Rockonomics Podcast
By Dill
Rockonomics talks to musicians, producers, journalists and others about their personal journeys pursuing their artistic endeavors. It's a fun and engaging glimpse behind the scenes of those who make music their career.
Rockonomics PodcastSep 03, 2019
00:00
01:17:40
E64 - Katie Cole - Singer/Songwriter, keyboards Smashing Pumpkins
Australian born Katie Cole is a Nashville based singer/songwriter who currently just wrapped up playing keyboards and backing vocals for the Smashing Pumpkins US/UK tour. Her story of coming to LA from Melbourne is like no other and her determination to navigate the ins and outs of the music industry is a lesson in perseverance, savvy DIY marketing and seizing opportunities when they come. Her easy going demeanor and sheer musical talent just adds to her appeal among her ever-growing fan base.
Sep 03, 201901:17:40
E63 - Steve Fekete - America
Steve Fekete is another Berklee School of Music graduate who made the journey out west and found success playing for the likes of Avril Lavigne, Gwen Stefani, Don Felder, Vertical Horizon and many others. The multi-instrumentalist is currently playing guitar and keys for America and when he finds himself in LA on the last Wednesday of each month he's playing in the house band for Soundcheck Live alongside such past guests as Nuno Bettencourt, Jackson Browne and Tom Morello.
Aug 27, 201901:01:18
E62 - Brad Hargreaves - Third Eye Blind
Drummer Brad Hargreaves has been with Third Eye Blind since they broke out of the Bay Area in 1997 with their self-titled platinum selling album that spawned the now classic single Semi-Charmed Life. Since then they've released 4 full-length LP's with a 5th called Screamer due on October 18th. Brad has also kept busy on the side playing in the power-trio Year Long Disaster and has performed DJ sets combined with drumming under the moniker Just Brad.
Aug 20, 201955:18
E61 - Ra Ra Riot
Ra Ra Riot formed in 2006 at Syracuse University and has just released their 5th full-length album called Superbloom last week on August 9th. The band, consisting of vocalist Wes Miles, bassist Mathieu Santos, guitarist Milo Bonacci, violinist Rebecca Zeller and drummer Kenny Bernard, recently wrapped up supporting Jimmy Eat World and Third Eye Blind on the Summer Gods Tour. Wes, Mathieu, Milo and Kenny sat down with the Rockonomics podcast and touched upon a wide array of topics that covered their decade-plus touring, recording and making music for a living.
Aug 13, 201950:11
E60 - Jim McGorman - Goo Goo Dolls
New Jersey bred singer, songwriter, producer and instrumentalist Jim McGorman has played with a who's who in the music world including the New Radicals, Michelle Branch, Avril Lavigne, Cher, Paul Stanley and Weezer to name a few. The Berklee College of Music graduate is currently enjoying his second stint with the Goo Goo Dolls.
Aug 06, 201901:12:46
E59 - Matt Musty, Craig Macintyre, Griffin Wright - Train, Goo Goo Dolls, Allen Stone
Train drummer Matt Musty, Goo Goo Dolls drummer Craig Macintyre and Allen Stone drummer Griffin Wright share the similarities and differences of their individual experiences playing drums for a living. All are on tour together this summer and belong to a growing close-knit community of pro drummers who share a mutual respect for one another.
Jul 30, 201901:09:29
E58 - Tiffany
Tiffany struck it big with her #1 cover of “I Think We’re Alone Now” which occupied the Billboard top ten singles chart for two weeks in November of 1987 alongside the likes of Springsteen, Madonna and the king of pop himself, Michael Jackson. Her star gradually dimmed as 90’s tastes changed but she never went away and kept busy writing, recording, touring and appearing on TV. 2019 finds her on the successful Mixtape tour alongside fellow 80's stalwarts New Kids on the Block, Salt-n-Pepa, Naughty by Nature and Debbie Gibson while promoting her latest release Pieces of Me.
