charity up there or place up there. But we're trying to get money raised for them to get to a bunch of different facilities and stuff for them. So if you can Google that, or come on my social media, you'll find all that for sure.

Chuck Shute:

Okay, I'll put that in the show notes along with your website and all and the heroes and monsters is a three songs are out now and then the rest will come out. I can't remember the exact date. It's coming.

Todd Kerns:

The album comes in on the 20th January 20. Okay,

Chuck Shute:

I got to listen to it already. So that's all I care about your Yeah, that's great. That's great. I loved it. Good stuff. Thanks for all you get to next interview. Thanks so much, Todd.

Todd Kerns:

Thanks so much, brother. Take care.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, you too. Bye. All right, bye. Thanks again, Todd Kerns. Thanks to his publicist for helping set that up. You can check out some of the new songs out right now on streaming. And the full album comes out soon or may already be out. Depending on when you're listening to this. Make sure to support Todd by buying the new album, buying other merch or buying a ticket to go see a live show. At the very least you can stream his music and follow like, comment and share his stuff on social media. And of course, if you want to support this podcast, it's all about the social media and YouTube right now. Nothing else everything else is free. So just interacting on YouTube and social media on those avenues will help me out a lot. I appreciate all your support. Have a great rest of your day and shoot for the moon.