My name is Stevie Taylor. I’m getting the stories of the musicians, producers, performers and industry people from Australia, NZ and beyond, and bringing them to you. I think we’re rolling...
Episodes
Saturday Jun 12, 2021
Saturday Jun 12, 2021
My guest today is Dave Longo.
Dave is a freelance guitarist , producer, recording and mix engineer.
Having spent the last 26 in Sydney performing around town with various pop, funk bands, duo’s , jazz ensembles, and studio work, Dave has formed many longstanding musical relationships that kept him working all this time.
Carols in the Domain, Australian Idol, Voice Kids Australia, NSW Schools Spectacular, Weird Assembly, The Joe Macri band, Matt McMahon, Kate Miller Heidke and Bill Risby are just a handful of musical situations that Dave has left his mark on.
Back in 2003 Dave joined the great Doug Parkinsons band and had been a mainstay in its various lineups over the years since Dougs intimely passing in March this year. Doug and Dave were also working on a new DP album.
Loyalty, integrity and a staunch work ethic are the keys to Dave's longevity.
If you hadnt heard of the name, Dave Longo, well you have now.
Ladies and gentleman, please give it up for Mr Dave Longo.
This interview was recorded 06/06/2021.
Episode Music.
Intro: Gone by Bill Risby from Bassless Claims album. Bill Risby - Piano, David Longo - Guitar, Hamish Stuart - Drums. Recorded and mixed by Stef Nowak. 2020.
Outro: Hummingbird. Written by Leon Russell. Doug Parkinson - Vocals, Dave Longo - Guitar and producer, Leon Gaer - Bass, Nic Cecire - Drums, Carol Starkey + Carmel Mesiti + Maureen Longo - Background Vocals, Alex Longo - Guitar. Recorded by Stef Nowak and Dave Longo. Mixed by Dave Longo.
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The Gig Life Podcast:
Sunday Mar 07, 2021
Sunday Mar 07, 2021
My guest today is Pete Drummond.
Pete is a session drummer, composer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist from Australia.
As said in an article by Drumscence magazine:
“Pete Drummond is a world-class musician at the top of his game. His relentless pursuit of technical mastery and his deep-rooted musicality have made him one of Australia's top session drummers and soundtrack composers”
Pete is also and educator and drum teacher. He's developed a unique drum lesson that aims to revolutionise the way drumming in taught on digital platforms.
Pete has played with the best and has performed along side some of his hero's including Virgil Donati and Dave Weckl.
In 2006, Todd Hunter asked Pete to join his band Dragon and he's been playing drums, keyboards, singing and songwriting with Dragon ever since, including being inducted into the Aria Hall of Fame.
Pete also stays busy on his original projects "Light Beyond Sleep" and his 80s alter ego, “Eirie”.
We had a great time making this episode for you. Lots of laughs, lots of music and some great stories. Be sure to listen till the end.
Ladies and gentleman, please give it up for the one, the only, Mr Pete Drummond.
This conversation was recorded 23/02/2021.
Intro music: History - Eirie.
Outro music: Press Start - Light Beyond Sleep.
For more info on Pete:
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The Gig Life Podcast:
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
My guest today is Dan Kerby.
DK is a session drummer and educator based in Melbourne Australia. Dan currently plays drums for some of Australia's and most iconic acts including Bliss N Eso, 28 Days, Behind Crimson Eyes, Esoterik, and most recently San Diego punk rock legends Unwritten Law.
Dan is the owner and operator of one of Melbourne's premium drum schools, DK Drums Academy. He works for Monster! and he also co-hosts a drumming/travel show called Drumlife with his friend Frank Zummo, drummer for Canadian rockers, Sum 41.
So lets rip in. In the words of DK. Its go time! Ladies and gentleman, please give it up for Mr Dan Kerby.
This conversation was recorded 14/02/2021.
For more info on DK, check out:
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The Gig Life Podcast:
Monday Feb 15, 2021
Monday Feb 15, 2021
My guest today is Stan Bicknell.
Stan is a NZ born drummer who for the past 13 years has based himself out of Melbourne Australia. In this time he has toured and recorded with many artists locally and internationally including 48May, Miami Horror, Tonight Alive, Ecca Vandal, and Kimbra.
During his time with Kimbra, Stan played on her acclaimed debut album ‘Vows’. His Motown grooves can be heard on the track ‘Cameo Lover’ which won both an Aria and APRA award, as well as playing on her now iconic ‘Sing Sing’ sessions on YouTube, clocking up millions of views.
