Only In The Green Room

Mount Tam Media
  • 5.0 (21)
  • MUSIC HISTORY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Welcome to Tales from the Green Room - Backstage conversations from popular music venues around the country curated by Mount Tam Media. Buckle up and listen in, as host Dennis Strazulo and Mount Tam Media founder, Tami Larson, dig up conversations with artists - before and after shows - in the exclusive confines of the green room. Barriers are down with stories abound! Tales from the Greenroom Special Edition (Sweetwater Music Hall's 50th Anniversary Series) Mount Tam Media is thrilled to launch its Tales From the Green Room Podcast with a special series of episodes celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the iconic Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California. The roster of artists that have crowded onto the club's little stages, first at the original Sweetwater location two blocks away, and now at the new location which opened in 2013, reads like a Who's Who of roots & rock music: Bob Weir, Aaron Neville, Big Mama Thornton, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Etta James, Greg Allman, Van Morrison… the list of musical luminaries is endless. In the 80's, the Times of London hailed Sweetwater as one of the best nightclubs in America and the legacy continues! Mount Tam Media has been granted special access to Sweetwater’s green room during the venue’s 50th anniversary year to interview musicians, photographers, managers and the like, and capture their favorite moments and memories, preserving the untold secrets of what has graced these hallowed walls for half a century, before they are lost forever.

  1. Greg Loiacono and Stingray - “We Don’t Talk, We Just Play”

    JAN 27

    Greg Loiacono and Stingray - “We Don’t Talk, We Just Play”

    Guests:  Greg Loiacano – vocals, guitar Michael Urbano – drums Vicki Randle – percussion In this episode of Only in the Green Room, we sit down with Greg Loiacono & Stingray, a Bay Area super-group built on deep respect, serious groove, and a whole lot of joy. What started as a solo recording session for Greg Loiacano quickly turned into something much bigger when drummer Michael Urbano stepped in—and the chemistry was instant. Add longtime collaborator and powerhouse percussionist Vicki Randle, and Stingray was born. The trio talks about the unspoken language that defines their music: listening more than talking, playing for the song, and letting structure and feel guide everything. Influenced by classic soul, R&B, funk, and rock—from Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye to Sly Stone and beyond—Stingray’s sound feels timeless but alive in the moment. We dig into: How the band formed organically (and accidentally) Why joy and laughter are non-negotiable onstage The rare magic of musicians who truly listen to one another Playing parts instead of overplaying Balancing Stingray with busy touring and recording schedules Recording at the legendary 2200 Studios and feeling the weight of Bay Area music history What’s next: new singles, more shows, and getting back into the studioWith lineup support from Tom Ayer’s, Kofi Brown, and Danny Eisenberg, Stingray is prioritizing what matters most—great songs, great vibes, and genuine connection. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when seasoned musicians stop chasing “projects” and start chasing feeling, this conversation says it all. New singles out now: Come Back Home I Hope We Get to DanceRecorded backstage, moments after finishing their November 2025 set at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California —because the best conversations always happen only in the green room. Greg Loiacono. Founder of Stingray, is best known as a gritty rock and soul man of legendy San Francisco rock band, The Mother Hips and his collaborations with Chris Robinson Vicki Randle has recorded and/or toured with Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, George Benson, Lionel Richie, Kenny Loggins, Celine Dion, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Branford Marsalis, Jeffrey Osborne, Laura Nyro and Lyle Mays. She appeared in the HBO documentary Mavis!. She became the first female permanent member of the Tonight Show Band with Branford Marsalis, starting in May 1992 and continuing through May 2009. Michael Urbano  toured extensively with John Hiatt (1995–1999), as one of Hiatt's "Nashville Queens" that included bassist Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello) and guitarist David Immergluck (Counting Crows). He also spent time as a drummer Smash Mouth. Before Smash Mouth, Urbano had played drums with The Spent Poets, The Kinetics, Deathray, Third Eye Blind, John Hiatt, Black Lab, Cracker, Paul Westerberg, Red House Painters, Willy DeVille, Camper Van Beethoven, and Sheryl Crow.[2]https://gregloiacono.com/

