Tales from the Green Room

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Joe Marcinek w/ Rick King (Dead Funk Summit) + Jeremy Hoenig (Melvin Seals & JGB) - Behind The Scenes at JazzFest (Part 4)
In this episode, Tales From The Green Room presents their conversations with Joe Marcinek and Jeremy Hoenig recorded before their respective performances during Jazz Fest 2025 in New Orleans – featuring two musicians swimming in the same music circles in the San Francisco Bay Area and nationally - and both connected with Melvin Seals! Marcinek joins the show before his stellar appearance leading Dead Funk Summit during the Crawfish Festival at The Broadside, and is joined by soulful percussionist, drummer, vocalist, Rick King – a member of the Summit on this day. King talks about getting drawn into the Grateful Dead vibe, including with his own band, Rick King's Royal Hustle, elaborating on how magic happens on stage with Marcinek. Hoenig sits down with the hosts before holding down the beat on drums at his gig with Melvin Seals & JGB at Café Istanbul - made possible by venue host Mitch Stein, responsible for curating a stellar lineup of musicians at the venue during Jazz Fest.The Marcinek segment – recorded the very day his new album, The Groove Sessions, was released - delves into Joe’s late entry into music, his love for New Orleans sounds, the evolution of his Dead Funk Summit project now taking on a life of its own, and the special energy created by different musicians joining the venture around the country - including the likes of George Porter, Jr. and the aforementioned, Melvin Seals. The Crawfish King, Shaggy Davis, even makes a cameo during the interview! Hoenig talks about his own musical journey from being inspired by his father's record collection to his current gig with the iconic Seals, playing with Camille Boudin of The Radiators, and reflects on “falling into the groove” playing beats the first time he entered the New Orleans music scene. Jeremy identifies a cadre of his favorite New Orleans drummers and how playing with Melvin Seals & JGB is the perfect fit for him. Joe Marcinek, Rick King, and Jeremy Hoenig go in depth sharing their experiences in the music scene, their love for improvisation, and the collaborative spirit they embody, providing for a heartwarming and informative episode.HIGHLIGHTSWhen you have a band that plays all the time, it's easy to kind of go through the motions…where if you've never played together or it's something new, everyone's really locked in. Are we hitting the changes? Are we going to the move? Any little change that a musician does, that's when the magic happens.-Joe Marcinek on brining in different musicians to his "Dead Funk Summit"I read something about Miles Davis saying, “ I don’t talk to my musicians about music, because if I would have to talk to 'em about it, I hired the wrong people in the first place. And I always think about that.-Rick King on the possibility of creating situations where magic can happen on stage among musicians, if you talk too much about it. You can imagine how proud I am to be playing this music, which for me has all the styles that I love, and the music I gravitate towards. It's blues, it's funk, it's reggae, it's jazz, it's country. It's all these rhythms. And Jerry knew, when he had his own band, he wanted to explore all those different things. So that's why I feel it’s a very good fit for me… and personally, I just, I enjoy it. It lets me have everything that I love in one band.-Jeremy Hoenig on being a member of "Melvin Seals & JGB"PHOTOSBackstage Photos at NOLA Crawfish Fest – 4.29.25 – by Appelbaum ImagesSPONSOR SHOUT OUTSpecial Thanks to Son Vo (Jerry’s Middle Finger) for his expert audio engineering skills editing the interview with Joe Marcinek and Rick King- recorded in a very noisy, outdoor backstage area at the Broadside in New Orleans during the Crawfish Festival - making this episode possible! Son Vo is also a talented writer! Check out his compelling story, now available as an audiobook: Tales of the Mekong Delta Bluesman - Autobiography of Son Vo@sonvosongsLINKSJOE MARCINEKhttps://www.joemarcinekband.com/The Groove Session – Album – Joe Marcinek Bandhttps://www.jesusmolina.org/https://www.groovesessionmusic.com/Upcoming ShowsJoe Marcinek's Dead Funk Summit w/ Melvin Seals, Tony Hall, Cliff Porter, and Rick King 22 Aug -Good People Good Times Music Festival 2025 – Nashville, IN23 Aug - Rockopelli Music Fest 2025 - Crown Point, IN24 Aug – Park Theater - Holland, MIJoe Marcinek Band31 Aug – Sunday Is Dead – Harlan Records, Outside Show, San Francisco, CA 4pm – 7:15pm w/ Angeline Saris, Dylan Teifer, Jerry Saracini, Jeff Hobbs, Jen Freebairn)Event Organized by Mr. Hat Presents27 Sep - Michigan City's Last Splash Fest 2025 - Michigan City, INRICK KINGRick King’s Royal Hustlehttps://www.honeyislandswampband.com/Upcoming Shows21 Aug to 2 Oct - Funky Residency at Mom’s Place, Chicago, ILJEREMY HOENIGJeremy Hoenig Music & Arthttps://www.melvinsealsandjgb.com/