Stan has a strong online presence, which in 2018 was noticed by Jared Falk, the owner and creator of Canadian based drum education platform ‘Drumeo’. Jared invited Stan on to Drumeo where he spent two days performing and recording songs and courses based on his ability behind the kit, and his unique single kick technique that has since taken the drumming community by storm.
Stan is a frequent performer at drum festivals as well as where he likes to share his unique approach to the drums, and his strong mindset that goes with it.
Now based back in Papamoa NZ, Stan is excited to be back home. Already he’s been called in as backup for NZ drum and bass juggernauts, Shapeshifter, as well as kicking off a couple of new projects himself.
Stan's a coffee nut, an incredibly gifted musician and just a bloody nice guy.
So here he is, Ladies and gentleman. Its Mr Stan Bicknell.
This conversation was recorded 10/02/2021.
Intro song: "Hey Zeus" by Stan Bicknell and Josh De La Victoria.
For more on Stan, check out his Instagram.
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The Gig Life Podcast:
Friday Feb 05, 2021
Friday Feb 05, 2021
My guest today is James Morrison.
James Morrison is, by anybody’s standard, a virtuoso in the true sense of the word. Besides the trumpet, this multi-instrumentalist also plays piano, all the brass, saxophones, and double bass.
He's toured the world many times over, a true international jazz artist who's also played with some of the greatest jazz musicians to ever live, he's one countless awards, he's a Doctor of music, a professor of music, he has his own music academy, he flies planes, races cars, builds house boats etc etc, Just google him. But did you know he played trumpet in a punk band, played gig whilst almost dying from a venomous spider bite. Do you know why he stands in a certain spot on stage? How he can effortless move from one instrument to another? Does he still practise? These are just a few things we talked about. Some of these things he's never been asked about before.
So ladies and gentleman, please take your seat. Im truely honoured to bring you this chat with the master blower, the one and only Mr James Morrison.
This conversation was recorded 25/02/2021.
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Your support is very much appreciated. Thank you.
The Gig Life Podcast:
Sunday Jan 17, 2021
Sunday Jan 17, 2021
My guest today is Leo Sayer.
Leo needs no introduction really, so i'm going to keep this intro brief so we can rip into the conversation. I’m mean, you know songs. "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing", "When I Need You", "More Than I Can Say", "Thunder in My Heart", and the list goes on. You just gotta google him and you will find everything you need to know about his very impressive career.
We are going to talk about the making of some of these songs, working with the best of the best LA studio musicians of the 70s and 80s as well as a bunch of other stuff.
Ladies and gentleman, it’s with great honour that I bring to you this chat with the one, the only, Mr Leo Sayer.
This conversation was recorded 15/01/2021.
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Tune into Take One Eastside FM 89.7 every Friday from 3pm to hear The Gig Life Podcast.
https://eastsidefm.org/takeone/
Click here to securely donate or tip The Gig Life Podcast via PayPal.
Your support is very much appreciated. Thank you.
The Gig Life Podcast:
Sunday Jan 10, 2021
Sunday Jan 10, 2021
My guest today is Stephen Housden.
Stephen is regarded as one of the finest guitarists in the world. Well known as guitarist with Little River Band for more that two decades, he has also played and recorded with such music legends as Warren Zevon, Glenn Frey (The Eagles), Dr. John, Christopher Cross, John Entwistle (The Who), Renee Geyer, P.F Sloan, Albert Lee, Steve Cropper, The Seekers, Noel Redding (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) Marcia Hines, John Farnham, The Bushwhackers and many, many others.
Born in Bedfordshire, U.K, Stephen was inspired to play the guitar by watching singing-cowboys on television as a child. After moving to Australia at the age of eight he quickly discovered Rock’n’roll and fell under the magic of such lead guitarists as Hank B. Marvin (The Shadows) and Chuck Berry.
He formed his first band at High School.
Hendrix and jazz great Wes Montgomery became influences as Stephen worked hard on learning as much technique as he could, while also striving to develop his own distinctive style.
That style brought him to the attention of some of Australia’s most successful recording acts and over the coming years Stephen was highly sought after as a band member and recording session player.
In August 1981 Stephen was asked to join one of the world’s most successful acts, Little River Band, as their lead guitarist. Since then he has toured the world many times over and and co-written many of their songs
Over the years Stephen has conducted music theory and improvisation seminars for guitarists, and written columns for magazines such as Sonics and Australian Musician. He has also toured schools with his highly successful one-man show The Evolution of Rock Guitar.