Jul 23, 201939:35
E57 - Daxx Nielsen - Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick drummer Daxx Nielsen has been manning the kit for the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famers for 10 years now. Before that he was paying his dues playing 1000's of gigs, touring in vans and drumming for the likes of surf-rock legend Dick Dale and recent Grammy winner Brandi Carlile before back issues forced original Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos to summons Daxx to fill in for a few encores, which turned into a few shows, which turned into a full time gig.
Jul 09, 201901:09:20
E56 - Sean Hurwitz - Smash Mouth, Enrique Iglesias
Guitarist Sean Hurwitz's two most well-known gigs could not be any more different. One has him playing stadiums and arenas around the world with Enrique Iglesias and the other has him rocking clubs, theaters and sheds with Smash Mouth. Listen to how this Israeli-raised musician took a leap off faith by going to LA to make a living playing music and subsequently succeeding.
Jul 02, 201901:15:21
E55 - Michael Devin - Whitesnake
Michael Devin is a New England bred, self-taught musician who’s played with the likes of Kenny Wayne Shepard, Lynch Mob and Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience. Since 2010 Michael has been the bassist for the band Whitesnake who are currently on their Flesh and Blood World tour.
May 07, 201901:09:20
E54 - Brandon Hinson - Tour Manager
Brandon Hinson has worn many hats in his 20 years in and around music. Starting out as a musician he went on to found his own management company, worked as a production manager for Clear Channel Concerts, served as tour manager for Smash Mouth and currently oversees clubs and theaters for Live Nation in Charlotte, NC.
Apr 30, 201952:15
E53 - Drew Fortune - Author: No Encore
Drew Fortune returns to the podcast to talk about his upcoming book No Encore: Musicians Reveal Their Weirdest, Wildest, Most Embarrassing Gigs which is available now for pre-order and hits the shelves on July 16th featuring recollections from dozens of artists including Alice Cooper, Peter Frampton, Shirley Manson, Sammy Hagar and many more. Hear Drew read a jaw-dropping excerpt from Dave Navarro recounting one of his drug-fueled exploits backstage at the 1997 KROQ acoustic xmas show.
Apr 23, 201928:48
E51 - Eva Gardner - Pink
Eva Gardner's professional career began shortly after graduating UCLA with honors when she toured and recorded as the original bassist in The Mars Volta. Since then she’s played with the likes of Gwen Stefani, Moby, Cher, Veruca Salt and has spent the last 12 years touring the world with Pink.
Apr 16, 201955:35
E51 - Mark Schulman - Pink
Mark Schulman is an in-demand drummer who’s played for Richard Marx, Simple Minds, Billy Idol, Pink and many others. But it was a blown audition for the band Bad English that left a profound effect and led him to dedicate himself to conquering anxiety and become the consummate professional musician, author and corporate speaker that he is today.
Apr 09, 201941:36
E50 - Fred Armisen - Trenchmouth
Most of us know Fred Armisen from his decade on Saturday Night Live, 8 seasons on Portlandia and countless other TV shows and movie cameos. But before comedy became the driving force in Fred's career he was a young struggling musician playing drums for the post-hardcore Chicago based band Trenchmouth. On this week's podcast we zero in on Fred's musical past that has always informed so much of his comedy.
Apr 02, 201944:59
E49 - Jesse Valenzuela - Gin Blossoms
Jesse Valenzuela has been with the Gin Blossoms from their humble beginnings back in Tempe, Arizona before their regional success garnered the attention of the major labels and eventually resulted in getting signed by A&M. Their first full length album New Miserable Experence was a multi-platinum success that paved the way for them to become one of the 90’s most successful alternative rock acts.
Mar 26, 201955:20
E48 - Brendan B. Brown - Wheatus
Brendan B. Brown is the mastermind behind the band Wheatus who most of us know for their 2000 hit Teenage Dirtbag and cover of Erasure's A Little Respect. It's been a long, strange trip since then but some 19 years later Wheatus are still at it having become a fairly well-oiled DIY machine that continues to record and tour the US and abroad regularly.