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Sunshine Garcia Becker: The Evolution of "American Beauties" and Women in Music
In this episode, hosts Dennis Strazulo and Tami Larson explore the journey of Sunshine Garcia Becker (Furthur, Sunshine Garcia Band) on her mission to curate an all-female Grateful Dead tribute band, with the purpose of expanding the involvement of women as key players in the live music scene. Sunshine is joined on the show by drummer Anna Elva (Smokedaddies, Mark Karan’s Buds, West Grand Boulevard, Stu Allen & Mars Hotel), bass player Jen Rund (Jenerator, Talley Up, Mangobu, Lumanation), keyboardist Richelle Scales (The Richelle Scales Project) and rising star, guitarist Bella Rayne – all successful musicians playing with other bands. The ladies are joined by honorary male, Zach Nugent (Dead Set, Melvin Seals JGB), thrilled to be supporting the group and recalling his wonderful experiences playing alongside women with Melvin Seals JGB. Together they form the newly named band, American Beauties (formerly China Dolls), visiting with Tales From The Green Room before their debut performance at Ashkenaz in Berkeley, CA during International Women’s Month.Band members share their personal journeys, the importance of female representation, and the struggles and progress of women in live performances. The conversation is interspersed with humorous and heartfelt moments, ultimately emphasizing the ongoing efforts to foster a supportive environment for female musicians and lauding Sunshine’s tireless efforts creating American Beauties.Check out members of American Beauties during GD60 weekend (8/1-3) and during The Daze Between (8/1 - 8/9) in SF & Sonoma County & Zach Nugent during The Daze Between in Concord, NH, Killington, VT, Middlebury, VT, Newton, NY, and Middletown Springs, VTUpcoming Shows Jerry Day After Party - August 2, 2025 - Norton & Harrington (Jerry Garcia St.), San Francisco, CA - 6pmw/ Sunshine Becker, Jon Chi, Anna Elva, Angeline Saris, Jordan FeinsteinSunshine Garcia Band, HopMonk – August 7, 2025, Sebastopol, CA - 8pmw/ Sunshine Becker, Jon Chi, Scott Guberman, Angeline Saris, Jerry Saracini, Bella RayneSee Bella Rayne with Shakedown Citi, August 9, 2025 at The Hamilton Live, Washington, D.C.Zach Nugent TourHighlights Spreading love and kindness and joy and being silly with each other. That's really what's gonna get us through. So, when you are lost or distraught or in the darkness for a little too long, just ask yourself, what can I do? What am I good at? What do I love doing.. and do that.~Sunshine Garcia BeckerI spent a lot of time in Melvin Seals and JGB. And a third of that band is women. I had the most spiritual and wonderful and warm and special experiences of my life on stage, off stage with the women in JGB.~Zach NugentEverybody here knows exactly how it started for me. And I would say that being thrown into that is such a big part of my story and being literally thrown in headfirst. I learn so much still every day from everybody that I play with. And I say that I'm still pretty malleable and just pick up on a little bit of whatever I can.~Bella RayneThe last maybe six months, I've had at least two people tell me they've never seen a woman play drums. We play for these kids and those are some of my favorite ones because there's so many little girls there and they don't get to see bands often…for them, the one or two times they ever see a band, to see at least one woman on stage…I love that.~Anna Elva LinksSunshine (Garcia) BeckerAnna ElvaBella RayneJen RundRichelle ScalesZach NugentMusicFoolish Heart – Sunshine Garcia Band Live at Sweetwater Music Hall – 2016-08-09Jessica Fierro, Amy Berry, Ezra Lipp, Peter Lavezzoli, Matt Hartle, Mark Karan, David Gans, Robin Sylvester, John Paul Mc Lean, Danny Eisenberg, Sam Johnston, Jordan Feinstein, Mitch SteinMidnight Moonlight - Sunshine Garcia Band - Daze Between Festival - 2022-07-09 Sunshine Becker, Halina Janusz, Lisa Marlsberger, Stephanie Salva, Corrinne West, Zach Nugent, Jon Gold, Justin Purtill, Rodney Newman.Thank you, Sarah Travis and Ashkenaz!
