The FeedBak Podcast

Latest Episodes:

081 - Summer 2015, New Music, and Flat Butts Live At The Bak 2 Bak Party Nov 04, 2015

Show notes

We recorded this show live at the Bak 2 Bak Podcast & Party at Empire Control Room with Jamie Batisteand Adam Mastrelli. We talk about:

Events that marked the summer: Body Rock’s Michael Jackson Birthday Party
The songs of the summer according Billboard
Keeping up with new music as you get older
Favorite decades in terms of music
Sexual fantasies
Summer fashion: Man buns and jean shorts
Blaming yoga for flat butts

One of memorable moments (this summer) would be watching my friends have sex in a blue lagoon in Iceland – Jamie

I feel like Austin has a little bit more of grunge, a little bit more of a heart than a “Billboard hit” – Adam

080 - Austin Nightlife, Dating, and The Rules of Attraction with Los and Sam Sep 03, 2015

Show notes

This is Part 2 of our conversation about dating and nightlife in Austin. Make sure you listen to Part 1:

We get feedbak from people on the street about their (online) dating experience,
Where are the meat markets in Austin? What characterizes each area?
How to handle a situation where someone hits on your date,
Maintaining a balance between your single self and your relationship self in terms of privacy and trust,
Couples fighting at 2am
When guys invest money and "equity" into a girl and expects more,
Is chivalry dead?
Los' 4 rules of attraction including importance of touch,
How to get someone to say "yes",
How to improve the dating scene in Austin.

Austin is a youthful city so people are more willing to talk to others. You don't have to young physically. It's just the youthfulness of the city that brings it out of you - Sam

Dancing is the closest you're gonna go to understanding people - Los

079 - Dating and Austin Nightlife Live at Cotone Italian Clothing Part 1 Aug 31, 2015

Show notes

We talk about online dating and the Austin nightlife live at Cotone Italian Clothing with Los Ellis and Alon Bernstein (More Cowbell):

Los' fail-proof plan to make sure people look like what they portray online,
The Tinder generation
Lies and background checks
Austin as a hook-up city
Success and horror stories from online dating

BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CAME TO THE LIVE RECORDING!

SHOUT OUT to Terra Imports for the wine tasting and Matt Charnitski for the pictures!

No longer do I have to go to a bar and talk to 5 different girls and either get shot down and get my feelings hurt. Now I can look for the type of girl that I really want- Los

The degree of separation is 2 or less. That's why I want to ask a girl out as her moving truck is going around - Alon

078 - How to Stay Focused with Riders Against The Storm Aug 24, 2015

Show notes

Part 2 of our conversation with Riders Against The Storm, Band of The Year 2013 and 2014. Check out Part 1 and their 1st appearance back in January 2014.

Going back to their home state of Rhode Island,
Meeting great artists like George Clinton, Scarface, Mos Def and an awkward moment with K-Nine,
Being professional as an artist and the importance of having a mentor,
Austin as a Music City,
Being married and making music together,
Their plans to experiment with their music in new ways,
Chaka's trip to the meditation retreat called Vipassana.

I have so much energy and love and support just for myself, in my self that I have enough to pour out and give to you. No matter what you think. Because ALL of this is going to successful. - Qi

People are creating their own lanes in Austin. [...]. At some point, people will look back and go 'Oh that's where Riders Against The Storm was. That's where these cats were'" - Chaka

077 - Riders Against The Storm Return Aug 20, 2015

Show notes

Qi & Chaka of Riders Against The Storm and Body Rock return to the podcast. (You can check out their 1st appearance right here back in January 2014). We talk about:

Winning Band of The Year 2013 and 2014 and the opportunities that came afterwards,
The necessary sacrifices and how to overcome the struggles,
Building a team and a community around their vision,
Performing at KGSR's Blues On The Green with Shakey Graves,
Moving Body Rock from Sahara Lounge to Empire Control Room
Booty Sweat single
RAS Day on Saturday August 29 at Kenny Dorham's Backyard.

