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Cincinnati is full of rooms where a band can level up fast, but only if you know where to look. We talk with hard rock artist Mark Frye from Asayda about the Cincinnati live music scene as a real map of neighborhoods, venues, and crowds, and why the city feels like a “big small town” for musicians. From Bogarts to Annie’s Music Center to Ludlow Garage and Riverbend, we compare what each space rewards, what it costs to be close to the stage, and what makes a show feel electric when the band is still on the rise.  We also get into the less glamorous truth behind every solid band: people. Mark breaks down how Aseda came together after multiple projects, why “good hang” matters as much as chops, and how lineup changes happen when life, family, careers, and health collide with rehearsal schedules. If you’ve ever wondered why some groups sound great but still fall apart, this part hits home with practical, real-world honesty.  Then we go deep on the craft and the gear. Mark shares how Asayda is building a new album with a DIY studio approach, how drum tracking can work with an e-kit and triggered sounds, and why flexibility can be a blessing and a curse when you can always tweak “one more” part. We talk guitars, stage visibility, and the modern debate over modelers and “real” instruments, plus what’s next including the Swine City Brewing show on September 4 and the band’s release strategy for Spotify and beyond. If you like Cincinnati rock stories, recording process talk, and behind-the-scenes band building, hit follow, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

A debut single is never just a song. It’s ten years of drafts, late-night voice memos, and learning how to trust your own taste long enough to hit release. We sit down with Tennessee pop rock recording artist Ivy Leighton to unpack the real work behind her first official drop, “Good Girl,” out September 1st, 2026. Ivy shares the moment she got serious about songwriting at 14, the mix of influences that shaped her sound (Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Paramore, Wet Leg, Radiohead), and why she keeps coming back to angry, dramatic lyrics even when she tries to write something happy. She also gets specific about craft: starting with guitar or piano chords, finding lyrics through “gibberish” melodies, pulling one-liners from her Notes app, and turning a root feeling into a fictional story that still hits hard. Then we go deep on music production and recording. Ivy walks us through capturing ideas on iPhone Voice Memos, tracking with a full band at a studio in Dunlap, Tennessee, and building vocal harmonies by experimenting in GarageBand on her phone before stepping up to the mic. We also talk mixing with nine-time Grammy winner Bob Bullock and what it feels like to hear your music come back with real punch for the first time. After the livestream, we share a major update: Jay Franze officially steps in to manage Ivy, setting the stage for bigger shows, smarter career moves, and a long release runway. Listen, follow Ivy’s journey, and if “Good Girl” hits you, share it, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can find the music. Episode Links Ivey Leighton: https://iveyleighton.com/Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

Three songs. That’s the window most concert photographers get to capture an entire night of energy, emotion, and chaos and somehow deliver photos that look like they belong on a tour poster. We sit down with Ohio concert photographer Tom Rentz to talk about what really creates a signature look in live music photography, from tight portrait framing to the decisions you make before you ever lift the camera. Tom breaks down the craft behind the “lucky” shots: studying performances ahead of time, reading choreography, using burst shooting to catch micro-expressions, and choosing where to stand so the moment lands in your frame. We also dig into the unglamorous problems that every live music photographer faces, like harsh red lighting, microphones covering faces, underlit drummers, and the constant pressure of the three-song sprint. Then we go nerdy in the best way: focus points, cropping choices, why he loves wide glass like a 14-24, and what changes when you’re stuck at front of house with a long lens, a monopod, and an ISO ceiling you may or may not want to cross. We also talk credentials, band restrictions, and the etiquette that keeps you getting invited back. If you shoot concerts, want to shoot concerts, or just love the behind-the-scenes reality of live music, hit play, subscribe, and share this with a photographer friend. After you listen, what’s the hardest part of concert photography for you right now? Episode Links Tom Rentz: https://rentzphotography.com/Jeff King: https://jayfranze.com/episode6/Chris Leuzinger: https://jayfranze.com/episode17/Bruce Reiter: https://jayfranze.com/episode67/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