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"Danny's Live Dead" - Curating Chemistry and Community with Danny Luehring
In this episode of Tales From The Green Room - mixed with joyous reflection, levity, and emotion - drummer extraordinaire Danny Luehring discusses the origins and evolution of Danny's Live Dead, a weekly Grateful Dead show hosted by him every Wednesday at Peri’s Tavern in Fairfax, California. Danny shares insights into how the show started after the closure of Phil Lesh's beloved Terrapin Crossroads, the challenges and rewards of curating a rotating lineup of musicians, and the significance of community and chemistry in live music. The hosts delve into Danny's musical background, memorable moments from his performances at Terrapin with his band, San Geronimo, and his first time playing with Phil Lesh, as he lauds the lasting impact of the Terrapin era. The conversation highlights the magic of live music, the depth of the Grateful Dead's influence, and Danny's future aspirations for his musical endeavors.HIGHLIGHTSYou see all the people that you know are ready for it and that trust you. That’s the chemistry, too. I mean, chemistry, community…all those things. You can just line it up just right. And every night's different, but, my thing is I want it to be fucking amazing every night!I think music is a dimension. I don't know how else to explain it. Music is such a unit, like a dimension…the way it affects people, in general, like a blanket, on people, it just makes me feel like it's gotta be bigger than we think. And the Dead is probably one of the things that really got me thinking about that.My dad played guitar and I wanted to be a guitar player. So, for my fifth birthday he bought me an electric guitar and I remember it was at a costume party and I was dressed as a Denver Bronco and I put this thing on, and I broke the high string and it snapped back and hit me. And I thought it shocked me. 'cause it was an electric guitar. I mean, I was five. I was just like, oh my God. Drumsticks, please!Terrapin for me was something that a hundred percent changed my direction in life. I wasn't a Deadhead.I literally knew like two Dead songs. The first time I played at Terrapin I just kind of had to learn under fire. It is not like I didn't know who the Dead were, and they were obviously on my radar, I just wasn't, I wasn't ready until I I was in those circumstances. And then just in that… I don't know, it's hard to explain what happened. ~Danny LuehringLINKSDanny’s Live DeadSan Geronimo BandPeri’s TavernDanny’s Live Dead Presents GD60! After Parties The Balboa - August 1, 2, 3, 2025https://www.terrapincrossroads.net/SHOWSDanny’s Live Dead Presents GD60! After Parties - Balboa Theater3630 Balboa St., San FranciscoAugust 1, 2, 3, 2025 - 10:30PMTerrapin Road Shows Forest Meadows Amphitheatre - San Rafael, CA - July 18 (w/San Geronimo), 19, 20, (w/ Danny Luehring) 2025 SOLD OUTTruckee Amphitheater - Truckee, CA August 17, 2025 - TICKETSMUSICTiny Television (band) - "Carolina"MoniterLizard YouTube Channelhttps://youtu.be/_hOXYKLpXIg?si=ETYYfw_0HJ9pytloSan Geronimo @ Terrapin Crossroads on 10/9/14 ~ "Hear the Sound"Eric Finkelman YouTube Channelhttps://youtu.be/9JmG2vyzNJE?si=IOLjqKvmZ1I8YbJYDanny’s Live Dead” - Garrett Deloian, Grahame Lesh, Brian Rashap & Danny Luehring "Bird Song," Papermill Creek Saloon, 4/10/24Dreamlion YouTube Channelhttps://youtu.be/fgT17eMOkSs?si=BnFWE9-L0lUYn9HgGrahame Lesh and Alex KofordJupiter and MercuryJan. 20, 2024 HopMonk Tavern Novatohttps://youtu.be/ddSVxM9O8G0?si=GEJmVG-J2stAfJW1
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Zachary Richard - Canadian Star, Louisiana Native - on Music, Cajun Culture, and Heritage - Behind The Scenes at JazzFest (Part 3)