    17 min
  2. Jon Chi's Harmonious Circle: Celebrating Community, Collaboration, and Live Music

    JAN 17

    Jon Chi's Harmonious Circle: Celebrating Community, Collaboration, and Live Music

    Marin County singer-songwriter, community and music collaborator Jon Chi joins “Only In The Green Room” as the first guest under the show’s new banner—recorded in the Sweetwater Music Hall Green Room before Jon played to a packed house for his birthday show at the iconic venue. In a conversation full of gratitude, community love, and live-music philosophy, Jon reflects on how the Terrapin scene helped shape his musical orbit, why vulnerability is where the magic lives, and how live shows remain irreplaceable—no matter what AI does to recorded music. Special guests Stephanie Salva (Tumbleweed Soul) and Elliot Peck (Midnight North, Phil Lesh & Friends) pop in before joining Jon on stage, adding stories about collaborations, harmonies, and the deep relationships built through the Bay Area music community.   Creators & Guests Tami Larson - Host Dennis Strazulo - Host Creators & Guests Tami Larson - Host Dennis Strazulo - Host Creators & Guests Tami Larson - Host Dennis Strazulo - Host    The “how lucky am I to have stumbled into this community?” moment—and why Jon leads with love   The Terrapin Crossroads/Marin/Bay Area musician ecosystem (and all the overlap that makes it work) - spawning collaborations and lasting friendships   Jon’s musical roots: Massachusetts → Berklee College of Music → Bay Area scene   The JP McClean (Melvin Seals JGB)) origin story: their first day as students at Berklee,  a chart that looked like “hieroglyphics,” and instant respect    Vulnerability on stage: choosing connection over perfection   The “Yoga Mafia” crossover: how Now Yoga in Corte Madera became part of the music ecosystem   Dead nights + mashups: blending Bee Gees, Biggie, Lou Reed, and more into jam sets Widespread Panic as Jon’s “first jam band show”—and later collaborating with bassist Dave Schools The passing-down tradition: Jon’s kids performing and singing at shows  Guest drop-ins:   Stephanie shares what she’s working on (Tumbleweed Soul, new trio, gigs with Dave Nelson Band)   Elliot talks first duo collaboration with Jon, returning from hiatus, and community support   Jon Chi’s Birthday Show All-Star lineup:   Sean Nelson — Drums   Angeline Saris — bass   Jordan Feinstein — keys   Minglewood Lewis Jr. — percussion   Patrick Byers, Natalie John, Andrew Ferren - Horns   Elliott Peck and Stephanie Salva - Vocals   Memorable moments & quotes:   “I mean, I want to talk about how much I love everyone.”   “I’d rather make a bunch of mistakes on stage and stay open to connect with people.”   “If you’re willing to share vulnerabilities, that’s where deeper relationships grow.”   “Even if AI disrupts recorded music—how do you ever replace live music?”   Topics that hit hard:   Why this scene works: It’s collaborative, supportive, and built on people being decent humans and strong musicians. Why live music wins: Because it’s shared presence, unrepeatable moments, and real connection. Why mashups matter: They expand the audience and keep traditions alive without turning them into copies.   If you’re new here…   This episode is a love letter to the Bay Area’s live music ecosystem—where jam culture, original music, yoga communities, and deep friendships all collide in the best way. Tags    John Chi, Only in the Green Room, Sweetwater Music Hall, Terrapin Crossroads community, Bay Area music scene, jam band culture, live music podcast, Grateful Dead community, improv music, vulnerability on stage, post-COVID live music, Now Yoga Corte Madera, Elliot Peck, Stephanie Tumbleweed Soul, Dave Schools, Widespread Panic

    43 min
  3. Jonathan McHugh: From College Radio to Music Supervision — Mixing Sound, Film, and the Next Generation - High Sierra Music Festival (Part 4)

    10/31/2025

    Jonathan McHugh: From College Radio to Music Supervision — Mixing Sound, Film, and the Next Generation - High Sierra Music Festival (Part 4)

