Roadie Free Radio

After nearly 45 years in the music industry it's safe to say that Robert "Nite Bob" Czaykowski does indeed deserve the legendary status that is usually bestowed upon him. He's been at the intersection of Right Place/Right Time so often, his stories at times seem unbelievable, but, as he himself confesses; "I may not be able to remember my hotel room number, but I can tell you details about shows." Nite Bob and I sat down in Studio 2 at SIR Studios NYC, for a lengthy chat that barely scratched the surface of a resume that includes Emerson Lake & Palmer, The New York Dolls, Iggy and the Stooges, Aerosmith, Rich Robinson, Steely Dan, Ace Frehley, and Kiss, with a variety of job titles including tour manager, production manager, amplifier voicing designer, author, sound engineer, production coordinator, and road manager.

The trust between an artist and his or her crew is something that takes time to build. It’s a sacred thing. Bobby Tis, guitar tech and monitor engineer for the Tedeschi Trucks Band, has fostered that trust for close to 10 years. I spent an evening with Bobby at a recent gig in Simsbury, CT, and the level of camaraderie and closeness amongst the band and crew was certainly palpable. Bobby learned his craft from a long list mentors including his father Bobby Tis, Sr., well respected amongst studio engineers, and Brian Farmer, longtime guitar tech for Warren Haynes. Bobby’s love of what he does day in and day out keeps him going whether he’s on tour or engineering a session at Swamp Raga studios, Derek and Susan’s home studio in Florida, where Tis lives with his family, just down the road.

If you haven’t plugged-in and tried a guitar amplifier from Louis Electric Amplifiers yet, I urge you to find the nearest one and do so right away. For the last 25 years, Louis Rosano has been hand-building his amplifiers in a small garage in Bergenfield, New Jersey, these amps have pleased the some of the industry’s heavyweights, from Keith Richards and Ron Wood, to Warren Haynes, Danny Gatton, Anna Popovic, Jackson Browne, Jorma Kaukonen, Hubert Sumlin, and Arlen Roth. I sat and talked with Louis in his shop, right next to the house his Grandparents bought in 1923. It was a beautiful day, the garage door was open, he treated me to a fantastic espresso, but most importantly, I fell deeply in love with his Deltone Reverb Amplifier.

Rebecca Wilson is steadfast in her belief that the best way to learn is by doing. No fancy schools, no debt load to carry, just basic hard work, and being passionate about following your dreams. After just one night of doing monitors at a club for Fishbone, the band decided to pluck Rebecca from her club gig and take her on the road with them. A few days later, she found herself behind the mixing desk at Red Rocks. With a healthy dose of self-deprecation, a humble attitude, and a singular focus to please her artists, Rebecca can now be found providing audio support for His Holiness, The Dalai Lama.

It was at a Supertramp concert when he was 13 years old where Robert Scovill got his first glimpse of a FOH soundboard, and since that day, he’s followed his insatiable passion for live music all the way the top of his field. Known and well-respected by many of his peers, Robert has been mixing sound for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for an incredible 23 years. Prior to his post with Petty & Co., Robert was at the helm for many notable rock bands including Rush, Def Leppard, Prince, and Alice Cooper. As the Senior Specialist for live sound products for Avid Technologies, Scovill is at the forefront of the migration into digital live sound reinforcement, and is a two-time recipient of the distinguished Parnelli award for Sound Reinforcement Engineer of the Year. Join us in the lounge of his crew bus where I caught up with Robert at the Xfinity Center in Hartford, CT.

This week I sit down with guitarist/producer Eric Ambel in Brooklyn to mine through the finer points of a career built on desire, attitude, and talent. After all, you don't get to play with the likes of Joan Jett or Steve Earl by pigeon-holing yourself into one style. An accomplished guitarist, producer, and club owner, Eric's journey in the music business may have started in the mid-west and taken him around the world, but his heart has been firmly planted in NYC since the mid-80's. With a career like his, we did a lot of bouncing around, so buckle-up and get ready to learn from one of the greats.

What better way to celebrate the 50th episode of ROADIE FREE RADIO than to have legendary sound engineer Bill Hanley join me from the stage at Daryl's House Club. An innovator, leader, and rebel, Hanley is responsible for so many advancements in the area of live sound reinforcement that he's known affectionately as the "father of festival sound." Based in Medford, Massachusetts, Hanley Sound Corporation handled audio responsibilities for the Remains, The Newport Jazz Festival, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and most notably, the Woodstock music festival of 1969. Also joining us is author & filmmaker John Kane, who has devoted the last several years to researching and documenting the many incredible accomplishments that Hanley achieved over the course of his prolific career.

As an actor, your lucky if you get one job that hits and puts you on the map. If that job happens to be a successful commercial, count yourself as really lucky. Paul Marcarelli has done it twice. For fourteen years he was the iconic face of Verizon who asked the question “can you hear me now?” and now, in a historic and unprecedented move, he’s back, representing mobile phone giant Sprint. Not one to rest on his commercial success, Paul has poured himself into filmmaking as a writer/producer. Clutter, The Green, I Am Divine, and The Royal Road, have all helped to cement Paul’s career as a serious filmmaker garnering festival awards, major distribution deals, and critical success.

Nathan Barr is a composer’s composer. Not only does he love to compose and write music, he is passionate about the instruments that he plays, and seeks out the most unique and original instruments with which he creates his unforgettable compositions. Nate has already amassed more than 34 film credits to his name, numerous hit television shows including True Blood, The Americans, The Son, and Sneaky Pete, and is under construction on his dream studio, which will soon house the original Wurlitzer Theater organ from 20th Century Fox that he has been restoring for the last four years. Join me as Nate and I wind our way through his incredible career guided by vision, determination, and talent.

One look at Sean Quackenbush’s resume and it’s clear to see that not only has his work ethic paid off, but obviously he’s got the talent, drive, and the ears, to back it up. Sean’s career started at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in upstate New York. One fateful night, while mixing FOH for Robert Randolph & the Family Band his whole life changed, and he’s been on the road with an incredible list of artists ranging from Brandi Carlile and Matisyahu, to KT Tunstall, Ben Harper, O.A.R., the Experience Hendrix Tour, and Daryl Hall & John Oates. Join Sean and I as we talk about fatherhood, the road, and learning on the job from some legendary roadies.

Sometimes our path in life is laid out right before us to follow, and sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees. However, if we’re lucky, divine intervention may just come along and nudge us this way or that, setting us on a path that leads to a career that we love. For director and singer/songwriter John Alper, those nudges have come more than once. After thirty-plus years in the film business as a highly sought-after commercial director, John is now crossing over and back to his first love; music and songwriting. Along with singer Abby Layne, he’s chasing the muse, one song at a time.

It only takes a few seconds of watching Mike Bram play drums to know how much joy it brings him. The same can be said of talking to him about music and the incredible journey he’s been on since he climbed behind his first kit at just five years old. While Mike has spent the last several years on tour with Jason Mraz as both his drummer and musical director, it hasn’t stopped him from being kept busy by the likes of Cindy Cashdollar, Willie Nelson, Zac Brown, Joss Stone, G. Love and Special Sauce, and Johnny Nicholas, to name just a few. Currently, you can catch Mike behind his Gretsch Brooklyn series drum kit on the road with The Weight Band, performing the songs of the Band, with Jim Weider, Marty Grebb, Brian Mitchell, and Albert Rogers.

What do all great songs have in common? Most likely they tell a great story. So it’s no wonder Chas Sandford is an award-winning, multi-platinum selling songwriter and producer, he also happens to be an amazing storyteller. A chance encounter with Ike Turner in an alley in Englewood, CA is all it took to set Chas on his way as a force in the recording industry in the early 70’s, and he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The self-proclaimed “Forrest Gump” of the music industry has certainly had quite a ride, with a who’s who list of talent including Ike Turner, Rick James, Chicago, Roger Daltry, Stevie Nicks, John Waits, Rick Springfield, Jimmy Barnes, Don Johnson, and Harry Belafonte.