In this episode of 'Tales from the Green Room,' the hosts engage in an enlightening conversation - and history lesson - with singer-songwriter, Cajun culture activists, and International recording artist, Zachary Richard. Richard first reflects on his deep ties with Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, CA - playing and hanging with Huey Lewis and Bob Weir - before musing on his touring experiences and unique cross-cultural identity as both an American and French Canadian artist. The interview was recorded in the green room at Chickie Wah Wah, a premier New Orleans music venue, just after Richards's set on the last day of JazzFest 2025, moments before his after-show at the club that evening.The discussion delves into the historical and cultural impacts of the Acadian deportation and the preservation of French culture in Louisiana; while Richard recounts his career in music, his prolific work in both French and English, and his passion for children's literature and poetry. The episode offers a heartwarming look at Richard’s collaboration with his neuro-motor handicapped grandson on a musical project - his latest album Handicap Bonheur - and his hopes for cultural and linguistic preservation through nonprofit endeavors. Richard’s reflection on his performance at Jazz Fest and his thoughts on American and French cultural intersections add depth to this rich dialogue on music, heritage, and identity.HighlightsI'm the most American of the French Canadians and the most French of the Americans because I've been going across the border of Quebec, singing in French for 50 years. So, it's a little disheartening to see the tension between the United States and our friends to the north, especially since I've spent most of my professional career singing in French and working in Quebec. But so goes it, and I’m still part of that culture…I'll be playing in Quebec this summer, which, which I really enjoy doing, 'cause it gets so hot in Louisiana.-Zachary Richard on being part of both American and French-Canadian CulturesTo become a Canadian citizen, I have to swear an oath of allegiance to the king now. It just struck me as something that I couldn't possibly imagine doing. Swearing an oath of allegiance to a British monarch when my ancestors had suffered so terribly from the fact that they had refused to sign such an allegiance.-Zachary Richard on loyalty to his ancestors.I was torn the United States, back in the nineties and Sweetwater was our home, away from home, in the Bay Area. Sweetwater was so cool! Jeanie Patterson…. she was a real firecracker and we had a lot of fun with Jeanie and she was so welcoming. And the club was really a lot of fun to play because it was easy to pack. And Huey Lewis would come out, Bob Weir came out, and then we'd go and party at Bob's place. I can't remember too much about that, but I know it was good.-Zachary Richard on his memories playing at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, CALinkshttps://www.zacharyrichard.com/enZachary’s Richard 2025 Album - Handicap Bonheurhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHlc29obilCk2CUD4n6Vs0whttps://chickiewahwah.com/\https://sweetwatermusichall.org/“Against The Tide” - Cajun People of Louisianaa DocumentaryContre vents, contre marees - by Zachary Richardhttps://www.deezer.com/fr/artist/5977Music In EpisodeZachary Richard - Who Stole My Monkey (Live on Letterman 1990)/Rare Tracks II - YouTubeCrawfish by Zachary Richard
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A Deep Dive with Holly Bowling: From Classical Roots to Jam Band Sensation
Super-creative, virtuoso pianist, Holly Bowling joins the show in the first-ever podcast recorded in The Green Room at Garcia’s Chicago. Holly shares the etiology of her genre-crossing and improvisational style in between her two incredible debut appearances at this spectacular venue - playing the music of Phish and The Grateful Dead on solo piano! The episode delves into Holly’s classical training, influences, and balancing the dual aspects of meticulous arrangement and spontaneous performance in her work, highlighting her diverse approaches to both solo and collaborative concerts.Holly fondly recalls with the hosts her time learning under Phil Lesh at Terrapin Crossroads and the impact it had on her musical career and relationships. The conversation