    In this episode of Tales From The Green Room, recorded backstage at the 2025 High Sierra Music Festival, the hosts sit down with veteran film producer, director, and music supervisor, Jonathan McHugh. Jonathan shares his experiences growing up in New Orleans, starting in college radio at WTUL, and his journey through the music and film industries leading to his current role as Hilton-Baldridge Eminent Scholar and Chair in Music Industry Studies at Loyola University New Orleans. The conversation delves into his time working on documentaries and music supervision projects, including his work with the artist Avery Helman (aka “Ismay”) and the film/podcast Finding Lucinda. Reflecting on the intersections of live music, film, and storytelling, Jonathan also addresses the importance of fostering community in music festivals, engaging younger audiences, and supporting emerging artists. This fun and insightful interview captures Jonathan McHugh’s vibrant personality with rich dialogue highlighting his decades-long career, mentorship, and passion for music, film, and education. HIGHLIGHTS “Younger music has to seep in more — you gotta book more of those acts. They have the disposable income; they’ll camp, they’ll go.” – Jonathan McHugh on engaging new festival audiences “It’s payback time — I owe Dave for every step of the way.” – Jonathan McHugh on mentorship and early career guidance by Dave Margulies, (Co-Producer, High Sierra Music) LINKS Jonathan McHugh – Faculty Profile at Loyola University New Orleans cmm.loyno.edu Finding Lucinda - Film and Podcast - https://www.findinglucindafilm.com/  The Pure Band -Pure Rehearsal-Lucinda Williams- can’t let it go-https://youtu.be/t64_WYZFwt0?si=oiHAJx7kPc3L2Ew- Crooked-Truckin Kingofthecastle7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIL-E_wCzK8&list=RDtIL-E_wCzK8&start_radio=1 High Sierra Music Festival Official Website -https://www.highsierramusic.com/ #JonathanMcHugh #HighSierraMusicFestival #TalesFromTheGreenRoom #MusicIndustry #FilmProducer #MusicSupervisor #FindingLucinda #EmergingArtists #CollegeRadio #FestivalLife #IntergenerationalAudience #LiveMusic #Storytelling #MusicPodcast #BehindTheScenes #LoyolaUniversityNewOrleans #Ismay #LucindaWilliam

    31 min
  4. Karina Rykman: Joy Rides, Bass Lines, and Finding Her Voice Within Improv Vibes - High Sierra Music Festival (Part 3)

    10/24/2025

    Karina Rykman: Joy Rides, Bass Lines, and Finding Her Voice Within Improv Vibes - High Sierra Music Festival (Part 3)

    In this episode of Tales From The Green Room, recorded backstage at the 2025 High Sierra Music Festival, host Dennis Strazulo sits down with hardcore New Yorker and bad-ass bass player, Karina Rykman. Karina shares her experiences growing up in a highly intellectual family, her early start in punk bands at the age of 12, and her journey through various musical styles - including her experiences in the improvisational jam band scene -  leading to her current solo projects and other collaborations.  The conversation delves into her time playing with renowned multi-instrumentalists and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s keyboard player, Marco Benevento, the influence of her professional background in the music business, and how that shaped her career as a performer. Reflecting on her influences and the eclectic style defining her performances, Karina also addresses the importance of songwriting -  how she has developed that craft - and her approach to creating music that integrates structured songs with improvisational elements. This fun and insightful interview captures Karina Rykman’s vibrant personality with rich dialogue highlighting her talent, adaptability, and dedication to her craft. If you don’t find Karina playing around New York City while rejuvenating from her summer tour, catch her at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya January 20 - 24, 2026 as part of Widespread Panic’s Panic En La Playa HIGHLIGHTS  And then for the next seven and a half years, I worked for Rocks Off and ended up as a GM. I made a whole salary. That was my whole life. I was working, working, working…and playing in five bands at the same time, and getting kind of cool illustrious gigs -  I was on the Today Show with Julia Michaels backing her up and played on America's Got Talent in the backing band -  like I was doing shit for sure - but I never ever thought that would parlay itself to where I would play music for a living. There was not a part of me that thought that would be a thing. -Karina Rykman on the unexpected outcome of her music career.  It's very intoxicating to have people sing your songs back at you. It is very intoxicating! And to see Joy Ride, my song, being played on NFL football games. It’s being played on the radio. Like all these things where I'm just like, shit…that's crazy. -Karina Rykman on writing songs.  I met my band mates, and I asked them to practice improvising with me because I got this crazy gig where it was gonna be an hour of improv. IAnd they were like, yeah. And then all of a sudden we got all these gigs and all this attention. We were just stepping on stage with no roadmap, zero, not an A section, not a B section, not a cover, nothing, and just improvising from the ground up. And people liked it.  -Karina Rykman on the genesis of her improv band LINKS Karina Rykman Website Music, Videos, Press, Merch, Newsletter Karina Rykman - “Joyride” (Official Music Video) Joyride, Karina Rykman Video by Charlie Caukin Animated by Charlie Laud Karina Rykman with Grahame Lesh and Friends at Pier 48 (Heart of Town) SF, CA Set 1, Night 3 - August 2, 2025 Audio recorded by: Cam Keough Vid Cap by Ted Silverman AKA TedToob.com See Karina at Panic en la Playa - Jan. 20-24, Hard Rock Hotel, Riviera Maya, MX Connect with Karina Rykman Facebook Instagram Twitter/X Spotify High Sierra Music Festival #KarinaRykman #HighSierraMusicFestival #TalesFromTheGreenRoom #JamBandScene #MarcoBenevento #JoeRussosAlmostDead #WomenInMusic #Joyride #BassPlayerLife #NYCMusicScene #ImprovisationalMusic #MusicPodcast #FestivalInterviews #MusiciansOnTour #SongwritingProcess #LiveMusicLovers #WidespreadPanic #PanicEnLaPlaya #BehindTheMusic #RockInterviews