It's definitely been a lot of work and a lot of focus. Focus through like there's a hole in the boat and you ain't got the oars. But the shore is over there and keeping it moving - Chaka
People are so appreciative of the energy that they're willing to support you if however they can - Qi

076 - How Can We Save The Red River Cultural District with Stephen Sternschein Aug 18, 2015

Show notes

Part 2 of our talk with Stephen Sternschein, owner of Empire Control Room. Listen to Part 1 about his journey. We discuss the impact of new development on the Red River Cultural District:

What the designation Red River Cultural District means?
The Waller Creek Project and its impact on the Red River area,
How come Empire Control Room has not been affected as much by these new developments,
City growth vs Austin as Live Music Capital of the World: noise ordinance, residents' complaints, etc,
The Soul-y Initiative: Austin Business District Incubator,
The Austin Music People's Music City Report Card 2015 gives Austin C-,
The cost of going out in Austin and the willingness to pay a cover charge,
How Empire markets itself and its acts to the public

My team and I and the folks on Red River are in a position where some of time we ask people to take a leap of faith and come through because they might not know who the band is but if it's on stage at our club, it's going to be something worth checking out - Stephen Sternschein

075 - Stephen Sternschein Built An Empire (Control Room) Aug 13, 2015

Show notes

Stephen Sternschein, owner of Empire Control Room, shares his journey from New Jersey to open one of the most successful venues in Austin:

Being in a band from New Jersey and almost playing with The Roots and Lauryn Hill,
Getting into the business side of the music industry,
Coming to Austin during SXSW and organizing shows,
How Empire Control Room came about and how it fits in the Red River Cultural District,
The broken permit system in Austin
Building a relationship with George Clinton aka P Funk
Dealing with Fire Marshals

Quote from the show:

"Going back to my roots as an artist, being in a position wanting to work with a venue that cares more about the shows and wants to guide you through it rather than [showing you] tough love." - Stephen Sternschein

074 - Just Call Him Donte, Not DJ Dontizl Aug 06, 2015

Show notes

Donte knew he was wanted to be a DJ ever since he used to play with his dad's record player. We talk about:

His first gigs at Latitude 30 and his DJ name,
Playing for Kappa Alpha Psi and on campus,
Getting into the Austin DJ scene and playing downtown,
Building a crowd to be able to play whatever you want,
Dealing with promoters and undercutting,
His circle of DJ and other crews,
His short time as a rapper part of A&D,
Being a sober DJ,
Playing for Sway at SXSW,
About how he used to get in the crowd with his laptop,
What he would if he wasn't a DJ

Quote from the show:

"If you come to the club and you wanna hear a specific song but the crowd is not with you. You can't just go where you want to. You gotta build 'em up. They goin' on a ride with you. And when you get where you want to, you can whatever you want. You can turn it into a family reunion." - Donte

073 - Let's Feed The Bak (with questions) with J, Angela, and Charmai Jul 30, 2015

Show notes

Founder of The FeedBak and part-time disappearing act in low-light pictures, Bak gets on the hot seat as co-host Jamie asks him hard hitting questions with J, Angela and Charmai:

How Angela's and J's first encounter with Bak,
The origins of the name and growing up in France,
His first times going out in Austin,
How people reacted to him,
How The FeedBak came about: the name, the concept, the launch,
His pet-peeves and that look
His love for music and dancing,
His vision for The FeedBak,
His relationships and sex life (including how he lost his virginity)
They try to sum him up in 3 words

Quote from the show:

"My goal was let's have The FeedBak become the hub when it comes to talking about nightlife." - Bak

"At first, it was a social experiment for me. How many people can back me up on this and help me build it without knowing what it was. And the more I did it, the parties, the stickers, the podcast, the blogs, the more I thought this concept was much bigger than what I thought it was going to be and there's nothing else like it". - Bak