takes listeners behind the scenes of Holly’s musical endeavors during the pandemic, uniquely recording while immersed in spectacular national landscapes (The Wilderness Sessions), and how she cleverly lured GreenSky Bluegrass into her world. Holly also provides a glimpse into her personal life, including her experiences as a mother and the musical talent of her young son, Ryland.HIGHLIGHTSThe whole point of playing music for other people is to connect emotionally. It’s the sameness of the human experience… we're all human doing this life thing together. My favorite shows I've ever attended are the ones where there is that kind of emotional range and depth, whether it's total joy and ecstasy to shows where I have wept in public. -Holly Bowling on how she uses the piano to evoke the emotions and feelings of an audience, much in the same way Jerry Garcia did with his guitar.I’m really excited about it. Everyone's like, “you're doing a solo piano show, a quiet listening thing at Cervantes?” I'm like, yes. It's going to be amazing. We’re gonna totally turn the expectations upside down. It’s also a party. My shows are a much more inward experience, so we’re going to drop a grand piano in there, put seats in, and transform it in a way that most people have never seen Cervantes. -Holly Bowling on playing a show at the Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver on July 2, 2025, the night before Phish’s run in Boulder.LINKShttps://www.hollybowling.com/https://www.youtube.com/@HollyBowlingHolly Bowling Live Shows on nugs.nethttps://garciaschicago.live/ HOLLY BOWLING SUMMER SHOWS (2025)June 13-26: Northlands Music & Arts Festival, Swanzey, NHJune 22: Tower Theatre, Bend, ORJune 30: Alpenglow Concert Series, Crested Butte, COJuly 2: Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver, COJuly 3-6: High Sierra Music Festival, Quincy, CAJuly 17-18: SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco, CAJuly 20, 2025: Terrapin Road Show, San Rafael, CAAugust 1-3: Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival, Kaslo, BCAugust 9: (with Greensky Bluegrass), Grand Targhee Bluegrass Fest, Alta, WYAugust 10: Re/Evolution Summerjam, Darrington, WASeptember 20-21: Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival, Annapolis, MDMUSICHolly Bowling – The Wilderness Sessions, Live From The Salt Flats
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About Tales from the Green Room

Welcome to Tales from the Green Room - Backstage conversations from popular music venues around the country curated by Mount Tam Media. Buckle up and listen in, as host Dennis Strazulo and Mount Tam Media founder, Tami Larson, dig up conversations with artists - before and after shows - in the exclusive confines of the green room. Barriers are down with stories abound! Tales from the Greenroom Special Edition (Sweetwater Music Hall's 50th Anniversary Series) Mount Tam Media is thrilled to launch its Tales From the Green Room Podcast with a special series of episodes celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the iconic Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California. The roster of artists that have crowded onto the club's little stages, first at the original Sweetwater location two blocks away, and now at the new location which opened in 2013, reads like a Who's Who of roots & rock music: Bob Weir, Aaron Neville, Big Mama Thornton, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Etta James, Greg Allman, Van Morrison… the list of musical luminaries is endless. In the 80's, the Times of London hailed Sweetwater as one of the best nightclubs in America and the legacy continues! Mount Tam Media has been granted special access to Sweetwater’s green room during the venue’s 50th anniversary year to interview musicians, photographers, managers and the like, and capture their favorite moments and memories, preserving the untold secrets of what has graced these hallowed walls for half a century, before they are lost forever.

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