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She Won an Oscar for Frankenstein - Here's What It Really Took
21 Oct 2026
00:50:17
The RIFF S2 ep.6 -Cliona Furey
Final YouTube Description She won an Oscar for Frankenstein and has spent 15 years as Guillermo del Toro's go-to hair designer — and today she's telling us everything. On this episode of The Riff, Oscar and BAFTA-winning hair designer Cliona Fury (Crimson Peak, Nightmare Alley, Priscilla) joins hosts Gary and Jeremy for a candid conversation about building a career in film, working alongside legendary directors, and what it really takes to go from good to great.
Cliona shares how she went from an opera house wig-making apprentice to one of the most in-demand hair designers in film, the discipline she learned from years in theater, and what it's really like on set with Guillermo del Toro — from his obsessive attention to detail to the code words his longtime crew uses to read his mind. She dives deep into her Oscar-winning work on Frankenstein, the meticulous historical research behind Priscilla, and the emotional toll and reward of owning your craft in a high-pressure industry.
Plus, Gary shares a personal update on a hand-painted portrait of Rush drummer Neil Peart, and the crew heads to Union Station's German beer hall Wurst and Brazilian chocolate shop Chocolata Brigaderos for this episode's foodie segment, powered by MyToronto.ca.
Whether you're an aspiring artist, film industry hopeful, or just love hearing how the movie magic really happens, this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and a few surprising stories from a career at the top of the industry.
👍 If you enjoyed this episode, give it a like, drop a comment with your favorite moment, subscribe for new episodes every week, and share it with someone who'd love it too.
MyToronto: https://www.mytoronto.ca Wurst (Union Station / King St): https://wurstkitchen.com Zing Candy: https://www.zingcandy.com Netflix (Frankenstein behind-the-scenes special): https://www.netflix.com YouTube Chapters
0:00 Welcome to The Riff 0:48 Catching Up with Jeremy — Toto Concert Story 2:46 Gary's Neil Peart Portrait Reveal 5:04 Guest Introduction: Cliona Fury 6:13 Meet Cliona Fury 6:50 How Cliona Got Into Hair Design 7:53 Growing Up on Film Sets 14:13 Working with Guillermo del Toro 19:28 Behind the Scenes of Priscilla 26:28 Winning the Oscar for Frankenstein 33:13 Advice for Aspiring Artists 37:37 What's on the Table Today 39:04 Foodie Segment: Wurst & Chocolata Brigaderos 43:16 The Creative Thread: Good vs. Great 47:22 Thanking Cliona 49:00 Closing Thoughts
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Inside Hollywood’s Prop Workshop — Crafting Swords, Space Suits, Robots & Movie Magic
07 Oct 2026
00:53:59
Walter KlassenFX - The RIFF-S2 ep5 - Ever wonder how your favorite movies fake it — and make it look real? In this episode of The Riff, we sit down with Taku Desai, Chief Creative Officer of Walter Klassen FX — a Toronto-based special effects studio that's been behind the magic of Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, The Boys, The Handmaid's Tale, Captain America, Star Trek, Shazam, The Shape of Water, Reacher, and many more.
We go inside the world of practical effects — how they build mechanical machine guns that don't fire, swords in five different materials for five different stunts, space helmets with hidden fans and magnetic battery covers, and animatronic animals so anatomically accurate you can't tell them from the real thing.
Plus: Why are filmmakers ditching CGI and going back to practical effects? Is AI about to change everything again? And what does it take to build a career doing something this cool?
We also talk Jack White's no-phones concert experience and why it felt like going back in time, Jeremy's jazz album In Motion hitting #1 on American radio, and we taste some incredible Nashville Hot Chicken from Chen Chen's at The Well in Toronto.
🎬 If you love film, behind-the-scenes magic, or the craft of making things with your hands — this one's for you.
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Working With Major Artists: What Publicists See (Stories from the Road)
23 Sep 2026
00:50:29
The RIFF S2 - ep4 -Dawn Dwyer Pappas
What is it actually like working with major artists behind the scenes?
In this episode of The Riff, we sit down with an experienced music publicist who has worked at the highest levels of the industry. This conversation goes beyond theory and into real moments from the road, from press days to high-pressure situations where everything is on the line.
These are grounded, human stories about supporting artists, managing energy, and helping things hold together when it matters most.
We get into: • What working with top-level artists is really like day-to-day • How publicists support artists in high-pressure situations • The moments that don’t go as planned… and how they’re handled • What it takes to maintain momentum at a high level
If you’ve ever wondered what happens around major artists when the spotlight isn’t on, this is a rare inside look.
WWE: https://www.wwe.com Sony Music Canada: https://www.sonymusic.ca BMG: https://www.bmg.com EMI/Universal Music Canada: https://www.universalmusic.ca Spotify: https://www.spotify.com myToronto.ca: https://www.mytoronto.ca YouTube Chapters
0:00 Cold open — the Christina Aguilera hotel story 1:10 Intro to The Riff Toronto 8:48 What does a music publicist actually do? 17:31 Life on the road with Christina Aguilera 21:20 Publicist vs. doing it yourself as an artist 26:36 Rule #1: never want it more than the artist 34:39 Behind the scenes at WWE 39:34 Ric Flair's book and other wild stories 46:05 The creative side of being a publicist 48:42 Food segment: Montreal bagels & Papa Roti coffee 58:43 Final thoughts and goodbye
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
From Uncle Trent's garage to iHeart's Top 40 Rock Charts
02 Sep 2026
00:54:02
Johnny Ross - The RIFF S2 ep3
Johnny Ross, frontman of Canadian rock band Learhaven, joins Gary and Jeremy on The Riff Toronto for one of our most honest and entertaining conversations yet. Johnny breaks down the wild chaos of touring Spain and Switzerland (burst pipes, gear crashes, and empty venues that filled up in 5 minutes flat), the story behind "Soulbreaker" landing on Hockey Night in Canada, and why his obsession with '70s tone, vintage gear, and vinyl isn't nostalgia — it's a philosophy.
We get into the real talk: why comfort is the enemy of great art, what it actually takes to build a band that lasts, and the one thing Johnny says every great — from Zeppelin to Warren Buffett — has in common.
Plus, Gary and Jeremy try Quan Quan on the Esplanade — a Vietnamese hidden gem with a 4.9 ⭐ Google rating that looks like a convenience store from the outside.
🎸 What's in this episode:
0:00 — Intro & the Rush T-shirt story
10:00 — Johnny's origin story: Uncle Trent's garage, drums & the family instruments
20:00 — Hockey goalie → rock frontman (the connection is real)
30:00 — Building Learhaven, the writing process & vintage tone obsession
33:00 — The European tour: burst pipes, gear crashes & packed venues
45:00 — "Soulbreaker," vinyl, and the art of the album
52:00 — What separates the greats? Johnny's answer: "artistic nicotine"
🔗 Follow Johnny Ross & Learhaven: 🌐 Website: learhaven.com 📸 Instagram: @JohnnyRoss5th | @Learhaven 🎵 Stream "Soulbreaker" on all platforms
🌆 Toronto's best kept food secret: 📍 Quan Quan — 140 The Esplanade, Toronto 🌐 mytoronto.ca
🎙️ Follow The Riff Toronto: 📸 Instagram: @TheRiffToronto 🌐 mytoronto.ca
If this episode fired you up, hit that subscribe button — it's how we keep landing guests like this.
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Why 99% of Content Creators Fail (And How He Didn't)
05 Aug 2026
00:54:02
Dontoverthinkitchip - The RIFF S2 ep2
He quit a 6-figure insurance job with only $500/month coming in — and went $75K into debt chasing a dream. Three years later, he's landing brand deals with PlayStation, Nissan, the Toronto Blue Jays, and Chipotle, with 16 million views from nearly 6 million accounts. This is the story of @dontoverthinkitchip.