In the late 90s, Stephen and his family moved to Ireland. Long inspired by Irish music, Stephen now enjoys the opportunity to play with some of Ireland’s top musicians as well as writing and recording for his various groups and his solo music.
This conversation was recorded 03/01/2021.
Intro music: "The Journey" - Stephen Housden / Tony Fossy.
Outro music: "All Washed Up" - Stephen Housden / Frank Howson.
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Tune into Take One Eastside FM 89.7 every Friday from 3pm to hear The Gig Life Podcast.
https://eastsidefm.org/takeone/
Click here to securely donate or tip The Gig Life Podcast via PayPal.
Your support is very much appreciated. Thank you.
The Gig Life Podcast:
Wednesday Dec 30, 2020
Wednesday Dec 30, 2020
Hey, welcome to The Gig Life Podcast. Im your host, Stevie Taylor.
This is a short Year in Review episode of the podcast. My take on the year that was.
Thank you for supporting The Gig Life Podcast in 2020.
Stay safe, and i'll catch you in 2021.
I think we're rolling...
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Tune into Take One Eastside FM 89.7 every Friday from 3pm to hear The Gig Life Podcast.
https://eastsidefm.org/takeone/
Click here to securely donate or tip The Gig Life Podcast via PayPal.
Your support is very much appreciated. Thank you.
The Gig Life Podcast:
Sunday Dec 27, 2020
Sunday Dec 27, 2020
My guest today is Calvin Welch.
Calvin is a drummer, percussionist, songwriter and performer. He started playing professionally as a 14 year old in his home state of Michigan USA, touring with the who's who of the jazz, funk and soul scene from the 1970s onwards.
He moved to LA in the early 1980s where he continued his career as a soul/funk session drummer recording with some of the top producers of that era.
Since moving to Australia in 1988, he has had the opportunity to collaborate with numerous local and international artists including Swoop, professor Groove, Kevin Borich, Michael Wheatley, Bek Jensen, Christine Anu, Carl Orr just to name a few.
He also writes, records and tours with his own band, global groovers – Arabesk.
Calvin is a great advocate for original Australian music and stays active promoting showcase nights and music sales through his company ihearmusic.com.
Able to play almost any genre of music, it is this versatility that ensures Calvin is in demand for live performances and recording sessions.
In 2020 Calvin became part of a new children's TV and live performance group 'The Nannas & The Poppas' which airs on ABC for Kids.
So ladies and gentleman, please put put your hands together, for the man! Mr Calvin Welch.
This conversation was recorded 18/12/2020.
Intro music: Front Ear - Arabesk (Arabesk - Front Ear 2007).
For more information on Calvin, check out his website calvinwelch.com
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Click here to securely donate or tip The Gig Life Podcast via PayPal.
Your support is very much appreciated. Thank you.
The Gig Life Podcast:
Friday Dec 18, 2020
Friday Dec 18, 2020
My guest today is Australian guitar legend, educator and studio owner, Jim Kelly.
Jim has firmly established himself as a leading Australian contemporary jazz and blues guitarist, composer and educator whose reputation goes well beyond Australian shores.
In 1975 Jim co-formed CROSSFIRE – Australia’s most celebrated jazz fusion group.
From 1975-87 Jim perfected the rigorous demands of the recording studio and became a highly sought-after session player performing on countless jingles, documentaries, film scores plus pop and jazz artists’ albums.
Jim also performed and recorded with Australian artists Kerrie Biddell, Renee Geyer, Johnny Farnham, Debbie Byrne, John English, Tommy Emmanuel, Erana Clark, Don Burrows, James Muller and Dale Barlow, to name but a few.
The 90’s saw a change of lifestyle for Jim with a move to Northern NSW to lecture at Southern Cross University, Lismore where he was Head of Guitar Studies for 17 years.
Jim has since resigned from full-time academia and now runs a recording studio from his home – TONE RANGER STUDIO.
He has produced many fine albums and has quickly achieved the reputation of becoming a world-class Producer and Mixing/Mastering engineer.
Jim is a musician dedicated to the art of improvising, composing, performing and teaching and is always searching for new ways to expand his musical horizons.
So ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for Mr Jim Kelly.
This conversation was recorded 16/12/2020.
Intro music: Heaven Scent - Jim Kelly (Ya Gotta Love the Drummers).
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Your support is very much appreciated. Thank you.
The Gig Life Podcast: