Roadie Free Radio

Sledgehammer audio. That’s how Emmy award-winning FOH Engineer Dave Natale describes his approach. I take it to mean no frills, no fancy effects, nothing that gets in the way of a pure, clean, and loud mix. Since 1981 Dave has mixed some of the top grossing acts of the last few decades starting with Asia’s Heat of the Moment tour. From there, he has gone on to mix for Tina Turner, Motley Crue, Joe Cocker, Fleetwood Mac, Lionel Ritchie, and of course, The Rolling Stones, for whom he has mixed since the A Bigger Bang world tour in 2004. Dave still mixes on an analog console, preferring to remain true to the tools that he is most comfortable with, and the tools that he feels will serve him the best. When he’s not on the road he can be found behind the FOH desk at any number of award shows throughout the year. If you need any further information as to just how good Dave is at his job, look no further than page 490 of Keith Richards’ autobiography, Life. Today’s episode is sponsored by ShoPro Beard Co., & Gig-

I can’t believe this is episode 95! Thank you for tuning-in and being with us for the last couple of years. This week’s guest is bass player/singer/songwriter Byron Isaacs. A Texas native, and proud former Hoosier, this Brooklyn resident, and Woodstock frequenter, is currently playing with The Lumineers as well as Lost Leaders. He’s also just completed a solo album, Disappearing Man, set for release on June 12, 2018 at the City Winery in NYC. Byron Isaacs is a founding member of the Americana band Ollabelle and has played with Levon Helm live at his Midnight Rambles and on both of his Grammy-winning studio albums. He played with Amy Helm and produced her album Didn’t It Rain. In the last fifteen years he’s also toured and/or recorded with Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, The Weight Band, Joan Baez and many more. Today’s episode is sponsored by ShowPro Beard Co.

It’s 1968. You've recently turned 17, you already have one son, and your first marriage is pretty much in the wind. You end up living in a band house and without any prior experience you become their drum tech, and in that instant your fate is sealed. You will go on to lead an incredible life full of chance, travel, respect, challenge, and music. Always music. After fifty years as a working and dedicated FOH engineer, Dansir McCullough still believes in the power of music, and the thrill it gives him night after night to stand at the center of it all, and push the faders up on over a hundred microphones. Dansir’s big break came with Ted Nugent, who he would mix for from 1976-1984. Prior to that he had been with Bob Seger, the Rockets, and the Tea. Since 1984 he has mixed for Patti Labelle, Aerosmith, John Waite, Ace Frehly, Alice Cooper, Gladys Knight, Billy Idol, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Opera Grand Rapids, and the Grand Rapids Ballet. For over eleven years he was the president of the Stage Hands Local

If I get the chance, I love to interview more than one person from the same touring crew as it gives a great perspective on the whole touring experience, and this week’s guest helps me round out a particular story of a special bunch of people. Fresh on the heels of graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise in San Francisco, Carly Scovill found herself under the guidance of longtime stylist Linda Burcher at the start of rehearsals for the 40th anniversary tour of one of the world’s most beloved artists, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. As the daughter of Parnelli award-winning Sound Engineer Robert Scovill, Carly knew firsthand what endless possibilities for adventure, growth, and experience life on the road could offer, but she had no way of knowing just how poignant the next four months would be for her. Join Carly and I as she takes me through her first days of rehearsal, to the final shows at the Hollywood Bowl. Today’s episode is sponsored by Airturn.com.

Ken “Pooch” Van Druten has built a name for himself as one of the industry’s top FOH Engineers. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music, Ken headed to Los Angeles to begin what he initially thought would be a long and lucrative career as a recording engineer. However, this all changed after the invitation to mix one of his artists in a live venue. The band was Warrant, and the venue was none other than the Los Angeles Forum. Since then, He has worked with such artists as Jay-Z, Eminem, Rob Zombie, Whitney Houston, Justin Bieber, Linkin Park, and Prophets of Rage. He is also a two-time recipient of the Parnelli award for FOH Engineer of the year, and an eight-time recipient of the Tourlink Top Dog award. Today’s episode is sponsored by gig-gear.com.

This week’s guest is Lisa Boland, Ticket Manager for the Dave Matthews Band. While she’s not necessarily on the front lines of the music, she’s certainly an integral part of making sure every single show in every city goes as smoothly as possible, for both artist and concert goer. Originally a South Florida native, Lisa has been with DMB since 2005, and relishes the fact that in an industry usually governed by a lack of job security, she’s able to work for a band she loves year-round, doing something she loves. When she does have downtime from DMB she can usually be found working freelance on a variety of gigs. Today’s episode is sponsored by gig-gear.com.