In this episode of The Riff, Gary and Jeremy sit down with Toronto-based content creator Chip — the force behind one of Canada's fastest-rising social media channels. What started as a sports betting page in December 2023 has evolved into a full-time viral content machine built on relatable comedy skits, Toronto food culture, and one unbreakable rule: post every single day.
In this episode:
Why Chip walked away from a six-figure career with almost nothing in the bank
The real daily grind behind viral content (hint: it starts at 5:30 AM)
How he sent 20 DMs a day to restaurants and turned $250 gigs into major brand contracts
Why your biggest supporters will never be the people you grew up with
The moment in Saskatchewan at minus 40 that almost broke him — and what kept him going
How brands are now paying creators NOT to talk about their product
Why going viral overnight is actually less valuable than the slow grind
The Kevin James obsession that shaped his entire comedic style
What consistency + originality actually looks like in practice
Why 99% of creators quit — and the one mindset shift that separates those who make it
Plus: The guys taste pulled pork brisket mac & cheese from Smoke'N Bones on Baldwin Street — and Chip makes a case for why Baldwin Street is the most underrated food strip in Toronto.
Whether you're a content creator, an entrepreneur, or just someone who's been sitting on a dream they haven't acted on yet — this one's for you.
🎙️ The Riff — where creativity winds its way through food, music, art, and everything in between. Hosted by Gary & Jeremy, brought to you from the heart of Toronto.
📍 Food feature sponsored by mytoronto.ca — your guide to exploring Toronto like a local.
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Electronic artist’s guide to playing big lineups
14 Jul 2026
00:54:44
Andrew Stasiw - The RIFF S2 ep1
Toronto's underground EDM scene has a new king — and he built it from a laptop during lockdown.
Andrew Stasiw of King and Queen Events joins Gary and Jeremy on The Riff to pull back the curtain on how he went from bedroom producer to booking global heavyweights like Danny Avila, Maddox, and Sam Pacho at iconic venues like Coda — all as an independent operator competing against the monopolies.
In this episode: 🎧 How to break into the EDM scene (basement to mainstage) 📈 The networking moves that actually work (cold emails are dead) 🌍 What it's REALLY like hosting international DJs in Toronto 🎶 Why reading the room separates good DJs from GREAT ones 💼 Balancing friendship and business in the music industry 🔥 Why Toronto's electronic scene is exploding RIGHT NOW
Plus — we taste Rasta Pasta from Waterworks Food Hall. Jamaican-Italian fusion. Trust us on this one.
Whether you're an aspiring DJ, a music lover, or an entrepreneur figuring out how to grind your way to the top — this episode hits different.
Subscribe & hit the bell so you never miss a new episode of The Riff, where we chase the creative thread connecting music, food, arts, and culture.
🔗 King and Queen Events: kingqueenevents.com | @kingqueenevents
☕ Coffee by Found Coffee — Front Street, Toronto 🍝 Food by Rasta Pasta — Waterworks Food Hall, King West 🌐 Explore Toronto like a local: mytoronto.ca
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
200M Streams. No Label. No Rules.
17 Jun 2026
00:52:36
EMM - The Riff ep 12
She climbed into a coffin full of biting worms — and kept singing. 🎵🐛
In this episode of The Riff, Gary and Jeremy sit down with EMM — a classically trained, award-winning artist from Traverse City, Michigan who grew up surrounded by musical prodigies, moved to New York before high school, and built an independent music empire with 200 million streams entirely on her own terms.
Now signed with Sony/The Orchard (while keeping full ownership of her masters), EMM is on The Dumb Tour promoting her album Black Diamond — and she stopped into The Riff studio fresh off a sold-out Toronto show at the Drake Underground.
