On this episode of YenYorkCity Live, we're joined by Chris Waiau, bass tech for the legendary heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch and an A&R representative for Blackstar Amplification.Chris gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional touring and what it takes to keep a major band's bass rig performing at the highest level. We'll dive into the responsibilities of a bass tech, life on the road, professional backline and gear, troubleshooting, working with artists, and the relationship between musicians and the teams that keep their shows running.We'll also explore Chris's work on the industry side as an A&R representative, including discovering and working with artists, gear development, artist relationships, and what makes today's equipment stand out in an increasingly competitive music market.This episode comes at an exciting time for Five Finger Death Punch, who are celebrating 20 years as a band with their 10th studio album, Legacy, released in 2026. The band has continued its massive international presence with major tours, festival appearances, and their September 2026 Red Rocks livestream.We'll talk about:🎸 Life as a professional bass tech🔧 Maintaining and troubleshooting a touring bass rig🚌 Life behind the scenes on a major tour🎛️ Professional backline and gear🎤 Working directly with major artists🏢 The role of A&R in the modern gear industry🎚️ Amplification, tone, and equipment selection🤘 Five Finger Death Punch's 20-year journey💿 Their new album Legacy🌎 Touring and what comes next for the band and music industryWhether you're a bassist, guitar player, touring musician, backline technician, gear enthusiast, or someone interested in the business behind professional music, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.Streaming live on Twitch and YouTube, with the replay available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.🎙️ Live Q&AHave a question for Chris? Drop it in the live chat — we'll answer selected questions during the stream!📅 Date: September 20, 2026⏰ Time: 2:00 PM EST📍 Where: YenYorkCity Live — Streaming on Twitch and YouTube🎧 Join us for an inside look at the people, technology, and expertise working behind the scenes of today's biggest rock and metal productions.👉 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay up to date with more live interviews featuring musicians, technicians, gear professionals, and music industry experts.~ Follow Chris Waiau ~IG: https://www.instagram.com/chris.waiau🤘 Five Finger Death PunchOfficial Website: https://fivefingerdeathpunch.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fivefingerdeathpunchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/5fdpX: https://x.com/FFDPTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fivefingerdeathpunchYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@5fdpSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5t28BP42x2axc6F8B2RrN7Bandcamp: https://fivefingerdeathpunch.bandcamp.com/musicApple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/five-finger-death-punch/199451985💿 Latest Album: LegacyFive Finger Death Punch's 10th studio album, Legacy, celebrates the band's 20-year career. The album was released digitally in July 2026, with physical editions following in September.🎛️ Blackstar AmplificationWebsite: https://www.blackstaramps.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackstarampsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackstaramps/X: https://x.com/BlackstarAmpsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BlackstarampsBlackstar is an independent guitar amplification and effects company based in Northampton, England, known for its focus on amplifier design, tone, and flexibility.🌆 YenYorkCity SocialsTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/yenyorkcityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yenyorkcityX (Twitter): https://x.com/yenyorkcityTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yenyorkcityliveBand (SkyMuseum): https://www.instagram.com/skymuseumWebsite: https://www.yenyorkcity.com
