Talk About the Passion

Episode 34 is a conversation with Boston area author Brian Coleman. Brian has written a few absolutely essential books for fans of hip-hop, Rakim Told Me, and Check the Technique Volumes 1 & 2. His new book, Buy Me Boston is a look at advertisements, flyers and vintage posters from Boston in the 60's, 70's and 80's. In this episode we talk about his evolution in getting into music, and his process writing about music as well as what it's like interviewing people like Chuck D and Ice Cube. Brian is a fascinating guy, a great story teller and a perfect guest for TATP. 

Episode 32 is a special episode, Mark McKay, founding member of Boston hardcore band Slapshot and Hank Peirce, long time roadie for Slapshot among other bands get together and talk about a backpacking trip around Europe they took in 1988. This 90 minute conversation is filled with some hilarious and interesting stories, covering just about all of their stops along the way. This is the story of two good friends taking an important and timeless trip outside of the USA in the late 80's. 

In this special one year anniversary episode, former guest, radio personality and my good friend Angie C Shaw talks to me about where I grew up, how I got into music and how I got to doing this podcast. 

Episode 30 is a conversation with Boston area guitar player Scott O'Dowd. Scott has played in various bands in the Boston area, his current band Cortez are a great hard rock/stoner rock band, and Scott draws influences from all over the place as he talks about in this episode. Scott has a diverse taste in music and we talk about all different types of music from Black Sabbath to Foreigner (who the episode is named for) as well as all of the different bands he's played in including hardcore band Suckerpunch. Scott was a great guest as his passion for music is unparalelled and this conversation shows that throughout. 

Episode 29 is a conversation with Boston area photographer Coleman Rogers called The Power to Believe. As you'll hear in the conversation Coleman is more than just a photographer, he has a long history working as a recording engineer, and is extremely passionate about all of the creative outlets he's been involved in. We talk about his beginnings growing up outside of Detroit, through his time in Boston working in various recording studios, up to his process capturing live music. Coleman was a great guest, his enthusiasm and drive is inspiring to say the least. 

Episode 27 is a conversation with Bob Mayo. Bob is a founding member of Massachusetts thrash metal band Wargasm who operated between 1985 and 1995. Bob talks about getting into hard rock and metal in the 70's and 80's, how he got Wargasm together and then walks through the whole story of that band. Wargasm were an amazing metal band who have an amazing story and Bob is the perfect story teller to get through all of the ups and downs they went through. Bob's lifelong love of music as a performer and a fan is on display in this episode and makes him a perfect guest for TATP. 

Episode 26 is a conversation with JJ Gonson. JJ is a photographer from the Boston area who has shot everyone from Youth of Today and the Descendents to Janes Addiction, Nirvana and everyone in between. JJ's photographs of bands on stage, off stage as well as her amazing shots of the crowds at hardcore shows in Boston from the mid 80's to the early 90's are amazing and capture moments in time that are important and historical. JJ is a perfect guest for this podcast, her passion for all different arms of the creative world, cooking, travel and life in general is on full display here from stories of how she got started taking photos for xXx Fanzine, a few Nirvana stories as well as running her catering business Cuisine en Locale and club ONCE Ballroom in Somerville, MA. 

Episode 25 is a great talk with my friend Mike Lucantonio. I've known Mike since I was a child and we talk about his connection to my family and getting into music as well as his times years later playing with thrash band Temporary Insanity (the story of how his song My Brush was first recorded is hilarious), his time in the seminal Boston band GangGreen as well as numerous other musical endeavors. Mike is a humble, down to earth guy, and absolutely hilarious. Glad to have him as a guest for my 25th episode. 

Episode 24 is a conversation with Boston area musician Darryl Shepard. Darryl has played guitar with numerous bands including Milligram, Slaughter Shack, Slapshot, Road Saw and many others. We talk about every single one of these bands and more. Darryl is a very funny guy, a great story teller and is a perfect example of the hard working Boston music veteran. Darryl truly loves playing music and it's clear in this episode as he talks with passion about each one of the many projects he's been involved in. 

Episode 23 is a conversation with Scott Helland. Scott has been playing music for over 30 years, getting his start as a teenager forming the hardcore bands Deep Wound and Outpatients. We talk about both of those bands, as well as his various musical projects he's been involved in through the years and ones that are still very active. Scott is an extremely passionate and intense guy, especially talking about music, so of course he was the perfect guest for the show. Scott talks about the things behind his drive to play music, including a tragic event when he was a teenager that fueled a lifelong motivaton to live life to the fullest. This episode is named after a record by the heavy metal band Accept, which ties into the early part of Scott's musical journey.