The City's Backyard

Matt Zako
  • 4.9 (13)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

The City's Backyard with Matt Zako. A Podcast For New York City's Backyard or any city's backyard across the world! Covering Arts, Entertainment, music and the community! 

  1. 5d ago

    The City's Backyard Ep 227 ELIOT LEWIS ( Hall & Oates, Live From Daryl's House, Average White Band) talks about being on the road with his American 2026 Tour and an upcoming local stop in Westport, CT plus life before and after Hall & Oates!

    Eliot Lewis spent almost 20 years with Hall & Oates and is always a blast to chat with as one our favorite regular guests on the podcast...he was also on the TV show Live From Daryl's House playing with some of top artists in the music industry.... and before all of that he was in the Average White Band!  Eliot Lewis appearing Live at The Westport VFW Saturday October 10th for an intimate show! Eliot Lewis - Multi-instrumentalist and solo artist, returns to Westport, CT for this very special performance that only cost $15 advance $20 at the door!  Eliot Lewis has performed with many of the biggest names in the music business including, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren, Train, Cheap Trick, Grace Potter, Ben Folds, Sammy Hagar, BlackBerry Smoke, Squeeze and many others. Eliot has appeared on every episode of Daryl Hall’s incredibly popular, "Live From Daryl's House” show all while keeping his own solo career going at a seemingly impossible pace. "Eliot is a musician who can do it all, great singer, songwriter and guitarist. He rocks and he's got soul. No one does it quite like him" - Daryl Hall Eliot’s show is truly unique and will find him moving from one instrument to another using live looping to seamlessly construct songs and arrangements on the spot and in the moment. If Eliot plays a cover song, it’s typically a song he’s performed with that artist. Not to be missed~ Purchase tickets for Westport CT on Otober 10th at 7pm below by clicking the ticketleap link!   https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/wwweliotlewiscom/eliot-lewis-live-in-westport-ct-1480740584

    The City's Backyard Ep 227 ELIOT LEWIS ( Hall & Oates, Live From Daryl's House, Average White Band) talks about being on the road with his American 2026 Tour and an upcoming local stop in Westport, CT plus life before and after Hall & Oates!

  2. Sep 28

    The City's Backyard Ep 226 John “Papa” Gros - a New Orleans pianist, organist singer-songwriter has a new cover of Levon Helm's Hurricane from his latest album GIANTS!

    John “Papa” Gros (pronounced Grow) is a New Orleans pianist, organist and singer-songwriter whose career reflects the city itself—resilient, rhythmic, steeped in tradition, and always evolving. For more than thirty years, Gros has served as both a keeper and a translator of New Orleans music, blending funk, R&B, jazz, blues, rock, and Americana into a sound that is deeply rooted yet forward-looking. Born in New Orleans, Gros embodies his hometown’s culture and deeply rooted traditions, absorbing its music and spirit. He began playing piano and French horn at age eleven and attended Loyola University in uptown New Orleans, graduating with a degree in French horn performance. While his formal training provided discipline and technique, Gros’ real education came from the school of hard knocks in the clubs and on the streets—learning the language of groove, feel, and restraint from the musical elders who had built the city’s sound.  For more on John's career and his tour log onto his website: https://www.johnpapagros.com

    The City's Backyard Ep 226 John “Papa” Gros - a New Orleans pianist, organist singer-songwriter has a new cover of Levon Helm's Hurricane from his latest album GIANTS!

  3. Sep 21

    The City's Backyard Ep 225 VANESSA COLLIER, renowned soulful blues saxophonist-vocalist-songwriter and winner of five prestigious Blues Music Awards, continues her year-long "Keep It Saxy" 2026 Tour!

    Vanessa Collier is a multi-award-winning songwriter, master musician, and multi-instrumentalist, known for seamlessly weaving together funk, soul, rock, and blues styles through soulful vocals, searing saxophone solos, and witty songwriting skills. With her career still in its infancy, Vanessa has already turned many heads, garnering tremendous accolades for her trademark high energy, powerful, fiery, and passionate live shows. For more info checkout her website!  https://www.vanessacollier.com

    The City's Backyard Ep 225 VANESSA COLLIER, renowned soulful blues saxophonist-vocalist-songwriter and winner of five prestigious Blues Music Awards, continues her year-long "Keep It Saxy" 2026 Tour!

  4. Sep 14

    The City's Backyard Ep 224 "The craft beer movement" with Gregg Glaser from Modern Distillery Age , a trade publication covering the distilled spirits business in America!