Mar 19, 201950:34
E47 - Joel Hoekstra - Whitesnake, Cher, TSO
Joel Hoekstra is easily one of the busiest musicians out there today. He currently juggles performing in three extremely successful global acts: Cher, Whitesnake and the Trans Siberian Orchestra. In between those commitments he’s appearing at the Monsters of Rock cruise, playing gigs with the Rock of Ages band and contributing to various sessions, collaborations and solo projects.
Mar 12, 201951:39
E46 - Ashley Reeve & Jason Sutter - Cher
Ashley Reeve is a California born and bred bassist who's played with Cee-Lo Green, Adam Lambert, Ed Harcourt, Money Mark and Filter to name a few. Drummer Jason Sutter is a fellow upstate New Yorker who's resume includes the late great Chris Cornell, Marilyn Manson, Foreigner, and The New York Dolls among others. The two are currently the rhythm section for Cher on her Here We Go Again tour.
Mar 05, 201901:10:58
E45 - Ocean Park Standoff - Ethan Thompson & Pete Nappi
Ethan Thompson and Pete Nappi make up 2/3 of the band Ocean Park Standoff. Formed in 2016, along with musician/DJ Samantha Ronson, Ocean Park Standoff hit the ground running with the breakout single “Good News” and a 2017 Summer tour supporting Third Eye Blind and The Silversun Pickups. They've continued their ascent in 2018 with more touring and charting another hit with “If You Were Mine” which reached #15 on Billboard Adult Pop chart.
Dec 18, 201839:08
E44 - Bonus 2018 Content
Hear additional interview content from Dokken/Foreigner bassist Jeff Pilson, Rolling Stone writer Gavin Edwards, Daughtry Keyboardist Elvio Fernandes, Maroon 5's Sam Farrar, Toad the Wet Sprocket's Dean Dinning, Masters of Reality drummer John Leamy and Better Than Ezra's Michael Jerome. These are interview snippets that didn't make the original podcast episodes.
Dec 11, 201825:15
E43 - Michael Jerome - Drummer, Richard Thompson, Better Than Ezra
Michael Jerome is a genre-fluid drummer who’s played folk, blues, gospel, pop, ambient and electro-metal with the likes of Richard Thompson, The Blind Boys of Alabama, John Cale, Toadies and Better Than Ezra to name a few. Currently touring with The Richard Thompson Trio Michael takes us through his more than 30 years of providing the back beat to up some of music's most enduring artists.
Dec 04, 201801:02:25
E42 - Chris Shinn - Singer, +Live+, Unified Theory
Singer Chris Shinn is probably most widely known for replacing Ed Kowalczyk in the band Live from 2012-2016. Prior to that Chris has had a rich and diverse career that's veered from playing in Unified Theory with ex-Blind Melon and ex-Pearl Jam members to recording a solo album with a murderers row of Nashville studio legends. He's currently putting the finishing touches on his latest solo work he recorded in his home studio when we caught up with him.
Nov 27, 201801:20:30
E41 - Ryan Roxie - Guitarist with Alice Cooper, Gilby Clark, Electric Angels
Guitarist Ryan Roxie is a veteran rocker who’s played with Candy, Electric Angles, Gilby Clark, Slash’s Snake Pit but is probably best known for his longstanding work playing with Alice Cooper starting in 1996. He's also a solo artist whose latest effort, called Imagine Your Reality, was released this past Spring and features a cameo by Cheap Trick vocalist Robin Zander.
Nov 20, 201832:05
E40 - Sam Farrar - Maroon 5, Phantom Planet
Sam Farrar is a utility musician (samples, keys, guitar, percussion) for Maroon 5 and first appeared on the music scene as the bass player for Phantom Planet. Since then he’s become a well-regarded songwriter and producer who’s worked with the likes of Sara Bareilles, Gomez, Daryl Hall and Maroon 5 which eventually led to him touring with them beginning in 2012 and continues to this day.
Nov 13, 201850:21
E39 - Elvio Fernandes - Daughtry
Elvio Fernandes is a keyboardist and rhythm guitarist who's been writing, recording and touring with Daughtry since 2012 when he left his day job as a real estate broker to chase his dream. Since then he's played some of the world's most prestigious venues, made numerous TV appearances and has grown his Camp Roc Star from a youth summer music camp to a year round music academy.
