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066: CHRIS WRIGHTSMAN/Production & Tour Manager/Young The Giant, O.A.R., Michelle Branch, Ozomatli Oct 02, 2017

Show notes

With twenty-five years of touring experience under his belt, Production manager/Tour Manager Chris Wrightsman certainly know his way around a venue or two. The Cleveland native is also not afraid to mix FOH, monitors, or even lend his hand as a lighting Designer. At the end of the day, it's about putting on a great show, keeping a level head, and getting to the next gig. I spoke with Chris backstage before a recent Young The Giant show at New York's Summer Stage in Central Park. It's a load-in/load-out not without it's complications, but we were still able to find time to chat about some of Chris's touring highlights. Here's just a short list of some of the bands that Chris has worked with; Young the Giant, Michelle Branch, Richie Sambora, O.A.R., Secret Stash, Yukon Cornelius, Ozomatli, Multiple Warped Tours, and many others.

065: BARBARA COPELAND/Daughter/Ian Copeland/Booking Agent/The Police, Steel Pulse, Sting, Joan Jett Sep 24, 2017

Show notes

Welcome to our 65th episode! In this special installment I thought I would honor famed booking agent Ian Copeland, who not only changed my life, but changed the lives of countless artists and musicians, and forever left his imprint on the music industry. Ian's story is nothing short of fascinating. He was a rebel, a pilot, an innovator, a club owner, and a highly decorated Vietnam veteran. He also was part of an incredible family. His father was one of the original architects of the C.I.A., his mother was an archeologist, his older brother Miles managed the Police and Sting, while his younger brother Stewart was not only a founding member and drummer for the Police, but has since gone on to establish himself as a prolific composer for film and television, and has written several operas. Join me from the Telefunken headquarters in South Windsor, CT, as I sit down with Ian's daughter Barbara Copeland, who watched from the front row as her father ushered in the New-Wave movement of the '70's and '80's, with a long list of bands including the Police, the Thompson Twins, Steel Pulse, Snoop Dogg, Joan Jett, the Go-Go's, Squeeze, R.E.M., and many many others.

064: BOBBY CARROLL/Stage Manager/Tedeschi Trucks Band, Chris Brown, Austin Mahone, Zac Brown Band Sep 18, 2017

Show notes

There are many mantras to help you survive life on the road. For Stage Manager Bobby Carroll, there is only one that counts, and that is the Golden of the Road: "Do Unto Roadies, As You Would Have Them Do Unto You." For him, being nice isn't a tactic simply to get the job done, but rather, a way of life impressed upon him by those that taught him the ropes. Bobby has traveled the globe in vans, buses, planes, trains, and even cruise ships, with the likes of the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Chris Brown, the Zac Brown Band, Austin Mahone, Sixthman Concert Cruises, and Shelby Lynne. A Florida native who makes his home in Atlanta, GA, Bobby considers each day on the road a gift that he gets to share with those around him.

063: GREG HOWARD/Guitar Tech, Owner/3 Monkeys Amps, Aerosmith, My Morning Jacket, AC/DC, Steely Dan Sep 11, 2017

Show notes

Greg Howard's first tour on the road started a little later than most, but it certainly hasn't stopped him from making up time along the way. A Florida native, Greg has called Raleigh, N.C. his home for most of his adult life, and it's where he started working in a music store, fresh out of college, never imagining he'd have the career he does now. Along with being one of the most in-demand guitar techs in the business, for artists such as Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, My Morning Jacket, and AC/DC, Greg is one of the founders of 3 Monkeys Amps & Solderless cables. With his partners Brad Whitford and Ossie Ahsen, Greg has created a trustworthy, tone-heavy brand that continues to grow and innovate, keeping fans and customers satisfied from the very first note.

062: BRIAN SPEISER/Prod. MGR & FOH/Tedeschi Trucks Band, Indigo Girls, Amy Ray, Brandi Carlile, 311 Sep 04, 2017

Show notes

I've used the word passion many times to describe several of my previous guests. Some are passionate about their careers, others about their instruments, and still others care deeply about doing the best that they can at any given moment to achieve the absolute best outcome. Production Manager & Front of House Engineer Brian Speiser fits most comfortably in this last category. A long-time member of the Tedeschi Trucks Band family, Speiser's passion lies in his quest for every audience member to leave a performance having had the ultimate audio experience night after night, show after show. I caught-up with Brian during some rare downtime at his apartment in Queens, where we discussed his love of all things analog, the balancing act of wearing multiple hats on tour, and how he's maintained such long-running relationships with the many artists on his resume.