Welcome to episode #90, today’s guest has been on my radar for quite some time and it brings me great pleasure to share our interview with all of you. It’s almost impossible to be a fan of music and not know the name Peter Shapiro. Chances are you’ve heard of places like Wetlands Preserve, The Capitol Theater, and Brooklyn Bowl. You may even be familiar with Relix Magazine, originally launched in 1974, which focuses on live music, festivals, artist interviews, etc. If the aforementioned still doesn’t ring a bell, I’m sure you know the names Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir. Peter Shapiro is at the center of all of those things and many more. He is also a master at creating the right “vibes” for the right moment. Thanks for tuning-in, Peace ya’all. Today’s episode is sponsored by Telefunken Elektroakustic, and Airturn.

It’s the late 1970’s, you’ve stopped drumming in your local band because you realized you could be more effective behind the scenes, you cut your teeth in every major bar or club for the last few years after starting out in Cleveland, and as the 80’s fast approach you wonder where life on the road with rock bands will lead you. Then the phone rings. It’s a band that’s on the verge of dominating the world several times over, but no one knows that yet. They need a Bass tech. You say yes, having never done the job. You are Kevin Dugie Dugan, and the band is Van Halen. You and the bass player, Michael Anthony start a friendship and a bond that will take you to places you never could have imagined. Foreign countries, platinum records, and women. Plenty of women. And a whole lot of Rock n’ Roll. You’ve seen most everything there is to see on the road. You’ve worked for some of the world’s top artists. But most importantly, you are a Roadie For Life.

For over forty years Norman Harris has been the go-to guy for vintage guitar enthusiasts the world over. His store in Tarzana, CA consistently has the greatest collection of player-friendly stringed instruments, while his dedicated and loyal staff cater to a wide range of guitar enthusiasts and players day after day. After realizing that his passion and curiosity for vintage guitars far outweighed his own musical abilities, Norman dove headfirst into the wild world of used instruments and quickly established a name for himself. Soon after, a who’s who list of celebrities sought him out. Everyone from Tom Petty to George Harrison, Joe Bonamassa, Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, and John 5 have spent precious time mining through Norman’s extensive collection. Stay tuned for the official launch of Norman Harris’s newest venture, The All Guitar Network, coming soon. Today’s episode is sponsored by Airturn.com and Gig-gear.com.

Mary Broadbent’s path into the music industry started much like it does for most of us: on stage, and in a band. After moving around for much of her childhood, Mary finally ended up attending Emerson University in Boston. After graduation she followed a few classmates to the West Coast where her real education as a live touring professional would ultimately begin. Tour Manager, Stage Manager, Backline Tech, Production Manager. These are just a few of the many hats Mary has already worn for many artists including Chris Isaak, The Staves, The Mowglis, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Fitz and the Tantrums. Mary recently wrapped-up another successful run with Girl School LA can currently be found on tour with Betty Who.

As a young man growing up in Cleveland Derrick Green knew at an early age that following the status quo and fitting nicely into society’s neat little boxes was probably not going to work for him. Quietly slipping from long-haired football player to choir boy, Punk Rock and Hardcore lover, Vegan and soul searcher, Derrick has always followed the path that led to personal growth and artistic freedom. Since joining Sepultura in 1997 and replacing former founder and frontman Max Cavalera, Derrick has not only been embraced by the bands legions of fans, but with his fellow band member’s support, he has helped to drive to creative direction of the group. I offer a big shout-out to former guest Tanya O’Callaghan (RFR EP: 34) for making the introduction, and to Elderberries Threefold Café in Los Angeles for hosting us. This episode is sponsored by: Airturn.com, Gig-gear.com, and Telefunken-Elektroakustic.

While I was in Los Angeles for the NAMM show, I had the privilege of sitting down with FOH Engineer Lucie Barinkova to chat with her about her career and hear about her incredible childhood, growing up in Czechoslovakia, and her families’ eventual escape to an Austrian refugee camp in 1989. Lucie’s baptism into the world of live sound came at age 17, when her boyfriend left alone her to mix the Punk band Hoi Polloi. Three painful feedback-filled hours later she was hooked, and vowed to redeem herself, which she has successfully done, touring with artists such as RZA from Wutang, Odesza, Spoon, Banks & Steelz, Tom Tom Club, The B52’s, and Thundercat. We would like to thank the following sponsors for making our 85th episode possible: Telefunken – Elektroakustic, Airtun.com, Gig-Gear, Soundgirls.org, and Load-in International Magazine.