    40 min
  5. Amy Helm – Legacy, Recovery, and the Midnight Ramble - High Sierra Music Festival (Part 3)

    10/09/2025

    Amy Helm – Legacy, Recovery, and the Midnight Ramble - High Sierra Music Festival (Part 3)

    Fresh from bringing the spirit of the Midnight Ramble to the High Sierra Music Festival stage, Amy Helm sits down with the hosts for a moving and unflinching conversation about family, recovery, and carrying forward a legacy. Recorded backstage among the festival magic, this episode blends raw honesty with deep musical history. Listen to Amy open up about: The Phoenix Rising: How Levon Helm turned personal crisis into renewal with the legendary Midnight Rambles in his Woodstock barn, sparking his recovery and Grammy-winning resurgence.The Kitchen Meeting That Changed Everything: An encounter between the Helm and Lesh families that inspired Phil Lesh to build Terrapin Crossroads.Holding a Legacy: What it means to carry forward a parent’s vision with authenticity. Bringing the Ramble to High Sierra: The first-ever festival Ramble, with Amy’s son on drums alongside original band members, capturing the tradition’s family spirit.Phil Lesh as Mentor: How Phil guided her into the Grateful Dead songbook and gave her permission to reinvent songs in her own voice.Writing Silver City: Turning her own stories—and the story of a young fan lost to addiction—into songs of resilience, honesty, and self-discovery.Festivals, Family, and Community: Why inclusive, non-pretentious festivals matter more than ever in an industry full of “taste-makers.”Equal parts storytelling and testimony, Amy Helm’s words remind us that music is more than entertainment — it’s survival, legacy, and the thread that binds communities together. HIGHLIGHTS “The whole thing about holding a legacy… it doesn’t matter whether your dad was a carpenter or a drummer. What matters is how other people are remembering it and feeling filled up by it.” — Amy Helm on carrying forward Levon Helm’s vision “The Midnight Rambles were about recovery — physically, spiritually, financially. My dad started with 20 people just to pay the electric bill, and from there he got his voice back, his career back, and won three Grammys.” — Amy Helm on the rebirth of Levon Helm “Phil showed me that these songs were meant to be rediscovered in every fraction of every moment. That gave me permission to find my own way into the Grateful Dead tradition.” — Amy Helm on Phil Lesh as mentor SHOWS Join Amy Helm w/ The Helm Family Midnight Ramble at the Levon Helm Down Home JubileeOctober 18, 20025 -  Marvell, AR Catch the remaining 2025  "Midnight Ramble" shows at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY on Nov 1, 28 and New Year's Eve! Check the calendar of other artists appearing at the venue in 2025 including Tales From The Green Room guests Sam Grisman (Sam Grisman Project) on October 21 and Eric Johnson (Fruit Bats) on Halloween. MUSIC Money On 7, Amy Helm – Available on Tidal – High Fidelity Music Streaming                                              Music and Lyrics by Amy Helm, JT Nero Cotton And The Cane, Amy Helm – Available on Tidal – High Fidelity  Streaming                                              Music and Lyrics by Amy Helm, Mary Gauthier      LINKS                 Amy Helm Official WebsiteLevon Helm Studios - Home Of The Midnight Ramble High Sierra Music Festival THUMBNAIL PHOTO BY GABRIEL DAVID BARKIN

