In the early 1990s, Chicago native Michael McDermott was being compared to Springsteen and Dylan. Critics were calling him “the next big thing.” 

Then Nirvana hit the charts and the market for singer-songwriters fell through the floor. Believing he’d disappointed himself and everyone supporting him, McDermott descended into drug and alcohol abuse. 

Through it all, he continued to release strong material. When he became a father and became sober several years ago, the quality went up even higher. 

Michael McDermott joins us in studio to play some music and talk about his life and career ahead of the release party for his new album Willow Springs.