There are many types of successful people out there; those who fell into their position, those for whom luck comes easy and often, and even those that lie, cheat, and steal their way into opportunities until they find themselves in a position of power, leaving a trail of heartbreak and deceit along the way. Yet there’s another group, who climb the ladder of success in a most understated way. Day in and day out, they quietly do their jobs, learning, getting better, being forthright with their peers and employers, their innocence and naïveté coupled with a pure love and passion for their career, eventually leading them to the highest ranks within their chosen field. Guitar Tech Steven “Charley” Cohen is a member of this aforementioned group. His approach is simple, his love of his job is pure and palpable, and his sense of self and his ability is straightforward and clear. If he weren’t those qualities that I just mentioned, I doubt he would have the kind of resume he does, which includes Don Henley/The Eagles,

No one would have predicted the terrorist assaults on concert venues of the past two years. Tragic, frightening and something we don't really want to think about ... but we have to. What can be done to make the concert environment safer? Our panel of concert and safety professionals will define the vulnerabilities and discuss the methodology to prepare for, and defend against, the worst-case scenarios in music. Panelists include:  Larry Milburn Heather Rafter Jesse Hughes Dean Correa Lucie Barinkova Akram Benmbarek Mike Downing

It’s always a pleasure to have the opportunity to interview someone on the show that I consider a mentor, and our current guest, Lij Shaw, definitely fits the bill. As the host of the highly successful podcast Recording Studio Rockstars, Lij provides his guests with a peek behind the curtain and into the minds of some of the most successful record producers and engineers working today. In addition to Recording Studio Rockstars, Lij owns the Toy Box recording Studio in Nashville, TN., a Grammy certified studio, which now houses one of the most famous MCI consoles from Criteria Studios in Miami, built by hand from it’s founder, Jeep Harned. Here’s a small list of the artists Lij has worked with during his long career: Aimee Mann, Ben Harper, Audley Freed, Blues Traveler, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Dawes, Citizen Cope, and Band of Horses.

As I looked through Joel Lonky's resume, one thing became very clear; there's a lot of black ink on the page. That only means one thing: the dude has worked his ass off for a long time, and the list of artists and experiences he's had have made him one of the most in-demand House Engineers in the business. It was also clear in our interview that Joel is a no-nonsense professional, who's passion for his career has been fueled by his love for adventure, problem-solving, and a focus on the task at hand. As the House Engineer for artists such as Billy Idol, Die Antwoord, Rob Zombie, Anthrax, Sean "P-Diddy" Combs, Rage Against the Machine, and so many others, Joel chooses to focus on the mix, not on the thousands of fans in the house and what they might think of the mix. Joel is also a former member of the United States Air Force, a commercial pilot, an FAA certified flight instructor and has logged over 1,200 jumps as an experienced skydiver.

Wow! Episode 80!! Today's guest is Systems Tech Hank Fury, no stranger to the road and the perils that exist out there. This episode has all the elements of a great story; love, passion, sacrifice, and of course, redemption. A New York native and current Brooklyn resident, Hank's baptism into the world of Rock 'n Roll started at one of the most famous clubs in Manhattan's lower east side; the famed CBGB's. It was here that Hank first learned how to make do with the equipment he had, functioning or not. The road soon beckoned, and Hank went willingly, criss-crossing his way around the country, honing his skills and soaking up knowledge night after night. Hank's journey has led him to SIR, Clair Brothers, Madonna, Roger Waters, Ozzy Osbourne, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Winter, and countless others. When he's not on the road, you can find Hank at his Bushwick based music store, Rock and Roll Supplies, located at 176 Bushwick Ave., in Brooklyn.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! To help kick this year off our first guest is Cleveland native Lauren Crowley, Monitor Engineer for such artists as Ryan Adams, Eminem, Tyler the Creator, A$AP Rocky, Kurt Vile, and Jenny Lewis. Crowley cut her teeth in the Punk Rock clubs of Cleveland before eventually moving on to Full Sail University, and ultimately honing her skills at Eighth Day Sound. From there, it’s been a rapid climb up the ranks where she shares the stage nightly not only with a respectable roster of artists, but also with some of the best crews in the business. Thank you for all of your support in 2017 and here’s to an epic year ahead for all of us.

Merry Christmas!! I am so excited about today’s episode, you know I’m a sucker for a good story and this one certainly does not disappoint. For the last two years, Richard Bennett has bet on himself and made it his life’s mission as Editor-In Chief of Load-In International magazine to bring the touring community together in an honest and visually dynamic way, month after month. But as any entrepreneur will tell you, myself included, sometimes dreams and ambition just aren’t enough. I hope you are as inspired by Richard’s story and passion as I am, and if you have any interest in contributing to Load-In International, please send a note to either me or Richard.

Sue Anello CCH is a board certified homeopathic practitioner and educator based in New York City, who’s found a unique way to combine her love of Rock & Roll and healing over the last two decades. Trained in the United Kingdom, Sue Anello’s background originally was in the music business where she worked for CBS Records and then EMI in both New York and London. After leaving EMI, Sue spent 5 years as the celebrity wrangler in the PR department at the International Headquarters of Oxfam in Oxford, England, before ultimately turning to Homeopathy full-time in 1999. If you’re a person on the road who needs support – Sue may be just the person you’ve been looking for.