    41 min
  6. Chaparelle - "Eroticana": Finding a Lane, Creating a World - High Sierra Music Festival (Part 2)

    09/19/2025

    Chaparelle - "Eroticana": Finding a Lane, Creating a World - High Sierra Music Festival (Part 2)

    In this episode of Tales From the Green Room, the hosts welcome Chaparelle, the Texas-based pop, folk and classic-country band created by Zella Day, Jesse Woods, and Beau Bedford. The trio discuss their unique musical lane, inspired by a blend of romance, personal experiences, and a mutual affinity for original music, which has earned them a dedicated following. Special guest, Rob Bleetstein (SiriusXM Producer and Host) joins the show, having dubbed the band’s music style as “Eroticana” - while Zella Day describes the essence of her theatrical, sometimes sensual flair blending with the band’s authentic country-influenced performances.  Recorded after the band’s second remarkable set in two days at the High Sierra Music Festival - moments before they hit the road to promote their new record, Western Pleasure – Zella, Jesse, and Beau delve into their personal dynamics and the importance of collaboration. This episode encapsulates a blend of humor (touching on the difference between Texas and California hippies!), camaraderie, and heartfelt moments, offering a comprehensive insight into the lives and music of Chaparelle and a peek into their aspirations, surely leading them to a bright future.   HIGHLIGHTS Zella and I got together romantically, and we wanted to start a band together… and write some songs… but writing songs while you're in a relationship, just two people, can be pretty difficult. It gets very personal, very quick, and we were still in our honeymoon phase, and we were like, why are we doing this to ourselves? Let's stick with the romance. Then we met Beau… that third angle on the triangle… and everything just fit.  -Jesse Woods on writing songs while in a romantic relationship with Zella Day and Beau Bedford saving the day.                                                               If you look at the packaging of the vinyl…every last lyric, everything really is within the world we’ve created. And we're getting better and better at being able to decipher what that world is. Somebody recently said to me, which I really liked, that was good advice, and I think it's what we're doing here, is to find a lane and take that lane completely over.. And so that's what we're doing. We're the only ones doing it like we are right now. -Zella Day on Chaparelle’s mission to dominate their lane. Seeing you at clubs is one thing…but when you're on these bigger stages with bigger PAs, even though the music is totally country and it's put together, there's so much space in between everything, the way the songs are constructed, the way you guys play…there's just plenty of room for everything. But the rock element really comes through on so many of the songs… I have so many friends who saw you for the first time, and especially some younger ones who maybe are not big country lovers and they were just like freaking out. -Rob Bleetstein praising Chaparelle's performance on the big stage at High Sierra Music Festival. I think we want to just be surrounded with people that we really love and to make music that we love. I think we're talented enough for good things to happen, but the rest of the world's in control of that. We only in control of putting out songs that we love and that we believe in… and trying to hang out with people that we love. -Beau Bedford on the band’s aspirations. MUSIC 2025 Album – “Western Pleasure” - Chaparelle UPCOMING SHOWS (as of day of episode drop) - TICKET LINKS   Sep 20, 2025 - The Chapel -San Francisco, CA Tickets Sep 21, 2025 - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA Tickets Sep 23, 2025 - Moe's Alley Santa Cruz, CA Tickets Sep 24, 2025 - SLO Brew Rock - San Luis Obispo, CA Tickets Sep 26, 2025 - Pappy + Harriet's - Pioneertown, CA Tickets Sep 27, 2025 - Ohana Fest - Dana Point, CA Tickets Oct 11, 2025 - Gruene Hall - New Braunfels, TX Tickets Oct 16, 2025 - Fine Line - Minneapolis, MN Tickets Oct 17, 2025 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI Tickets Oct 18, 2025 - The Stache - Grand Rapids, MI Tickets Oct 20, 2025 Turntable - Indianapolis, IN Tickets Oct 21, 2025 - Thunderbird Café & Music Hall - Pittsburgh, PA with Esther Rose Tickets Oct 22, 2025 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA Tickets Oct 24, 2025 - The Sinclair - Cambridge, MA Tickets Oct 25, 2025 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY Tickets Oct 28, 2025 - The Atlantis - Washington, DC Tickets Oct 30, 2025 - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC Tickets Oct 31, 2025 - Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC Tickets Nov 1, 2025 - The Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC Tickets Nov 5, 2025 - Terminal West - Atlanta, GA Tickets Nov 6, 2025 – Saturn - Birmingham, AL