You don't get to be Jorma kaukonen's guitar tech without possessing serious skills. But more than skills, you need the right temperament. Myron Hart II has just the right blend of confidence, humility, and talent, and that has kept him close to Jorma's side for the last several years. Myron grew up in a musical family, a stones throw from the Fur Peace Ranch, and learned the business from watching his father, Myron "Pete" Hart of the Hart Brothers and the luthier behind Buckeye Mandolins. I caught up with Myron during some downtime in between dates with Hot Tuna.

Logos, posters, album covers, these are just a few of the items that leave an indelible mark on us; visually imprinting the look or vibe of a favorite band, book, or movie. Phil Yarnall, accomplished designer, and Tyler School of Art graduate, is the artist behind many such memorable creations. Not afraid to get his hands dirty and dig into the work, Phil has created incredible imagery for the Jimi Hendrix estate, Doyle Bramhall II, Rich Robinson, The Magpie Salute, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Janis Joplin, Ten Ton Mojo, and many others. When he's not creating iconic images he can be found working as a roadie for his son's band, Gilbert.

FOH engineer and 2 x Grammy Nominee producer Courtney Taylor is a hard man to track down. Every other week he flies from his home in Southern Florida to work overseas, and in between, he's either working for someone else, DJ'ing, or planning his next move. Through Patience, Focus, and Passion, he's amassed an incredible roster of clients including, Far East Movement, Stephen Marley, Pharrell Williams, Burning Spear, Common, Steel Pulse, and N.E.R.D.

It’s not uncommon for someone to start their career working at a place like SIR in New York City and end up on the road. That’s exactly what happened to Randy Brown. He met Roberta Flack while manning the stages at SIR, and the next thing he knew, he was traveling the country. Thousands of miles later, Randy is still hard at work, bringing his own special brand of enthusiasm and loyalty to the likes of Todd Rundgren, Moby, The Magpie Salute, and Meatloaf, just to name a few. Join me as Randy and I look back on a career spanning thirty-one years with no signs of slowing down any time soon.

Joe Rudge was born to be a music supervisor. It's literally in his DNA. His father is famed Rolling Stones manager Pete Rudge, and his step-father was the iconic film director Elia Kazan. So you see, the apple most certainly has not fallen far from the tree. If you need a moment to research the above names, please do so, because only then will you realize the imprint that these two careers had on Joe's life, and why his fate was sealed at just 4 years old. Joe's career is still blossoming, but here is just a short list of the incredible projects he's been a part of: Brick, Room, Blue Valentine, Beasts of the Southern Wild, The Big Sick, Patti Cake$, and the forthcoming Grateful Dead documentary; Long Strange Trip.

To witness the fury that is Laith Al Saadi's guitar playing is to truly behold something special. And when he sings, you can literally feel his growl in the bottom depths of your soul. Touch, tone, and talent, only begin to describe Laith, who has spent most of his years carving out a loyal following from his Michigan roots, before ultimately wowing new legions of fans on season 10 of NBC's The Voice in 2016. Join Laith and I as we discuss the inner workings of THE VOICE, the simplicity of the Fender Telecaster, and his completely genuine love of music.

I first met Joe Magistro and Katrine Ottosen in the Summer of 2014 while they were both on tour with Rich Robinson. The gig was in Patchogue, NY, and the trailer hauling all of their gear had broken down in New Jersey on the way to Long Island. It was hot, the band was late to the venue, and we all had to pitch in to help get them set-up in time for the show. It was awesome! Joe and Kat opened for Rich, playing music from Joe’s solo project, Prophet Omega, and I was an instant fan. A short while later, I discovered Kat’s solo work, CALLmeKAT, and I was equally hooked. Currently they are both on tour with The Magpie Salute, and took a quick break from playing to catch-up with me at their home in the Catskills.