    This episode is all about BEER in the backyard! Ok that sounds good but more specifically it's really about the craft beer movement. If there is one guy who knows about beer it's Gregg Glaser from Modern Distillery Age.  Gregg has covered the "beer beat" since 1994 and spirits and saké since 2001. He’s currently the Publisher/Editor of Modern Distillery Age, which he established in 2009. For many year he was Editor in Chief for Yankee Brew News, News Editor for All About Beer Magazine and a Contributing Editor for Modern Brewery Age and Beverage Media. He’s written for dozens of other publications.   Gregg conducts regular tasting panels for Modern Distillery Age, as he did for the other publications with which he was affiliated. Since 1996, he’s been the Competition Director for the Great International Beer Competition, the largest professional beer competition on the East Coast! He has also conducted beer, spirits and saké talks and tastings around the world, he’s been a judge at numerous U.S. and international beer and spirits competitions and he’s consulted for breweries, importers, wholesalers and restaurants. https://www.distilleryage.com/

    The City's Backyard Ep 224 "The craft beer movement" with Gregg Glaser from Modern Distillery Age , a trade publication covering the distilled spirits business in America!

  5. Sep 1

    The City's Backyard Ep 223 Local favorite Danny Mariano from the band LOVE+WAR warms up for LITA FORD at The Norwalk Oyster Festival Friday September 11th!

    Danny Mariano is a local favorite in Fairfield County playing in his band that everyone loves called Bad Boy! He's a lead singer of his new band called Love+War (love and war) where the band just won this year's "Jam at the Dam Battle of the Bands" earning them an opening spot for Trixster, Vixen, and Jefferson Starship where they were very well received!  LOVE+WAR is the opener for the legendary Lita Ford at the Norwalk Oyster Festival September 11th at 6:30p until 7:20... Lita goes on at 8:00! Don't miss it!

    The City's Backyard Ep 223 Local favorite Danny Mariano from the band LOVE+WAR warms up for LITA FORD at The Norwalk Oyster Festival Friday September 11th!

  6. Aug 25

    The City's Backyard Ep 222 BRIAN DOLZANI as The LONER: The Music of Neil Young. This Connecticut-based troubadour brings everything you want and need from Neil’s music to an intimate club experience!

    Brian Dolzani is a contemporary singer/songwriter that possesses an old soul. A listen to his music makes that point abundantly clear.  So too, the fact that he lists any number of ‘60s and ‘70s songwriters as prime influences — Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Cat Stevens, Crosby, Stills and Nash, to Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Credence Clearwater Revival, among them — suggests that his roots reside in a great storytelling tradition. Like his forebears, Brian is all about to creating a connection to his audiences through the expression of innermost emotion. In the process, he shares a sound that’s vibrant, engaging and enticing, and, like his heroes, flush with both meaning and magic. It’s little wonder then that his work has been described as “musical medicine for the soul” by the Lonesome Noise blog, or that the Americana bible No Depression one declared “Dolzani’s melancholy musings are remarkably affecting,” while also praising his melodies as “eternally engaging, and, on more than one occasion, even soothing and seductive.”  “For me, writing songs is something that’s very personal,” Brian himself says. “Over the years, I’ve come to discover myself through making music.”  https://www.briandolzani.com/home For tickets to see him at FTC click link below: https://fairfieldtheatre.org/events/stageone/brian-dolzani-as-the-loner_e659

    The City's Backyard Ep 222 BRIAN DOLZANI as The LONER: The Music of Neil Young. This Connecticut-based troubadour brings everything you want and need from Neil’s music to an intimate club experience!

  7. Aug 17

    The City's Backyard Ep 221 Teskey, a Rocking Blues band with front man Brandon Teskey who talks about covering the Blind Faith track and the new album Live at The Rhythm Room!

    Teskey, a Rocking Blues band, was formed in 2024. Their music includes and often fuses elements of Blues, Alt Rock, Pink-Floyd-esque Psychedelia, and Jazz. Teskey quickly began playing national shows, has opened up for famous Blues and Rock artists, and has played world renowned venues. The band includes Brandon Teskey on guitar and vocals, Matt Baldwin on Bass, and Brandon Gaddy on drums. In 2024 they released two singles, ‘Under the Sun’ and ‘Upside Down World’. In 2025 they released their debut album, White Wolf and in 2026 released their second album, Live at the Rhythm Room.   For more: https://teskeyband.com/

    The City's Backyard Ep 221 Teskey, a Rocking Blues band with front man Brandon Teskey who talks about covering the Blind Faith track and the new album Live at The Rhythm Room!

  8. Aug 11

    The City's Backyard Ep 220 NEW YACHT CITY a Tribute to Yacht Rock tours The Tri-Sate area this summer playing Ambrosia, The Doobies, Toto, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan and more!

    This week's guest is NEW YACHT CITY, a band that plays Yacht Rock! On this episode we chat with Manish Nag the lead singer and keyboardist! If you love Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross, The Doobies, Ambrosia and more you will love this band! Check them out for a fun time that you and your friends will always remember!  For more info on shows, ticket info, merch and  the band check out their website!   https://www.newyacht.city/#shows https://www.newyacht.city/#band!

    The City's Backyard Ep 220 NEW YACHT CITY a Tribute to Yacht Rock tours The Tri-Sate area this summer playing Ambrosia, The Doobies, Toto, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan and more!
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4.9
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

The City's Backyard with Matt Zako. A Podcast For New York City's Backyard or any city's backyard across the world! Covering Arts, Entertainment, music and the community! 

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Zako
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    403
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The City's Backyard
  • Show Website
    The City's Backyard

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