Nov 06, 201801:07:26
E38 - Sadler Vaden - Guitarist, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Drivin' N' Cryin'
Guitarist Sadler Vaden cut his teeth playing for the South Carolina based rock trio Leslie before joining the seminal Atlanta band Drivin' N' Cryin'. After a move to Nashville Sadler eventually hooked up with Jason Isbell in time to support his breakthrough album Southeastern. 5 years, 2 studio albums and couple Grammy’s later Sadler and his bandmates in the 400 Unit are being compared to Tom Petty's Heartbreakers and Springsteen's E Street Band.
Oct 30, 201859:54
E37 - Dean Dinning - -Toad The Wet Sprocket
Dean Dinning is the bassist for the band Toad the Wet Sprocket who emerged from Santa Barbara and made a name for themselves in the 1990's with the hits "All I Want" and "Walk on the Ocean". Three consecutive Gold or Platinum albums helped the band build a very loyal following that solidified itself when it raised 5x the goal amount for a Kickstarter campaign in 2013 to market their album New Constellation. Dean spoke with Rockonomics just as Toad were wrapping up their 2018 summer tour.
Oct 23, 201801:03:18
E36 - Andy Stoller - Bassist: Tracy Chapman, Ann Wilson & more
Bassist Andy Stoller was a long-time member of Tracy Chapman’s band and contributed to her Grammy winning, multi-platinum New Beginning album. He’s also performed or recorded with Pearl Jam’s Mike McCreedy, Peter Garbriel, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Chuck Prophet, Pete Droge and many more. Currently he plays with Ann Wilson of Heart and has just wrapped up this summer's Stars Align tour with Jeff Beck and Paul Rogers
Sep 04, 201856:48
E35 - Matt McGinley - Gym Class Heroes
Matt McGinley is the drummer and founding member of the Gym Class Heroes who have enjoyed platinum success with their unique combination of hip hop, rock and funk on such his as Stereo Hearts, The Fighter, Ass Back Home and Cupid's Chokehold. As of late Matt has been a contributing music producer to the nationally syndicated radio show This American Life, as well as the critically acclaimed podcast, S-Town. He and GCH are currently on the Never Ending Summer Tour with 311 and The Offspring.
Aug 28, 201801:07:12
E34 - Elaine Caswell - Songstress
Singer Elaine Caswell enjoys a rich and diverse career. Her extraordinary singing talents has brought her a range of opportunities from dueting with Joe Jackson to backing up Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Roger Waters, Eddie Vedder, Cher, Dolly Parton, Bette Midler and many other well-known artists. And in between these high-profile gigs her chops can be heard on an impressive array of commercials, TV shows, movies and more.
Aug 21, 201801:00:10
E33 - Alex Nolan - Guitarist Cyndi Lauper
Guitarist Alex Nolan caught the guitar bug at age 5 and was performing as a professional singer and guitarist at 13 around New York’s Hudson Valley. She's played with the likes of Jill Sobule, Toshi Reagon and Nona Hendryx and was a part of The Merideth Viera Show band on the NBC daytime talk show during it’s 2 season run. For the last 2 years she's been touring as lead guitarist for Cyndi Lauper.
Aug 14, 201853:26
E32 - William Wittman - Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Musician (Cyndi Lauper, JoanOsborne, The Outfield)
William Wittman is a Grammy winning producer, engineer, musician and songwriter who’s credits include Cyndi Lauper’s 6x platinum She’s So Unusual, Joan Osborne’s 3x platinum Relish, and the Outfield’s 2x platinum Play Deep among others. He’s also twisted the knobs on hits for Pat Benatar, Mick Jagger, The Fixx, and many more. He's currently on tour with Cyndi Lauper as her bassist and musical director.