A heavy song doesn’t start as a finished riff and a perfect hook. It starts as a feeling, a voice memo, a half-built demo, and a band willing to tear it down and rebuild it until it finally hits. We sit down with Ohio rock band Archer’s Gate for a deep, practical talk about collaboration, vocal harmonies, and the real behind-the-scenes work that turns an idea into a release you can blast in the car. We get specific about their songwriting process, from who brings the first spark to how they pressure-test arrangements in pre-production with scratch tracks, pads, and evolving structures. The band also breaks down their studio workflow with Sonic Lounge Studios and engineer-producer Joe Viers, including why producer coaching changes vocal performances, how Pro Tools sessions move back and forth, and why recording clean stems for re-amping keeps tones flexible without losing personality. If you love gear talk, you’ll hear how they think about guitar roles, drum impact, and bass tone shaping with clean plus dirt blending. Then we go straight into the heart of the music. Emily shares the story behind “Metamorphosis,” using the butterfly lifecycle as a metaphor for life transformation and the hard seasons that come before growth. The band also unpacks “Suffocate,” weaving anxiety, pressure, and breathwork-inspired vocal textures into a track that feels as tense as the message. We wrap with what’s next: album plans, marketing support, building the right team, and what they actually want from management. Subscribe for more artist interviews, share this with a musician friend, and leave a review if you want more deep dives like this. What part of the band’s process do you want to hear more about next? Episode Links Archers Gate: https://www.archersgateband.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

A great heavy band does two jobs at once: it punches you in the chest with sound, then pulls you closer with truth. Jay Franze sits down with Ohio recording artist Matthew Fritsch, vocalist for Life After This, to talk about the moments that shaped his approach to modern metal and hard rock, starting with the impact of Papa Roach. We get into what “stage energy” really means, how crowds become one unit, and why the most powerful lyrics are often the most direct ones. Matthew breaks down his songwriting process as a vocalist who doesn’t play instruments, building songs collaboratively from a riff-first foundation and then writing melody and lyrics after the music reveals its mood. We also talk about why he pushes for variety across the catalog, keeping every track on the same street but not in the same house, and how vulnerability in vocal performance can be just as heavy as screaming. Then we go behind the curtain: building a real music community through presale ticket hustle, hanging with fans after sets, and even renting a school bus party ride to bring supporters to a show. On the production side, Matthew shares what it’s like recording at Sonic Lounge with engineer Joe Viers, trusting creative ideas, and dialing in a mix with feedback that serves the song. Subscribe for more interviews, share this with a friend who loves heavy music, and leave a review with the one band that taught you to be braver. Episode Links Life After This: https://lifeafterthis.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

One scoop of vanilla ice cream after dinner sounds harmless until it turns into a band tradition, and it’s the perfect opener for a conversation that quickly gets real about what a working musician’s life actually looks like. We’re joined by Les Janssen, a New York bassist with deep roots in rock, a love for great feel, and the kind of touring experience that forces you to think about everything from stage sound to airport baggage claims. We talk about playing at Daryl’s House and why consistent production changes the entire night for both musicians and the crowd. From there, Les walks us through his early start on bass, the influence of growing up in a musical family, and how the discipline of learning technical music (hello, Rush) can be a gift and a challenge when you’re trying to get back to pure rock and roll groove. He also shares advice he gives younger players: don’t become a pattern player, learn the basics, and stay open-minded so you don’t trap yourself in one lane. Then we dig into gear and career realities: the Michael Kelly bass he helped design for real-world fly dates, the small design choices that make an instrument feel “high-end,” and what the NAMM show is like when you’re working a booth, meeting other pros, and still squeezing in performances. Les also connects the dots between Journey tribute worlds like The Voyage and playing with Steve Augieri, plus the travel stories that come with it including a private jet sprint stuffed with gear. We wrap with studio life, from tape-era lessons and apprenticeship habits to modern home recording with Universal Audio Apollo interfaces, Cubase, and remote session work. If you’re a bass player, producer, or just curious about the behind-the-scenes of touring and recording, this one is packed with practical takeaways. Subscribe, share this with a musician friend, and leave a review with your favorite road or studio lesson. Episode Links Les Jansson: https://www.lesjansson.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