    28 min
  7. Andy Frasco's Evolution & Festival Tales - High Sierra Music Festival (Part 1)

    09/09/2025

    Andy Frasco's Evolution & Festival Tales - High Sierra Music Festival (Part 1)

    Fresh off a wild set at the legendary High Sierra Music Festival, Andy Frasco - bandleader, podcaster, and all-around force of nature - kicks back with the hosts for a candid, hilarious, and heartfelt conversation recorded right on the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds. Andy opens up about: The magic of High Sierra and why community and family matter at festivalsHis leap into music (inspired by piano teacher Holly Bowling) and how he built a career from scratchLessons learned from overcoming excess and finding purpose in writing songs that matterMentorship from legends like Dave Schools, Vince Herman, and George Porter Jr.His podcast, where raw conversations with seasoned musicians fuel inspiration for the next generationEqual parts levity and real talk, this episode is a love letter to live music culture and a reminder of why it’s worth preserving. Long live High Sierra! HIGHLIGHTS “ Long live High Sierra.!” This is bigger than us. This festival, the idea of this festival is important…. families come together, music is being made, kids laughing, smiling, families laughing and smiling. You don't see that anymore. People camping. That's why we gotta keep these things sacred …that's my goal. -Andy Frasco on the greatness of High Sierra Music Festival.   I stopped writing songs to make everyone happy. And I started writing songs to make me happy. You can't preach happiness unless you're happy with yourself. And I'm finally in a spot where I'm good with myself.-Andy Frasco on his approach to writing songs and the good place he is in.   It doesn't matter, when you start loving yourself, you just gotta love yourself. Even if you're 60, even if you're 70. Even if you're 10,. We gotta remember when we were seven years old. on the f*****g swings, eating some ice cream, laughing by yourself, you know? That's it. We gotta get back to that. You have to get that feeling. -Andy Frasco on the importance of loving yourself. MUSIC 2025  Album - "Growing Pains" - Andy Frasco & The U.N.Andy Frasco & The U.N. - "Life is Easy" ft. Billy Strings, Steve Poltz, Daniel Donato & Mike GordonAndy Frasco & The U.N. (feat Little Stranger) - Oh, What A Life (Official Video) UPCOMING SHOWS/"GROWING PAINS" TOUR (as of day of episode drop) TICKET LINKS SEP 9, 2025 - "Hot Summer Nights" – Vail, CO (Free Show) SEP 10, 2025 - “The Gaslight Social” – Casper, WY SEP 11, 2025 -  The Commonwealth Room – Salt Lake City, UT SEP 12 – 14, 2025 – Telluride Blues & Brews Festival – Telluride, CO SEP 18, 2025 – “Healing Appalachia” – Ashland, KY SEP 26 – 27, 2025 – Holy Smokes Festival – Garrettsville, OH OCT 2, 2025 – The Livery – Benton Harbor, MI OCT 3, 2025 – Moontown Brewery – Whitestown, IN OCT 4, 2025 – Kenny’s Westside Pub – Peoria, IL OCT 8 – 12, 2025 – Hillberry Harvest Moon Festival – Eureka Spring, AR w/ Greensky Bluegrass OCT 17 – 19, 2025 – Roots Music Festival – Boulder, CO OCT 19, 2025 – Halfway to 420 Music Festival – St. Augustine, FL OCT 24, 2025 – The Barrelhouse Ballroom – Chattanooga, TN OCT 25, 2025 – MegaCorp Pavillion (w/ Gov’t Mule) – Newport, KY OCT 26, 2025 – Ting Pavillion (w/ Gov’t Mule) – Charlottesville, VA JAN 14 – 18, 2026 – Tropic of Cancer Festival (w/ Lettuce, Mother Hips) - Todos Santos, Baja California Sur  LINKS ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. MERCH ANDY FRASCO’S WORLD SAVING PODCAST