In this episode: 🎤 The coffin shoot — wrong worms, biting legs, 2 hours in bugs (and she was singing live) 🎹 Growing up at Interlochen, home of child prodigies practicing 12 hours a day 💡 Why "irrational confidence" is her secret weapon 💰 How brand deals funded her music before the music funded itself 🎧 The truth about publishing rights, predatory label contracts, and keeping your leverage 🌀 Manifestation, flow states, and "transcendence" on stage 📵 Dopamine detoxes and why boredom is rocket fuel for creativity 🍪 Gluten-free treats from Bunner's Bakery in Kensington Market (and yes, they're incredible)
Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, or just someone chasing something big — this one's for you.
Follow EMM: @emminreallife (all socials) | Link in bio
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
From Hitchhiker to Juno Winner: The Crown Lands Story
14 May 2026
01:00:09
Kevin Comeau - The RIFF ep 11
What happens when a kid hears Rush for the first time and his entire life changes? We found out.
Kevin Comeau of Juno Award-winning prog duo Crown Lands sits down with The Riff to talk about the moment A Farewell to Kings rewired his brain at 14, hitchhiking across Canada and down the California coast after reading Jack Kerouac, accidentally joining a reggae band in a Hollywood guitar shop, and how a Rush notation book stuffed into a backpack became the foundation of his guitar playing.
We also get into the real story behind the Crown Lands name, the identity crisis that almost ended the band, getting discovered by Eric Singer of Kiss through a YouTube live video, and why their new album Apocalypse — out NOW — is the record they've always wanted to make.
Plus: space operas, dragon riders, prog nerd deep dives on Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Jan Hammer, and Joni Mitchell. Oh, and incredible food from Queen's Harbour on the Toronto waterfront.
🎸 Crown Lands – Apocalypse is out now | crownlandsmusic.com
🎙️ Sponsored by mytoronto.ca | Featuring coffee from Coffee Island (York St.)
Subscribe, like & share — it genuinely helps us keep making this show.
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
The World's Youngest Cheese Master Reveals What Most Food Lovers Get Wrong
14 Apr 2026
00:56:31
Afrim Pristine - RIFF S1 ep10
🎙️ What does it take to become one of the most respected names in the food world?
In this episode of The RIFF, we sit down with Afrim Pristine, internationally recognized cheese master, entrepreneur, television personality, and one of Canada's leading voices in food culture.
From building a world-class business to appearing on major television shows, Afrim shares the lessons, challenges, and mindset that helped shape his remarkable journey. We dive into the art and science of taste, the importance of passion and persistence, and what separates true craftsmanship from the ordinary.
Whether you're a foodie, entrepreneur, aspiring creator, or simply someone who enjoys hearing incredible success stories, this conversation is packed with insights, inspiration, and plenty of surprising moments.
🔥 In this episode: ✔️ The journey to becoming a world-renowned cheese master ✔️ Behind-the-scenes stories from the food industry ✔️ Building a successful brand through passion and expertise ✔️ Lessons in entrepreneurship, creativity, and leadership ✔️ Why taste is about more than just food
Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more conversations with fascinating people who are changing their industries and inspiring others to do the same.
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Canada's Fishing Legend Reveals All
18 Mar 2026
00:49:38
Pete Bowman - The RIFF -S1 ep.9
Pete Bowman — Canadian fishing legend, TV host of Fishin' Canada (3.5M viewers), and Hall of Famer — sits down with The Riff for one of the most entertaining fishing conversations you'll ever hear.
From stunning a fish with a boat oar to get his lure back, to revealing how a laid-off electrician accidentally became one of Canada's most beloved TV personalities, Pete holds nothing back.
In this episode:
🎣 How Pete went from electrician to fishing icon
🏆 Being inducted into the Canadian Angler Hall of Fame (and why it shocked him)
🐟 Big pike, bass & monster fish hiding RIGHT in Toronto Harbour
💰 The insane prize money in North American fishing tournaments (up to $1.25M!)
🌊 The WILDEST fish story you've ever heard — an oar, a pike, and a turtle
♻️ Why hunters and anglers are actually conservation's greatest allies
🎿 Winter Olympics chaos, Ray Gun on skis, and skeleton vs. luge debates
Follow Pete Bowman: 📺 Fishing Canada — Saturdays 8AM on Global TV 📸 Instagram: @petebowman_fishing 📘 Facebook & YouTube: Fishing Canada / @fishingcanadaofficial
Fishing in Toronto? Pete recommends: 🎣 Fish City Tours — Taro Murata 🎣 Cast Adventures — Paul Castellano, Niagara River
The Riff is a Toronto-based podcast where we sit down with fascinating people over great food and real conversation.
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
The Hidden World of Private Chefs: What Clients Never See
16 Feb 2026
00:51:48
Maddy Goldberg - The RIFF S1 ep8
What happens when a Michelin-trained chef shows up to a food bank with no set menu and two hours to feed 100 people? Pure magic.
This week on The Riff, hosts Gary O'Brien and Jeremy sit down with Toronto's most fascinating chef — Maddy Goldberg. With 160K+ Instagram followers, viral food content, and a background in social work, Maddy is redefining what it means to be a chef in 2026.
We get into: 🍽️ How she went from a 12-oz prime rib at age 6 to cooking at Michelin-recommended Aloette 🥄 What really goes on in a high-end restaurant kitchen (it's intense) ❤️ Why she gives 10% of every private dinner to charity 🥡 The shocking truth about food waste in the restaurant industry 😂 The story of a man who ate a full stick of butter at her dinner table (yes, really)
Plus — Jeremy eats a birthday candle. Enough said.
Whether you're a foodie, a creative, or someone who just wants to feel inspired — this episode delivers.
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Own a Piece of Your Favorite Song — And Get Paid Every Month
18 Jan 2026
00:48:25
Tim Gallagher - The RIFF - S1 ep7
What if your favorite song could pay you every month — forever?
Most people have no idea that music royalties exist as an investable asset class. In this episode of The Riff, hosts Gary O'Brien and Jeremy Green sit down with Tim Gallagher — founder of Music Royalties Inc. and former Chairman & CEO of Metalla Royalty — to pull back the curtain on one of the most overlooked investment opportunities on the planet.
Tim breaks down how he built a portfolio of 7,000 songs (including pieces of Rolling Stones, Dire Straits, Eminem, and Avicii) that has already paid out over $14 million in monthly dividends — and why he believes music royalties beat stocks, real estate, and even Bitcoin.
In this episode you'll learn:
Why a single hit song can generate $1M+ per year in streaming income — indefinitely
How copyright law gives you a 150-year monopoly on the internet
The secret $500M/year payment system hiding in Canada that almost nobody knows about
How platforms like Spotify are driving billions in new royalty cashflow
How YOU can invest in music royalties — even as a regular person
Why legends like the Rolling Stones, The Who, and Eminem are part of this portfolio
Whether you're a music lover, an investor, or an artist wondering how to secure your financial future — this episode will change how you think about music forever.
🎵 Find Music Royalties Inc. on Spotify 🌐 Visit mytoronto.ca for more Toronto culture, food & entertainment
Also on this episode: We taste incredible sandwiches from Elfie's Sandwiches on Baldwin Street and rare bean-to-bar chocolate from ChocoSol on St. Clair West. Toronto's food scene never disappoints.
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Nervousness Is Just Excitement in Disguise — and Other Lessons from a Theater Lifer
18 Dec 2025
00:50:12
Donna Garner - The RIFF - S1 ep6
🎭🎵 She learned accordion in 8 days and booked a Broadway national tour. No big deal.
In this episode of The Riff, hosts Gary O'Brien and Jeremy Green sit down with the extraordinary Donna Garner — actor, singer, pianist, multi-instrumentalist, voice coach, music director, AND founder of Garner Theatre Productions. Oh, and she's the youngest of 13 kids raised on a dairy farm near Stratford, Ontario. Yeah, she's kind of a force of nature.
We dig into: 🎬 How Donna's family staged a full production of The Sound of Music to raise money for Ronald McDonald House 🪗 The wild story of renting an accordion with only 8 days to learn it before a major Broadway audition 🎭 What it really means to be an actor-musician — acting, singing, AND playing an instrument on stage at the same time 🇨🇦 Why Canadian artists need to stop apologizing for their talent 🎓 The honest truth about building a career in the performing arts 🎸 Instruments in Hands — the incredible charitable program giving instruments and free lessons to those who can't afford them 🌮 Plus, we sample some of Toronto's best tacos from Seven Lives in Kensington Market!
Whether you're a theater lover, a musician, an aspiring performer, or just someone who appreciates people who do extraordinary things — this episode is for you.
🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Riff — Toronto's home for deep conversations with the city's most creative minds.
👉 Learn more about Donna and Garner Theatre Productions: garnertheatreproductions.com 🌐 Visit us at: mytoronto.ca
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Animation Producer Who Worked on SpongeBob, Van Halen & Netflix Reveals His Creative Secrets
23 Nov 2025
00:49:13
Darin Bristow - The RIFF -S1 ep.5
What do SpongeBob SquarePants, Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen, and Kim Mitchell all have in common? Darin Bristow. In this episode of The Riff, Gary O'Brien and Jeremy Green sit down with one of Canada's most versatile creative minds — an animation producer, director, educator, and musician with over 30 years of experience bridging the worlds of art, music, and storytelling.
Darin has produced content for Nelvana, Netflix, PBS Kids, and Nickelodeon, including Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie. He's directed music videos for Kim Mitchell, Big Sugar, and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar. He holds a Master's degree in design psychology from Sheridan College and teaches at five leading Canadian animation programs. And somewhere in between all of that, he handed Eddie Van Halen a caricature at Sam the Record Man — and Eddie put him in a headlock.
In this conversation, Darin breaks down what it actually takes to build a creative career: the power of finding your unique angle, how caricature became his backstage pass, the overlap between visual art and music, what design psychology means for kids' animation, and how he launched an unofficial Sammy Hagar podcast that now reaches listeners in over 50 countries.
Plus — the guys sample Porchetta & Co.'s famous house special sandwich from Toronto's PATH, pour a New Zealand pinot noir, and crack open a bottle of Sammy Hagar's Santo tequila. Toronto creativity, food culture, and rock & roll — all at the same table.
If you love music, animation, Toronto culture, or just great storytelling from people who've actually lived it — hit Like, leave a comment, Subscribe, and share this one with someone who needs a creative kick in the pants.
Resources Mentioned The Riff Podcast (host site): mytoronto.ca Porchetta & Co. (Toronto): porchettaandco.com Nelvana: nelvana.com Netflix – Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie: netflix.com Nickelodeon: nickelodeon.com Sheridan College: sheridancollege.ca Kim Mitchell (official): kimmitchell.com Big Sugar: bigsugarlive.com Sammy Hagar (official): sammyhagar.com Santo Tequila (Sammy Hagar & Guy Fieri): santospirits.com Cabo Wabo Tequila: cabowabo.com The Bogus Oder Show (Sammy Hagar podcast): Search "Bogus Oder Show" on Facebook / Instagram: @bogusodershw Darin Bristow – LinkedIn: Search "Darin Bristow" on LinkedIn Sound of Music Festival (Burlington): soundofmusic.ca LCBO Queen's Quay (large vintage selection): lcbo.com Chickenfoot (band): chickenfoot.us YouTube Chapters Note: Timestamps are approximate based on transcript flow.
Timestamp Chapter Title 0:00 Welcome to The Riff – Episode 5 0:45 Toronto Jays World Series Buzz 3:00 Gary's Portugal Trip & The Bristol Board Sheets 8:00 Introducing Darin Bristow – SpongeBob, Sammy Hagar & More 10:30 What Is Design Psychology for Kids' Animation? 16:00 Growing Up in London, Ontario – Comics, Star Wars & Drawing 20:00 How Iron Maiden & Van Halen Hooked Him on Music 25:00 The Porchetta & Co. Break – Food & Wine Interlude 29:00 Caricature as a Backstage Pass – Meeting Eddie Van Halen 36:00 Eddie Van Halen Wore His Shirt (Decades Later!) 39:00 Working With Kim Mitchell – Canada's Eddie Van Halen 45:00 The Sammy Hagar Connection – Animated Video to Cabo 52:00 Launching The Bogus Oder Show Podcast 57:00 Guitar Collecting – Kramer, Peavey Wolfgang & EVH Vault Series 1:04:00 Tone Comes From Your Fingers, Not Your Gear 1:08:00 Final Thoughts & Where to Find Darin
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
How a Guitarist Survived 800 Cruise Ship Shows, Broadway Pits & an AC/DC Tribute
23 Oct 2025
01:07:55
Gino Del Sole - The RIFF S1 ep.4
What does it take to play 800 live shows on a Norwegian cruise ship, hold down a pit chair for Mirvish's biggest Broadway productions, and dress as Angus Young for a living? Guitarist Gino Del Sole has done all of it — and he's here to tell you exactly what goes on behind the curtain.
In Episode 4 of The Riff, hosts Gary O'Brien and Jeremy Green sit down with Gino for a candid, hilarious, and genuinely insightful conversation about the real life of a working musician in Toronto and beyond. Gino breaks down what it's actually like to play in the orchestra pit for shows like Beetlejuice, Moulin Rouge, Come From Away, and Rock of Ages — including the split-second pressure of reading a conductor's cues while sight-reading charts, switching guitars mid-song, and performing for 2,000 people a night with only one rehearsal.
From his roots in Sudbury discovering Kiss Alive and AC/DC's Back in Black, through Humber College jazz training and nearly a decade of cruise ship contracts touring the Mediterranean, to co-founding ACDC Show Canada and Epic Elton, Gino's story is a masterclass in what it means to be a true professional musician.
We also get into: - The Angus Young schoolboy costume — and why it never gets old (even if Gino's knees disagree) - Why AI in music is exciting and terrifying at the same time - The networking advantage of music school that Jeremy still regrets missing - Drive, discipline, and what Wayne Gretzky, Einstein, and Gordon Ramsay have in common - The food spotlight: Real Sports Bar & Restaurant in Maple Leaf Square — their salt and vinegar jumbo wings, garlic parm wings, and why the sound system in a 27,000 sq ft venue actually impressed a professional guitarist
If you love classic rock, behind-the-scenes music industry stories, Toronto culture, or just a great conversation — this one's for you.
🍺 Food Feature: Real Sports Bar & Restaurant — Maple Leaf Square, Toronto 🎸 Guest: Gino Del Sole — Guitarist | ACDC Show Canada | Epic Elton | Mirvish Productions
👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Comment, Subscribe, and Share — it helps us keep bringing great guests to The Riff. Drop a comment below: Who was YOUR guitar hero growing up?
