#93: The Singer and the Song with Thom Panunzio

In this episode, we talk with industry legend, Thom Panunzio about his time on staff at the Record Plant, his favorite mixing desks, his reluctant entrance into the world of A&R, and how the industry and technology has changed over the course of his almost 50 year career. Thom has worked in every facet of the music business. He helped design The Hit Factory in NYC, A&M Studios in LA, and the Thom Thom Club in Santa Monica, and was the Executive VP for Universal Music and head of A&R at Geffen Records for many years.

Ketchup with Greg Calbi

Mastering engineer extraordinaire Greg Calbi is a dear friend and was our guest on Gear Club Episode #2 way back in January of 2017. Over the last 50 years Greg has mastered a seemingly endless list of albums across every genera of music, and it’s almost a certainty he’s had a hand in the making of one of your favorite records. In this episode, Greg chats about Sterling Sound, moving from Manhattan to its new facility in Edgewater NJ, his workflow from converters to compressors to clients, and the unique changes, challenges, and expectations of modern mastering.

#92: Capturing the Passion with Bob Gruen

In this episode, we sit down for a conversation with renowned rock photographer Bob Gruen. Bob has been documenting the artists, concerts, and clubs that have come to define rock music, and is responsible for some of the most iconic images of the idiom. Bob talks with John and Stewart about his artistic philosophy, his move from film to digital, and being a part of music history.

#91: The David Mansfield Multiverse

This month, we’re thrilled to have David Mansfield on the show, a composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and arranger with a long and storied career. Growing up in New Jersey and beginning his career in local bands, he started playing with Bob Neuwirth at The Bitter End and, at 18, joined Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue. From there, he went on to tour and record with Dylan over many albums, and in his 50 year career has worked with an endless variety of artists, including Sting, Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Bobby McFerrin, David Byrne, The Wainwrights, The Roches, really the list goes on and on. He’s also composed an equally extensive list of music for film and television, including The movies “Heaven’s Gate” and “The Apostle” and, most recently the Showtime Limited Series “George & Tammy”.

#90: Fur Peace from Everywhere with Jorma Kaukonen

In this episode of Gear Club we talk with Jorma Kaukonen, electric guitarist extraordinaire for Jefferson Airplane, vocalist/blues picker for Hot Tuna, prolific solo artist, and all-around great guy. At 81 years young, Jorma is still writing, teaching, and gigging with no signs of slowing down. John and Stewart talk with Jorma about his early career playing Bay Area clubs with Janis Joplin, life in The Airplane, his guitar mentors, speedskating, touring, and teaching guitar at his Fur Peace Ranch in Ohio.