You can hear it in Trey Calloway’s voice: the grind is still there, but something has shifted. The work feels more focused, the circle is tighter, and the next steps look a lot more like a real Nashville plan than a hopeful guess. Jay Franze sits down with Trey to talk through the behind-the-scenes moves that actually change a country artist’s trajectory: signing with manager Jerry Hines, learning how to lead with confidence, and building a team that believes in you when you are tempted to doubt yourself. We dig into the advice Trey is getting from Jerry and Craig Morgan, especially the part most artists struggle with: stop selling yourself so hard and start trusting what you do well. Trey shares how he used to turn rejection inward, how that mindset can poison your momentum, and why positivity matters when you are the “CEO” of your own career. If you care about artist development, music industry mentorship, and the mental health side of chasing big goals, this conversation gets specific fast. Then we go deep on the practical craft: working with producer Phil O’Donnell, recording at Soundstage Studios on Music Row, and why collaboration with great players can elevate a record without losing the heart of the song. Trey also breaks down a huge weekend as Craig Morgan’s special guest, what the tour bus life taught him, and how a single onstage introduction can translate into real social media growth. We close with big news about Broken Compass and the broader mission of building careers the right way, plus plenty of road stories along the way. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share it with a friend who loves country music, and leave a review that tells us what part hit you the hardest. Episode Links Trey Calloway: https://treycallowaymusic.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

Streaming promised unlimited music, but it also trained us to treat songs like disposable wallpaper. We sit down with Harmony Records founder and CEO David Chatfield to talk about what that shift costs artists and listeners, and why he thinks the next wave is about bringing music back to being an experience you choose, not noise that happens to you.  David walks us through building a record label from the ground up, from the early 1980s world of $125,000 recording budgets and indie distribution to today’s reality of home studios, cheaper lockouts, and the brutal competition of constant new releases on Spotify. We dig into what actually holds up across every era: writing better songs, crafting memorable hooks, arranging music for records, and following through on promotion when things inevitably go sideways.  Then we get practical about music marketing and artist development. David explains why a million streams can still mean nothing if you do not tour, how a small base of superfans can fund a real career through merch and direct support, and why physical media like CDs and vinyl is trending again when the packaging gives people something to hold, read, and keep. We also talk legacy artists, catalog revival, cinematic music videos, radio strategy, and thinking globally about where fans still buy records.  If you got value from this conversation, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more artists and music fans can find the show. What part of today’s music business do you want us to tackle next? Episode Links David Chatfield: https://davidblakechatfield.org/Harmony Records: https://harmonyrecordsmusic.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

A band that adopts a highway, cleans it with fans, then goes straight back to building a tightly synced live show is the kind of story we can’t stop talking about. I’m joined by Rex Larkman, drummer for Tropidelic, for a conversation that moves from Cleveland pride to the real mechanics of modern touring, with plenty of laughs and hard-earned lessons in between.  We get into the Cleveland music scene and how a “Lake Erie ocean” mindset can fuel a band whose sound blends reggae rock, funk, hip-hop, and high-energy drumming. Rex breaks down the drummers who shaped him, from Neil Peart and Trey Cool to Joey Jordison and Carter Beauford, and explains how he approaches recording versus performing so the parts serve the song but the stage still hits like a rush.  Then we go deep on the gear and the why behind it: click track philosophy, backing tracks used as layered support rather than shortcuts, and Rex’s practical Roland SPD-SX setup with count-offs and a kill switch for the nights when tech fights back. We also talk tour life, Warped Tour chaos, rain-soaked shows, and the surreal feeling of playing Red Rocks, plus the “basement of Red Rocks” vibe at The Caverns. We wrap with Tropidelic’s new album First Light, DIY music video production, and a shout-out to the unsung heroes behind every great show.  If you like artist interviews, touring stories, drumming talk, and behind-the-scenes music production, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What’s the best live venue you’ve ever been to? Episode Links Tropidelic: https://tropidelic.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

One email, a few MIDI files, and a shared obsession with atmosphere can turn into a finished single that sounds huge. We sit down with Ohio singer-songwriter Kate Stanton to talk about “Rise,” a track inspired by the Greek idea of mania, the kind of love that looks a lot like limerence and fixation. Kate walks us through how the song came together, from early synth sketches to deep vocal layering, and why making music that feels immersive sometimes matters more than showing off flashy parts. A big thread running through our chat is remote collaboration done right. Kate and her German collaborator Tomas build songs through email, Google Translate, Dropbox, and a tight back-and-forth that keeps ideas moving without endless meetings. We dig into real home studio details: piano-first chord progressions, topline melodies, sending stems and MIDI, arranging in Cubase, and how programmed drums and bass can still feel alive when the goal is modern dream pop and atmospheric music. Kate also shares how journaling becomes lyrics, and how the toughest edits happen when a line that reads well simply will not sing. We also zoom out to the bigger creative mission: a concept album exploring love in eight forms, from friendship to self-love, not just romance. Along the way we talk covers, perfectionism, protecting audio quality, the challenge of playing live with an overseas producer, and why albums, artwork, and physical media like CDs and vinyl still deliver an experience streaming cannot replace. If you care about songwriting craft, indie music production, and building a real artistic body of work, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more artist interviews, share this with a friend who makes music, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What kind of love song do you wish more artists would write? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

Empty seats can cancel a tour faster than bad reviews, yet rock touring is still printing money. We start with a rapid-fire rundown of newly announced rock and metal tours and quickly end up doing what real fans do: clicking past the headline to check official artist sites, compare dates, and figure out whether these runs are truly “fall tours” or just a handful of shows with a catchy label. From there, we dig into the live music economy: major tour earners, the reality of Ticketmaster seat maps packed with available seats, and why some artists overbook venues they can’t fill. We talk about how early tour cancellations protect budgets, but also how they disappoint the people who already made plans, bought tickets, and just wanted a loud night out. We also get into the messy, behind-the-scenes stuff that shapes concerts: leaked and unfinished recordings (and whether fans should listen at all), curfews and fines that can chop an encore, and the kind of production nightmare that happens when a show gets hit with a power outage mid-set. Then we lighten it up with our question of the day on favorite hair metal bands, run through the latest country and rock chart countdowns, and hit July music birthdays. To close, Tiffany shares her new book, Networking Your Way To The Big Stage, including the writing process, imposter syndrome, and how small relationship-building habits can multiply opportunities for artists and anyone working in the music industry. Subscribe, share this with a friend (if not, tell two), and leave a review with your favorite hair metal pick and why. Episode Links Jason Hale: https://jayfranze.com/episode55/Bruce Reiter: https://jayfranze.com/episode67/Jerry Hines: https://jayfranze.com/episode220/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

You can learn signal flow in a classroom, but you only learn touring when the bus doors close and the clock never stops. We sit down with Jerry Hines, a Tennessee-based tour manager turned artist manager, to unpack the behind-the-scenes reality of building a career in live music production and artist development. Jerry shares how a single phone call in 2004 launched him from side jobs into the deep end as a monitor engineer, then into production, front of house, and eventually the high-accountability world of tour management. We talk about what makes monitors such a brutal seat, the kind of mistakes you only make once, and what it feels like mixing under pressure when the stakes are reputation-level high. Jerry breaks down arena vs outdoor show challenges, why relationships matter as much as gear, and the moment the job stops being “about the music” and becomes the business: budgets, staffing, leadership, and being the steady hand when everyone else is spiraling. Then we pivot into artist management and the difference between operating with certainty for an established act like Craig Morgan and selling belief for a developing artist like Trey Calloway. Jerry explains how Broken Compass Management was born, the meaning behind the name, and what it takes to guide an artist through a path that’s rarely straight. We also dig into modern music industry shifts like independent strategy, record label leverage, and how AI could reshape management and touring. Subscribe for more real conversations with the people who make the music business run, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Episode Links Craig Morgan: https://www.craigmorgan.com/Trey Calloway: https://treycallowaymusic.com/Trey Calloway: https://jayfranze.com/episode108/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

Rock mythology is fun, but what does a real working career look like after the posters come down? We’re joined by guitarist Paul Sidoti for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with the exact moment KISS flipped a switch in his five-year-old brain and stretches all the way to the day he can email his heroes and actually get a reply. Along the way, Paul shares what those early influences gave him: the drive to learn parts by ear, the hunger for great sound, and the patience to keep getting better even when nobody’s watching.  We dig into the gear and the craft in a way guitar players and music nerds will love. Paul breaks down why the EVH 5150 and 5150III amps became his workhorses, how he sets up clean, crunch, and lead tones for different styles, and why he still respects tools like the Tom Scholz Rockman from the early home-recording days. Then we jump into modern production with a deep look at Scarlet Sound Studio, his Carl Tatz-designed space in Nashville, including PhantomFocus tuning and why Dolby Atmos mixing is no longer optional for many streaming releases.  The best stories are personal: Debbie Gibson as a songwriting hero, Rick Springfield moments that hit even harder because his parents were there, and the “be ready” reality behind getting called for big stages, including his Brian Adams connection. We also talk about playing for the song, why players like Neil Schon are more influential than flashy gets-credit guitar culture admits, and how humility, family, and great mentors keep a career healthy.  If you enjoy conversations about classic rock, Nashville musicians, guitar tone, home studios, Dolby Atmos, and what it takes to stay joyful in the grind, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more listeners can find the show. Episode Links Paul Sidoti: https://www.paulsidoti.com/Carl Tatz: https://jayfranze.com/episode24/Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