Aug 07, 201845:59
E31 - Gavin Edwards - Music Journalist for Rolling Stone, Details and bestselling author
Gavin Edwards is a longtime contributor at Rolling Stone, Details, Billboard and GQ who’s covered a wide variety of artists including Nirvana, Blink 182, Taylor Swift and Weezer just to name a few. He's also a New York Times bestselling author who's turned misheard lyrics into a cottage industry with his book ‘Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy, and it’s follow ups as well as The Tao of Bill Murray and Last Night at the Viper Room. He's about to have a busy Fall with two new books hitting the shelves.
Jul 31, 201859:15
E30 - Jeff Pilson - Dokken, Dio, Foreigner
Jeff Pilson's first taste of success was in the 80’s with the platinum selling rockers Dokken. Since then he’s lent his talents to a host of others including Dio, the Michael Shencker Group and his own bands. But for the last 14 years Jeff has been playing bass for the regeneration of Foreigner. We caught up with Jeff before he took the stage headlining this summer’s Jukebox Heroes Tour with Foreigner, Whitesnake and Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening.
Jul 24, 201851:26
E29 - Tom Drummond - Better Than Ezra
Tom Drummond is a founding member and bassist for Better Than Ezra who burst onto the national scene in 1995 with the Number 1 modern rock track "Good". But what looked like overnight success was really 7 years of do-it-yourself ingenuity and hard work. 30 years and a dozen albums and eps later they’re still at it with the same fortitude. Rockonomics caught up with Tom when he called in from The Last Summer on Earth Tour with The Barenaked Ladies and KT Turnstall.
Jul 17, 201827:45
E28 - Drew Shoals - Drummer Train
Train drummer Drew Shoals has been a professional drummer since graduating college in 2005 but took a break 3 years later to get a law degree at the University of Pennsylvania and go to work for a well known law firm before getting the call to join Train in 2014. Since then he’s appeared on four Train albums, earned his first platinum record and has toured the world.
Jul 10, 201801:06:08
E27 - Robbie Kondor - Keyboardist, Arranger, Producer
Robbie Kondor is a keyboardist, arranger, producer and synthesizer programmer who’s recorded or performed with an array of legendary artists such as Eric Clapton, Barbara Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel and Whitney Houston. He’s also toured with the likes of Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor and Carole King and has had the distinction of David Letterman poking fun at him when he had the unique opportunity to fill-in for Paul Schaffer on The Late Show.
Jul 03, 201801:09:20
E26 - Jon Altschiller - Live Sound Mixer Phish, Springsteen, Zac Brown + More
Jon Altschiller is an engineer, producer, mixer and masterer. A long time veteran of the NY music scene Jon has become the go-to guy for mixing live performances for broadcast and streaming. He was hand picked by Phish and Bruce Springsteen to handle their live downloads and his experience doing the same for Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits and other top festivals has allowed him to work for a vast array of major artists like Dave Matthews, Wilco, Zach Brown, Cage the Elephant and many dozens more.
Jun 26, 201801:03:53
E25 - -John Leamy - Drummer, Masters of Reality, Surgery
John Leamy is not only a great musician but an exceptional fine artist and master storyteller as well. John is best known as a long time and current member of the influential band Masters of Reality but it was his start with the post-hardcore band Surgery that started his surreal path through the business. From two near-death touring incidents to being replaced by legendary drummer Ginger Baker, John recalls these experiences and more with great attention to detail and humor.
Jun 19, 201801:19:46
E24 - Kyler Clark - Mgmt Asst to Alice Cooper, Photographer + more
Kyler Clark’s official title is Management Assistant to Alice Cooper but his duties go well beyond that. He’s also Alice’s personal assistant, social media administrator, photographer, live show extra and more. With his intimate knowledge working for the legendary rocker over years of touring coupled with a degree in music business management from the Berkeley College of Music, Kyler shares his unique insights on some of what goes on behind the scenes of a bonafide rock and roll hall of famer.
Jun 12, 201801:02:43
E23 - Drew Fortune - Music Journalists for Spin, A.V. Club, Rolling Stone and more
Drew Fortune has written for Rolling Stone, Spin, Pitchfork, Billboard and Vanity Fair to name a few. He's spent the day at Paul Westerberg's house, fished with Dean Ween and had a misunderstanding with Ryan Adams. He's currently in the process of writing a book called No Encore which documents the most infamous gigs as told by Wayne Kramer, Robert Pollard, Alice Cooper and countess others.
Jun 05, 201857:33
E22 - Riki Rachtman - MTV Headbangers Ball, VH1 Rock of Love, Racing Rocks
Most music fans know Riki Rachtman as the host of MTV's Headbangers Ball from 1990-1995. Since then he's provided hosting duties for World Championship Wrestling, The VH1 Rock of Love series and it's spinoffs and for the last 15 years he's been the driving force behind his own NASCAR themed syndicated radio show called Racing Rocks with Riki Rachtman. He's had quite a journey going from a punk rock loving kid to a hard rock icon.
Mar 06, 201801:08:28
E21 - Bill Szymczyk - Producer for The Eagles, The Who, Bob Seger, Joe Walsh, Santana
Bill Szymczyk is a Grammy winning producer best known for overseeing the recordings of B.B. King's The Thrill is Gone and The Eagles Hotel California. His adept sense of hearing took him from a Navy sonor operator during the height of the cold war to in-demand producer whose credits (Eagles, Joe Walsh, The Who, Elvin Bishop, Jay Ferguson, Rick Derringer) were the staples of album oriented rock radio in the 70's and beyond.
Feb 27, 201801:10:12
E20 - Mitch Davis & Scott Brittingham - Pull Music + Sound (U2, LA Guns, Stephen Malkmus)
Composer Mitch Davis and producer Scott Brittingham of Pull Music + Sound provide original music, sound design and music supervision for brands like Apple, Nike and ESPN. They've also written, produced or recorded with U2 (Songs of Innocence), L.A. Guns, Stephen Malkmus, Billy Squire and many others since opening shop in lower Manhattan shortly after the attacks of 9/11/01.
Feb 20, 201801:07:37
E19 - Billy Ryan - Guitarist for The Bogemn
Billy Ryan is the guitarist for The Bogmen who became a must-see live act in the early 90's while playing clubs, colleges and bars around the Northeast which eventually led to a record deal with Arista. And while mainstream success proved elusive their regional popularity never wavered as they continued to play to capacity crowds in New York City well into the 2000's.
Feb 13, 201801:03:16
E18 - Jeff Slate - Music Journalist on Tom Petty, Jimmy Page, Willie Nelson & more
Jeff Slate is a journalist and a musician in his own right who writes about music, TV and film for Esquire magazine and has interviewed a who's who in popular culture including Tom Petty, Jimmy Page, Roger Waters and Willie Nelson to name a few. He also actively leads the band Jeff Slate and Friends in which the friends happen to be some legendary musicians.
Feb 06, 201801:13:39
E17 - Jesse Clasen - Foreign Air
Jesse Clasen is one half of the electro-pop duo Foreign Air. Along with band mate Jacob Michael, Foreign Air burst onto the national scene in 2015 with the release of their debut single "Free Animal" which racked up envy inducing numbers and landed on a massively popular Spotify playlist. Since then the duo continues to record and release music on their own as they hone their live show performing to festival crowds in addition to supporting the likes of Phantogram, BORNS and the X Ambassadors.
Jan 30, 201856:59
E16 - Benji Hughes - Musician, Singer-Songwriter, Proprietor of good vibes
It could be argued that Merge recording artist Benji Hughes has reached cult status with two critically acclaimed albums, a bevy of celebrity friends, collaborators and admirers and a penchant for disrobing during his live shows. He's accumulated an eclectic resume that includes working with the likes of Alice Cooper, Jeff Bridges and Burt Bacharach and has received high praise from the likes of NYTimes music critic Jon Pereles and pop culture writer Chuck Klosterman.
Jan 23, 201801:07:35
E15 - Mitch Easter - Producer (R.E.M.), Musician (Let's Active) & Fidelitorium Recordings Founder
Part 2 of my talk with renowned producer, musician and studio owner Mitch Easter. In part 2 we explore some of his other recording credits and discuss how he navigated the rapidly shrinking music industry.
Jan 16, 201834:19