Radio Check - Life In The Concert Touring Industry
Life on the road and what it takes to put on a world-class live performance by some of the world's top musicians. Interviews with the people that are behind the scenes. Touring personnel, stage managers, carpenters, tour managers, lighting, video & sound engineers, concert promotors, riggers, and much much more.
Episodes
61 episodes
Episode #61 with Nigel Buchan
Nigel Buchan has been the head of production in the Southwest for over 30 years producing shows for Evening Star and then Live Nation. Before moving to Phoenix in the early 90’s, Nigel who hails from England was a successful touring sound engin...
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1:25:32
Episode #60 with Sooner Routhier
Sooner Routhier is one of the most versatile creative designers in our industry having the unique ability to cross over into any musical genre producing visually striking shows at the highest level. From working as a lighting tech regionally in...
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Episode 60
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1:16:57
Episode #59 with Andy Fairweather Low
Sideman is the title multi-instrumentalist Andy Fairweather Low prefers. Eric Clapton, Roger Waters and George Harrison have all called him their right-hand sideman. AFL, who has an incredible memory for detail, generously walks Matt and I thru...
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2:08:35
Episode #58 with Eric "Ski" Piontkowski
Eric Piontkowski is on the leading end of the next generation of great production managers. “Ski” as he prefers to be called, is a strong example of how hard work and determination lead to amazing things. He tells us his story of travelling in ...
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1:34:53
Episode #57 with Tim "Gooch" Lougee
Tim Lougee, aka “Gooch” has been tour managing at the highest level for 35 years. His learned, effective outlook and approach to his work is refreshing and makes for great story telling. We visit tales over his entire career from his early days...
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1:41:45
Episode #56 with Mark "Springo" Spring
Mark Spring pulls no punches. He says what’s on his mind unapologetically. Springo, a Parnelli Lifetime Achievement recipient, shares sensational stories with Matt and I spanning his 40 plus year career. From his early days working for Show Lig...
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1:38:32
Episode #55 with Bryan Grant
Britannia Row came into being as a rental house for Pink Floyd to hire out their touring equipment as a way to support their crew between tours. Bryan Grant joined Britannia Row in 1979 eventually going on to purchase the company from Pink Floy...
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1:40:18
Episode #54 with Chris Adamson
Chris Adamson is one of the true legends we have in our industry. He started his career in the late 60’s carting band equipment around Britain for several London bands eventually hooking up with Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac. Chris went on to wor...
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1:55:37
Episode #53 - Chris & Matt catching up after 8 months
Matt and I return after an 8 month break to catch up on things. We discuss the state of the industry, touch on tour safety, sustainability and mental health. We also get into our continued love of music and the dangers of going down You Tube ra...
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1:15:35
Episode #52 with Chris Chaney
Chris Chaney has been in more bands and has played bass guitar on more records and soundtracks than he can remember. He tells Matt and I great stories from both the road and studio. Chris also gets into how exciting and touching it was to play ...
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1:41:25
Episode #51 with Danny Carey
Danny Carey and I have spent countless hours talking about music while on the road together. In this episode we welcome the Tool drummer to continue the conversation. We explore our favorite drummers, our deep love of prog rock and our genuine ...
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1:27:07
Episode #50 with Jake Berry
To celebrate Radio Check’s 50th episode, we welcome none other than Mr. Show Biz himself, Jake Berry. We discuss his early days in Devon driving feed trucks where his chance meeting with Rick Wakeman gave him his first opportunity in the ...
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1:52:44
Episode #49 with Joe Paul Slaby
Matt and I reconvene after a 3-month hiatus with drum tech and all-around great guy Joe Paul Slaby. We get into our long touring history together as well as some of the great drummers he has worked with over the years like Danny Carey, Josh Fre...
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1:33:41
Episode #48 with Jerry Harvey
In this episode we chat with monitor mixer, inventor, and entrepreneur Jerry Harvey. Listen as he shares stories of finding his way into the concert touring industry, and how he developed the dual driver in ear monitor out of necessity while wo...
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1:25:41
Episode #47 with Kurt Wagner
In this episode we “check-it” with Kurt “Slap Daddy” Wagner. Those of you who are familiar with Kurt know him as the stage manager to mega acts like the Rolling Stones, Guns n Roses, Cher, Prince, Billy Joel, Roger Waters and so many others. We...
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1:32:49
Episode #46 - Health and Wellness on the Road
In this episode, Matt and I discuss the importance of health & wellness while on the road. Matt’s experience as a registered dietitian, health coach and former touring carpenter gives him a unique perspective on the challenges we face on to...
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1:26:59
Episode #45 with Ray Winkler
Mark Fisher was Ray Winkler’s external architecture examiner at University College in London before hiring him on at Mark Fisher Studios, with his indoctrination to the company, U2’s “Popmart” and the Rolling “Stones Bridges to Babylon”. We dis...
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1:33:37
Episode #44 with John " Bugzee" Hougdahl
John “Bugzee” Hougdahl got into the music industry by dumping a beer down a guitar player’s chest soaking the guitar. He went on to cut his teeth with 70s rock bands Nazareth, Uriah Heep and the Pat Travers Band before getting his first product...
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1:53:14
Episode #43 with Kille Knobel
Kille Knobel went to the California Institute of Arts with the mind of becoming an actor. When she discovered acting wasn’t for her, she side shifted over to Cal Art’s theater department and fell in love stage lighting modern dance. From her da...
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1:43:06
Episode #42 with Wob & Chris Roberts
Brothers Wob and Chris Roberts have a combined 70 years in concert touring. From their humble beginnings playing in garage bands in the UK, they have risen to industry prominence as two of the most sought after production managers in our busine...
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1:45:43
Episode #41 with Jim Digby
Health and Safety has risen to the forefront of the concert touring industry. No one individual personifies this movement more so than Jim Digby and the non-profit association he founded, the “Event Safety Alliance”. Listen as Jim shares his st...
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1:42:17
Episode #40 RUSH w/ Howard Ungerleider and Robert Scovill
In our 40th episode, we pay homage to the mighty RUSH. Matt and I had the great pleasure of welcoming back Howard Ungerleider and Robert Scovill to revisit their days working together with the band. They have great stories of fun n games with G...
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1:47:08
Episode #39 with Pyro Pete Cappadocia
Pyro Pete is a legend in the world of pyrotechnics. We first met in 1983 in the days when he was blowing up cars and buses for the Plasmatics. From there, his career exploded touring with Kiss, Def Leppard, Motley Crüe, and AC/DC shooting the b...
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1:44:32
Episode #38 with Ken "Pooch" Van Druten
Ken “Pooch” Van Druten has done it all. He’s mixed live sound for heavy metal bands, pop divas, hard core rap artists and even K-pop, at the highest level of success. We breeze through his massive resume, talk about his love for Linkin Park, hi...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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1:31:55