Talk About the Passion

#84: Point of Entry With Bob Mayo (Pt. 1)

Episode 84 sees Bob Mayo return for a third appearance on the podcast, this time we are talking about the "point of entry" phenomena wherein the first record you hear by an artist orients your idea of what they should sound like. We talk about getting into bands like Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Cheap Trick and Iron Maiden to name a few. When you first heard Judas Priest did you then move backwards through their catalog, or were you there for the beginning of some of these bands? We talk about the new Iron Maiden record and what other bands are still putting out solid records as well as how being a fan of music and a collector informed how he presented the excellent reissues of his band Wargasm. Look for a second episode soon where we get into underground and thrash metal!

#76: Somewhere In Time (A Conversation With Steve Brooks)

Episode 76 is a conversation with Steve Brooks, Steve is best known as the guitar player and singer of bands Torche and Floor. I've been a big fan of both of these bands who play some of the heaviest and catchiest music around. We get into where that inspiration came from to create the music in those bands, starting like a number of my guests, with Kiss, and we end up in the present where Steve gives me an update on what Torche has been up to so far in 2021 (hint: new music has been recorded) Steve was a great guest, as one of my favorite musicians working today I appreciate him taking the time to chat. 

#75: Remember Tomorrow (Another Conversation With Bob Mayo)

Episode 75 is another conversation with Bob Mayo of the Boston area metal band Wargasm. This episode almost serves as a prequel to the first one we did (Episode 27) where we mostly talked about the history of Wargasm. Here we talk about the music that Bob grew up with starting around 1978 with Sabbath and Kiss, hitting the NWOBHM in 1980 and going up to around when thrash metal hit. Bob is a great storyteller and loves talking about music, I'm glad we were able to talk again and plan to do some more episodes in the future. 

#73:Just Making Noise (A Conversation With Kenny Chambers)

Episode 73 is a conversation with Kenny Chambers who is most notable for Moving Targets as well as playing in a number of other bands including Jones Very and Bullet Lavolta. We talk about the history of Moving Targets, the different lineups he's had through the years including how he hooked up with his current rhythm section who are amazing and have recorded a bunch of new music including 2020's excellent Humbucker record. Kenny is one of my favorite songwriters of all time and is a humble and nice guy, I'm glad I was able to hear some of these stories. 

#72: Came Without Warning (A Conversation With Enoch Thompson)

Episode 72 is a conversation with Enoch Thompson who you may know as Skeeter Thompson. Enoch has played bass for the band Scream for over 40 years now. Rather than start at the beginning of time like I normally do we start in 1981 and talk about his time in Scream from their first tour with Government Issue to trips to Europe, recording various records and more recent shows all the while forming a family like bond with his bandmates that still exists today. Enoch also talks about a number of current projects as well. Music is in his DNA and his bands music has been a big part of mine so it was great to talk to him here.

#70: A National Acrobat (A Conversation With Chris Johnson)

Episode 70 is a conversation with Chris Johnson. Chris is recording and mix engineer from the Boston area who also plays in the bands Summoner, Deafheaven and Doomriders. We talk about how he got interested in the sound end of music as well as performing music. How he got into the band Deafheaven and what that's has been like. Chris has his hand in a number of different projects and is extremely passionate about all of them which made him a great guest for the podcast. 

#67: Feeding The Fire (A Conversation With Wes Keely)

Episode 67 is a conversation with drummer Wes Keely. Wes has played with a number of bands, most notably Walls of Jericho, Earthmover and Until the End. On this episode we talk about those and other various bands he has played with as well as the amazing story behind his drum kit sliding prevention technology company KBrakes. I had a great time talking with Wes, a driven and passionate person who is just the type of person I love having on. 

#65: Fire On High (A Conversation With Damien Moyal)

Episode 65 is a conversation with Damien Moyal. Damien has been in a number of bands, notably As Friends Rust, Morning Again, Culture as well as one of his newer projects Damien Done. We talk about how he got into music, we go through his various bands and what it's like to be a musician in the midst of a pandemic. Great conversation with a very talented and passionate artist.

#61: Mad World (Another Conversation With Randy Larsen)

Episode 61 is a conversation with Randy Larsen, this is the second time Randy has been on the podcast.You may know him from his bands Cable and Empty Flowers. On this pretty free form episode we have a conversation about various subjects including the ending of Cable, a new musical project he's involved in now as well as a bunch of different bands we go back and forth about. This was a lot of fun and I love talking to Randy about music, especially in a loose format like this. 

#57:Bad Fun (Another Conversation With Keith Bennett)

Episode 57 is a candid conversation with my friend Keith Bennett. This is Keith’s second appearance on the podcast, the first episode (# 14) was an origin story about how he got into music, his bands, most notably The Wrecking Crew & Panzerbastard. Recorded in early April 2020 during the Coronoavirus pandemic this episode starts off pretty dark and then I throw some records at him, the second DYS album, Celtic Frost – Cold Lake, and other divisive albums from our world we talk a bit about those types of records as well as when el established bands would change singers.  I had a great time talking to Keith, his love and passion for this music is deep and real and I’m glad I got to take us there for an hour.