    29 min
  8. Joe Marcinek w/ Rick King (Dead Funk Summit) + Jeremy Hoenig (Melvin Seals & JGB) - Behind The Scenes at JazzFest (Part 4)

    08/22/2025

    Joe Marcinek w/ Rick King (Dead Funk Summit) + Jeremy Hoenig (Melvin Seals & JGB) - Behind The Scenes at JazzFest (Part 4)

    In this episode, Tales From The Green Room presents their conversations with Joe Marcinek and Jeremy Hoenig recorded before their respective performances during Jazz Fest 2025 in New Orleans – featuring two  musicians swimming in the same music circles in the San Francisco Bay Area and nationally - and both connected with Melvin Seals!   Marcinek joins the show before his stellar appearance leading Dead Funk Summit during the Crawfish Festival at The Broadside, and is joined by soulful percussionist, drummer, vocalist, Rick King – a member of the Summit on this day.  King talks about getting drawn into the Grateful Dead vibe, including with his own band, Rick King's Royal Hustle, elaborating on how magic happens on stage with Marcinek.  Hoenig sits down with the hosts before holding down the beat on drums at his gig with Melvin Seals & JGB at Café Istanbul -  made possible by venue host Mitch Stein, responsible for curating a stellar lineup of musicians at the venue during Jazz Fest. The Marcinek segment – recorded the very day his new album, The Groove Sessions, was released -  delves into Joe’s late entry into music, his love for New Orleans sounds, the evolution of his Dead Funk Summit project now taking on a life of its own, and the special energy created by different musicians joining the venture around the country - including the likes of George Porter, Jr. and the aforementioned, Melvin Seals. The Crawfish King, Shaggy Davis, even makes a cameo during the interview!  Hoenig talks about his own musical journey  from being inspired by his father's record collection to his current gig with the iconic Seals, playing with Camille Boudin of The Radiators, and reflects on “falling into the groove” playing beats the first time he entered the New Orleans music scene. Jeremy identifies a cadre of his favorite New Orleans drummers and how playing with Melvin Seals & JGB is the perfect fit for him.  Joe Marcinek, Rick King, and Jeremy Hoenig go in depth sharing their experiences in the music scene, their love for improvisation, and the collaborative spirit they embody, providing for a heartwarming and informative episode. HIGHLIGHTS When you have a band that plays all the time, it's easy to kind of go through the motions…where if you've never played together or it's something new, everyone's really locked in. Are we hitting the changes? Are we going to the move? Any little change that a musician does, that's when the magic happens.-Joe Marcinek on brining in different musicians to his "Dead Funk Summit" I read something about Miles Davis saying, “ I don’t talk to my musicians about music, because if I would have to talk to 'em about it, I hired the wrong people in the first place. And I always think about that.-Rick King on the possibility of creating situations where magic can happen on stage among musicians, if you talk too much about it. You can imagine how proud I am  to be playing this music, which for me has all the styles that I love, and  the music I gravitate towards. It's blues, it's funk, it's reggae, it's jazz, it's country. It's all these rhythms. And Jerry knew, when he had his own band, he wanted to explore all those different things. So that's why I feel it’s a very good fit for me… and personally, I just, I enjoy it. It lets me have everything that I love in one band.-Jeremy Hoenig on being a member of "Melvin Seals & JGB" PHOTOS Backstage Photos at NOLA Crawfish Fest – 4.29.25 – by Appelbaum Images SPONSOR SHOUT OUTS Special Thanks to Son Vo  (Jerry’s Middle Finger) for his expert audio engineering skills editing the interview with Joe Marcinek and Rick King- recorded in a very noisy, outdoor backstage area at the Broadside in New Orleans during the Crawfish Festival - making this episode possible!  Son Vo is also a talented writer! Check out his compelling story, now available as an audiobook: Tales of the Mekong Delta Bluesman - Autobiography of Son Vo @sonvosongs Special thanks also to Mitch Stein - producer of JazzFest after shows at Café Istanbul - for welcoming us to the venue and accommodating our interview with Jeremy Hoenig!  Checkout and download Mitch’s DEADSHOWZ App – The most powerful mobile Grateful Dead search engine on the planet!  LINKS JOE MARCINEK https://www.joemarcinekband.com/ The Groove Session – Album – Joe Marcinek Band https://www.jesusmolina.org/ https://www.groovesessionmusic.com/ Upcoming Shows Joe Marcinek's Dead Funk Summit w/ Melvin Seals, Tony Hall, Cliff Porter, and Rick King 22 Aug  -Good People Good Times Music Festival 2025 – Nashville, IN 23 Aug - Rockopelli Music Fest 2025 -  Crown Point, IN 24 Aug – Park Theater - Holland, MI Joe Marcinek Band31 Aug – Sunday Is Dead – Harlan Records, Outside Show,  San Francisco, CA 4pm – 7:15pm    w/ Angeline Saris, Dylan Teifer, Jerry Saracini, Jeff Hobbs, Jen Freebairn) Event Organized by Mr. Hat Presents 27 Sep  - Michigan City's Last Splash Fest 2025 - Michigan City, IN RICK KING Rick King’s Royal Hustle https://www.honeyislandswampband.com/ Upcoming Shows

    49 min
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Welcome to Tales from the Green Room - Backstage conversations from popular music venues around the country curated by Mount Tam Media. Buckle up and listen in, as host Dennis Strazulo and Mount Tam Media founder, Tami Larson, dig up conversations with artists - before and after shows - in the exclusive confines of the green room. Barriers are down with stories abound! Tales from the Greenroom Special Edition (Sweetwater Music Hall's 50th Anniversary Series) Mount Tam Media is thrilled to launch its Tales From the Green Room Podcast with a special series of episodes celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the iconic Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California. The roster of artists that have crowded onto the club's little stages, first at the original Sweetwater location two blocks away, and now at the new location which opened in 2013, reads like a Who's Who of roots & rock music: Bob Weir, Aaron Neville, Big Mama Thornton, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Etta James, Greg Allman, Van Morrison… the list of musical luminaries is endless. In the 80's, the Times of London hailed Sweetwater as one of the best nightclubs in America and the legacy continues! Mount Tam Media has been granted special access to Sweetwater’s green room during the venue’s 50th anniversary year to interview musicians, photographers, managers and the like, and capture their favorite moments and memories, preserving the untold secrets of what has graced these hallowed walls for half a century, before they are lost forever.

Information

  • Creator
    Mount Tam Media
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Mount Tam Media - All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Only In The Green Room