061: KATHERINE TURMAN/Journalist/Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal Aug 28, 2017

Show notes

Music journalist Katherine Turman has certainly earned her stripes in the industry, documenting and sharing the stories and profiles of countless artists, in a long list of magazines, newspapers, and radio shows, such as Rockline, and Nights with Alice Cooper. She landed her first writing job at the age of sixteen and went off to receive a BA in Journalism from USC. It was there she started writing music pieces for the school newspaper, covering events throughout Hollywood, the Valley and L.A.'s west side. A Los Angeles native who now lives in Brooklyn, Katherine's uncle is iconic movie producer Lawrence Turman, know for such films as The Graduate, The River Wild, and Short Circuit. Along with co-author John Wiederhorn, Katherine's latest book is LOUDER THAN HELL: THE DEFINITIVE ORAL HISTORY OF METAL.

060: MICHAEL MUSBURGER/Drummer/Tech/PM & SM/The Posies, Experience Hendrix, Presidents of the U.S.A. Aug 21, 2017

Show notes

Michael Musburger knows what it's like to be at the epicenter of something incredible. As a Seattle native, he not only witnessed the rise of the Grunge scene, but as a member of the Posies, and subsequent Production and Stage Manager for the Presidents of the United States of America, he was one of the scene's first ambassadors. Michael's dedication and passion for the industry has led him on a journey that still finds him behind the drum kit for several bands, and has afforded him the opportunity to Stage Manage and drum tech for the Experience Hendrix tour for the last 10 years. That is of course when he's not working for the likes of Doyle Bramhall 3rd, Chris Layton, and many others.

059: CHRIS ADAMSON/Production Manager/Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, John Mayer, Pink Floyd Aug 14, 2017

Show notes

For over fifty years Chris Adamson has led the kind of career most people would dream of. As one of the most sought after Production Manager's in the business, he's the guy who makes sure every piece of gear and all personnel gets from one part of the world to the other safely, on time, and that the show will certainly go on. Having spent considerable time with Pink Floyd, he has the distinction of being the first voice heard on the album Dark Side of the Moon, and was recently able to relive some of his memories with the band by visiting the current Floyd exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Chris and I caught-up in Forrest Hills, NY just prior to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers taking the stage on their 40th anniversary tour, and he graciously shared his experiences with Fleetwood Mac, Emerson, Lake, & Palmer, The Byrds, Steely Dan, John Mayer, and Dead & Co.

058: ALAN VENITOSH/Director of Operations/TELEFUNKEN-ELEKTROAKUSTIK Aug 06, 2017

Show notes

Fresh from graduating from the University of Hartford, Alan Venitosh promptly landed a job at Telefunken Elektroakustik in South Windsor, CT. A touring musician with a degree in music production and a keen interest in recording techniques, Alan joined owner Toni Fishman in their modest office space, never imagining where this turn of events would lead him. Fifteen years later, Alan is now the Director of Operations, and has not only witnessed the incredible growth of Telefunken but has played a major role in that growth. I spent a couple of hours with Alan at Telefunken headquarters, and got to witness the pride and passion that goes into each product made on site.

057: GREG LOOPER/Monitor Engineer/Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Allman Brothers, The Cult Jul 31, 2017

Show notes

Parnelli award-winning monitor engineer Greg Looper knows firsthand the role fate can play in a career. For the last several years he has been with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, first as a systems tech for FOH engineer Robert Scovill, but eventually stepping-in at monitors, where he has proven to be an invaluable asset. A chance encounter with an old friend at the age of twenty-one led to a career with a staggering list of artists including the Allman Brothers Band, Prince, Soundgarden, the Cult, Aerosmith, John Fogarty, the Scorpions, Shannondoah, and the Deftones. Greg and I met-up in Forrest Hills, NY at a recent Tom Petty gig and traced the many miles of his journey, and the many mentors that have left their mark on him.

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