Nashville during CMA Fest is a choose-your-own-adventure where every decision has a cost: stand in a line, catch a set, make a meeting, or follow a last-minute invite that turns into the best story of the week. We take you with us from the “question of the day” energy to the real CMA Fest play-by-play, including what it’s like navigating Broadway crowds, building a schedule with the CMA Fest app, and still getting surprised by who walks into the room. We start strong with a private party at Third and Lindsley, where Daryl Worley brings the kind of storytelling and fan connection that reminds you why live country music still hits different. From there, we shift into the music industry side of Nashville with a studio visit to Matt McClure, a listen to Dolby Atmos, and a peek at how modern production can make a song feel immersive and physical. If you love gear, mixing, and how records get made, this part is for you. At Fanfare X in Music City Center, we reconnect with artists we’ve interviewed and talk about the meet and greet grind, the personalities that shine in person, and the frustrating reality that you can miss official performances when the weekend fills up with commitments. Then it’s off to The Local for a writers round featuring Josie Sal, followed by Trey Calloway lighting up the night with a full-band set that proves why Nashville musicians are built different. We wrap with Saturday honky tonk chaos, a standout fiddle moment at Legends Corner, studio talk with Bob Bullock, and the practical details for watching CMA Fest on TV and planning next year. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more fans of CMA Fest, Nashville, country music, and live music stories can find us. What was your favorite CMA Fest moment, or your must-see artist for next year? Episode Links Rocky Rose: https://jayfranze.com/episode8/Matt McClure: https://jayfranze.com/episode15/Chris Franz: https://jayfranze.com/episode27/Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/Presley Tennant: https://jayfranze.com/episode50/Jason Hale: https://jayfranze.com/episode55/Josie Sal: https://jayfranze.com/episode100/Twist It: https://jayfranze.com/episode101/Dalila Mya: https://jayfranze.com/episode102/Trey Calloway: https://jayfranze.com/episode108/Blake Tyler: https://jayfranze.com/episode120/Mark Badolato: https://jayfranze.com/episode140/Stephanie Rabus: https://jayfranze.com/episode149/Mary Kutter: https://jayfranze.com/episode197/Lee Newton: https://jayfranze.com/episode198/Josie Sal: https://jayfranze.com/episode206/Jay Bragg: https://jayfranze.com/episode208/Kieran Robertson: https://jayfranze.com/episode209/Karen Waldrup: https://jayfranze.com/episode213/Stephen Quinn: https://jayfranze.com/episode216/The Dreamboats: https://jayfranze.com/episode217/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

You can feel it when a band isn’t just playing songs, they’re building a world. Johnny from The Dreamboats joins us to explain how a modern rock and roll revival band takes 1950s and 1960s oldies covers and turns them into a full-throttle live performance people cannot stop filming. We talk about the real difference between touring Canada versus the United States, from endless drives between small markets to packed schedules across dense regions, and what it means to uproot your life and land in the California desert near Palm Springs to chase bigger stages. Johnny breaks down why the Dream Boats chose this sound in the first place, and it is more personal than “retro for retro’s sake.” Childhood movies, AM oldies radio, and a shared songbook led to a set that felt natural, then the band layered on choreography, comedy, and jaw-dropping stage moments. We get into why performance matters for ticket sales, how audiences remember feelings more than setlists, and how legendary rocker Ronnie Hawkins validated their approach as real entertainment, not background music. Then we go behind the curtain on music business strategy: a lean team, no manager, the grind of visas and finances, and a surprisingly unrock-and-roll 43-page business plan. Johnny shares their social media marketing workflow, what they post daily, and where they still want to improve at converting a live crowd into long-term fans with better calls to action and tools like QR codes. If you care about live music, band branding, and how to grow an audience without losing the fun, hit play, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review. Episode Links The Dreamboats: https://www.thedreamboatsband.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives