The Spine Stealers and Ross Thorn stopped by KGNU with DJ Jules ahead of their August 20th show at the Skylark Lounge in Denver. On their first Western tour, the Spine Stealers shared songs from their new EP, due out this week, and talked about their collaborative songwriting process that grew out of the pandemic. Ross Thorn, who just released his album Fitting In, performed his storytelling-rich song “Grave Digger’s Son,” inspired by his small-town Wisconsin upbringing. Together, they closed with a heartfelt duet from Ross’s new record. Both artists reflected on friendship, collaboration, and the joy of bringing new music to Colorado audiences. (Studio Session: 8/19/25)
DJ Jules: Hello everyone! I have the Spine Stealers and Ross Thorn in studio with me today. Hello everybody. Thanks for being here!
Spine Stealers: Yay, hi there. Thanks so much for having us.
DJ Jules: What brings you into the studio today?
Spine Stealers: We’re on our first Western tour, and we’re playing at the Skylark in Denver on Wednesday night.
DJ Jules: How are you feeling about that?
Spine Stealers: Pretty good—yeah, pretty excited. Never been before, but it’s fun to get out there on the road.
DJ Jules: Have you been able to enjoy Colorado yet, or just gearing up for the show?
Spine Stealers: Yeah, definitely. Hopefully we’ll get some hiking in over the next couple of days, but it’s been cool. We did see a moose yesterday—that was a highlight.
DJ Jules: Where was that?
Spine Stealers: Just driving on a road near Nederland.
DJ Jules: Oh, I love that. A moose is a good sign, right?
Spine Stealers: Definitely.
DJ Jules: An omen! A good omen—just to be clear. [laughs] I love a good moose omen. Since this is your first Western tour, thank you for making KGNU one of your stops.
Spine Stealers: Thanks for having us.
DJ Jules: We’re honored and so excited to hear your music. You’re going to play a few songs for us today. What’s the first one?
Spine Stealers: The first song is called Coal. It’s by us, the Spine Stealers, and it’s the happiest song we have.
DJ Jules: All right, let’s get happy!
Spine Stealers: 5, 6, 7, 8…
[live performance of “Coal”]
DJ Jules: Beautiful, thank you so much. I love that. So that’s your happiest song?
Spine Stealers: Yeah. I mean, there’s sadness and happiness in a lot of them, but that one’s the happiest.
DJ Jules: I love it. What’s your songwriting style and process like?
Spine Stealers: Kate and I learned how to play guitar during the pandemic, and then we started compiling a bunch of songs. A lot of it came from old poetry that we put to chords. Sometimes one of us brings chords to the other, sometimes it’s a fully finished song. It looks different every time—it’s kind of a blend.
DJ Jules: Do you have any new music coming out?
Spine Stealers: Yeah! We just released a single called LOML at the beginning of August, and then this Friday we have a new five-song EP coming out.
DJ Jules: A big week for the Spine Stealers—Skylark Lounge on Wednesday, August 20th, and then the EP release on Friday!
Spine Stealers: Mm-hmm.
DJ Jules: That’s wonderful. How are we feeling?
Spine Stealers: Really good. The songwriting has definitely evolved since we first started, and this new release feels strong. Friday we’ll also be back in our home state for a show in Madison on release day, so it’ll be a celebration.
DJ Jules: That’s great—it’s good to celebrate things like that. And Ross, how about you? Any new music?
Ross Thorn: I just released an album on August 8th called Fitting In. It’s been fun to play those songs out across the West and share them with new folks.
DJ Jules: Do you have a song from that record you’ll play for us?
Ross Thorn: Yeah—I’ll play one from my first record, actually. It’s called Grave Digger’s Son. I grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin. My dad was an excavator, and in a small town, that means you also dig graves because you have the equipment. I grew up doing that with him. I thought it was normal—it turns out not every kid does that. [laughs]
DJ Jules: A very unique pastime!
Ross Thorn: Yeah. My dad always joked, “Thorn Excavating and Grave Digging—we’re the last to let you down.” It was his only good joke, and I stole it for the chorus of this song.
DJ Jules: I love it. Let’s hear it!
[live performance of “Grave Digger’s Son”]
DJ Jules: That’s a great song, thank you. The imagery is so strong—the ghosts, the dust, the shovel—it all ties together. You really have a storytelling quality.
Ross Thorn: Thanks. Every time I play it, I kind of see it like a movie in my head.
DJ Jules: That comes through. I got the movie too! I wonder if those visuals will change for you over time as you keep playing the songs.
Ross Thorn: Definitely. Songs can mean something different later, so I’m sure the images will shift too.
DJ Jules: Absolutely. If you’re just tuning in, this is the Afternoon Sound Alternative with DJ Jules. I’m here with Ross Thorn and the Spine Stealers. They’re playing the Skylark Lounge tomorrow, August 20th, and both have new music out this week. Now you’ve got a song you’re going to do together, right?
Spine Stealers: Yeah—this one’s from Ross’s new album. Emma’s going to sing lead, Ross will play banjo and sing harmonies.
DJ Jules: How long have you all been playing together?
Spine Stealers: We met Ross last year when he asked us to join him for a Midwest run. We decided to do a joint Western tour this year. We haven’t known each other that long, but we’ve become fast friends. It’s been great meeting other musicians who are kind people and do good work.
DJ Jules: I love that. It’d be awkward if you didn’t like each other. [laughs]
Spine Stealers: Yeah—this is our second tour together, so that proves it.
DJ Jules: All right, let’s hear the song.
[live performance of “Far Away”]
DJ Jules: That was beautiful—thank you. That line, “Life’s been hard, but I’ve learned to hide my scars”—that one got me.
Spine Stealers: Something like that, yeah.
DJ Jules: Well, I hope the rest of your time in Colorado and your tour is nothing but good. Congratulations on the new music. The KGNU community is so happy to have you here.
Spine Stealers: Thank you.
DJ Jules: Anything else you’d like to share with the KGNU community before we wrap up?
Spine Stealers: Support local community and public radio!
DJ Jules: Yes!
Spine Stealers: Holy crap, yeah—that’s it. We’ve gotta hold onto it. They’re lucky to have you.
DJ Jules: Aw, thank you. And thanks for supporting KGNU. Don’t miss the Spine Stealers and Ross Thorn tomorrow night, August 20th, at the Skylark Lounge in Denver.
