The Tonearm is putting a needle on the cultural wax. Check it out.
Greg Lisher: From Camper Van to Circuitry Man
Greg Lisher: From Camper Van to Circuitry Man
After decades of making alternative rock with Camper Van Beethoven and Monks of Doom, Greg Lisher took piano lessons, learned synthesis, an…
Choose your favorite podcast player
Feb. 20, 2025

Greg Lisher: From Camper Van to Circuitry Man

Greg Lisher: From Camper Van to Circuitry Man

After decades of making alternative rock with Camper Van Beethoven and Monks of Doom, Greg Lisher took piano lessons, learned synthesis, and created 'Underwater Detection Method,’ an album that merges human performance with digital precision.

Today, the Spotlight shines On Greg Lisher, a guitarist best known for alternative rock who has leaned hard into electronic music.

Greg made his name playing with Camper Van Beethoven and Monks of Doom, but during the pandemic, he sat down at a keyboard and started exploring new sonic territory.

The result is Underwater Detection Method, a collection of instrumental pieces that blend synthesizers with live strings and drums. It's an album that started as digital sketches and grew into something much more organic as Greg learned to play piano and brought other musicians into the mix.

Greg's here to share how stepping outside his comfort zone led to some of his most adventurous music.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Greg Lisher's album Underwater Detection Method)

Dig Deeper



• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
• Be sure to bookmark our new online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

 

Greatest Hits

Wondering where to start or where to go next? Check out some of our most-listened-to episodes.

Nov. 3, 2022

Grahame Lesh

Based in the musical hotbed of Marin County, California, Grahame Lesh is a guitar player and singer-songwriter for Midnight North, Phil Lesh & Friends, & the Terrapin Family Band. A mainstay in the scene centered around Terra...

Listen to the Episode
Oct. 27, 2022

Nick Mason

Nicholas Berkeley Mason, CBE (born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He is the only member to feature on every Pink Floyd album, and the only constant member s...

Listen to the Episode
July 7, 2022

Steve Kimock

Steve Kimock talking about the new Zero reissue of “Naught Again” and finding the Grateful Dead scene

Listen to the Episode
Oct. 20, 2022

John Barry on Levon Helm

Writer John Barry joins us on the podcast to talk his new book, "Levon Helm: Rock, Roll & Ramble—The Inside Story of the Man, the Music and the Midnight Ramble." Ringo wrote the foreword, and Roger Waters, Graham Nash and …

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 19, 2023

Michael Kuelker on The Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Today, the spotlight shines on author and educator Michael Kuelker, here to talk about his recent book, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils On Record: A Narrative Discography . Michae is a teacher, writer, and reggae radio DJ in St...

Listen to the Episode
May 4, 2023

Dominic Miller

The ECM Records artist and Sting's longtime guitarist takes a seat in the Spotlight.

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 7, 2023

Diana Pasulka: a religious study of UFOs and nonhuman intelligences

With her books Encounters and American Cosmic, religious studies professor Diana Pasulka explores the modern edges of belief.

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 12, 2023

That Petrol Emotion

Today, the spotlight shines on the wildly influential post-punk group, That Petrol Emotion. Guitarist and songwriter Raymond Gorman and lead singer Steve Mack joined Spotlight On host Lawrence Peryer to mark the release of th...

Listen to the Episode
June 29, 2023

David Rodriguez talks community, culture, and his work with NJPAC

With the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, David creates musical milestones in Newark, NJ, and beyond.

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 28, 2023

Ibrahim Maalouf: a conversation on harmony, heritage, and hope

The trumpet virtuoso talks about his father's inspiration, the Middle East's influence on symphonic music, how Bach and Mozart were punks, and the ideas behind his album Capacity To Love.

Listen to the Episode
April 25, 2024

Hainbach: crafting soundscapes from forgotten relics

Experimental musician, YouTube personality, and excavator of rare, electronic sound-making artifacts — Hainbach delivers a fascinating look into his prolific musical activities.

Listen to the Episode
Aug. 8, 2024

David J: unearthing tracks from the attic

The Bauhaus and Love and Rockets bassist chats with guest host Michael Donaldson about lighting candles, the magic(k) muse, touring with Jane's Addiction, and the album collecting his early demos, Tracks From The Attic.

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 12, 2024

Andy McCluskey: kicking down fascist art with OMD

The Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark frontman chats about art movements, political treachery, Kraftwerk's impact, and the brilliant album Bauhaus Staircase.

Listen to the Episode