00:00 Welcome to The Riff 02:10 Jeremy's New Album: Keith Carlock, Mike Stern & Will Lee 04:30 The Stranger Who Walked Into Gary's House 08:45 Hotel Bed Story: Jeremy's Wild Guys' Weekend Tale 11:00 Introducing Guest Gino Del Sole 14:20 Buying a House as a Self-Employed Musician 17:00 Growing Up in Sudbury: Kiss, AC/DC & the First Guitar 23:30 Joining the Band & First Big Break 26:00 Humber College & the Value of Music School Networking 31:00 Getting Into Theater: Stage West, Footloose & Mirvish 36:00 Inside the Orchestra Pit: Charts, Conductors & Guitar Switching 43:30 On a Cruise Ship During a Storm: Stage Falls & Broken Headstocks 49:00 The Real Sports Bar & Restaurant Food Segment 55:00 Switching Styles: Swiss Army Knife Guitarist 59:00 Angus Young, Entertainer vs. Musician & ACDC Show Canada 1:03:00 The Long and the Short of It: Past, Present & Future 1:07:00 AI in Music: Threat or Opportunity? 1:11:30 Closing Remarks, Blue Jays & What's Next for Gino
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Why Canada's Best Bassist Refused to Leave
08 Oct 2025
01:03:00
Rich Brown - The RIFF S1 ep3
What happens when one of Canada's most accomplished jazz bassists sits down with his oldest musical friends and just gets real? This. Rich Brown — Juno Award winner, educator, bandleader, and one of Toronto's most versatile musicians — joins Gary O'Brien and Jeremy Green for an honest, hilarious, and deeply inspiring conversation that every musician needs to hear.
Rich walks us through the origin of his 30-year friendship with co-host Jeremy Green, from teenage garage jams in the '80s to building careers on the Toronto jazz scene. He breaks down the creative process behind Naiba — a groundbreaking all-electric-bass solo album with no other instruments — and explains why he turned down an opportunity to audition for the house band on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to stay in Canada. He also shares the story of how the Jeremy Ledbetter Trio won the Juno Award for Best Jazz Album — and how he almost missed the news entirely.
Along the way, Rich reflects on Rinse the Algorithm, his musical brotherhood with drummer Larnell Lewis, his friendship with Kim Mitchell, and the lessons he's learned after decades of teaching at Humber College, the University of Toronto, and Scott's Bass Lessons online. His advice to young musicians — "embrace the struggle, be comfortable being uncomfortable" — is worth the price of admission alone.
We also feature a food moment from Mary B Kitchen, a beloved whole-food restaurant in the Yonge-St. Clair neighbourhood of Toronto.
If you love jazz, fusion, bass guitar, Canadian music, or just great conversations between people who have been making music together for decades — this one's for you.
👍 Like this video if you enjoyed it. 💬 Comment below — what was your moment that made you want to become a musician? 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Riff. 📤 Share this with a musician friend who needs to hear Rich's advice today.
0:00 Welcome to The Riff 2:42 Introducing Guest Rich Brown 4:57 How Rich and Jeremy Met in the '80s 14:53 Van Halen's Unchained Changed His Life 21:41 Building the Band: Eclipse & Period of Denial 28:52 Car Rides, Deep Talks & Musical Growth 38:50 New Album Naiba: A Solo Bass Record 29:28 The Creative Process Behind Naiba 38:50 Rinse the Algorithm & Larnell Lewis 45:14 Food Segment: Mary B Kitchen 49:16 World Music Influence & Toronto's Global Scene 51:39 Winning the Juno Award (And Almost Missing the News) 53:33 Turning Down Jay Leno to Stay in Canada 57:45 The Brownstone YouTube Channel 1:01:17 Kim Mitchell Stories & Max Webster 1:17:57 Advice for Young Bass Players: Embrace the Struggle 1:41:40 Thanks for Watching
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Rich Brown — https://richbrownmusic.com The Brownstone (YouTube) — https://www.youtube.com/@TheBrownstone New Origins on Jazz FM 91 — https://www.jazzfm.com Scott's Bass Lessons — https://www.scottsbasslessons.com Humber College — https://humber.ca University of Toronto — https://www.utoronto.ca Jeremy Ledbetter — https://jeremyledbetter.com Steve Coleman — https://m-base.com Bruce Cockburn — https://www.brucecockburn.com Kim Mitchell — https://www.kimmitchell.ca David Clayton-Thomas — https://davidclaytonthomas.com Terri Lyne Carrington — https://terrilynecarrington.com Larnell Lewis — https://www.larnelllewis.com Mary B Kitchen — https://marybkitchen.com Juno Awards — https://junoawards.ca mytoronto.ca — https://www.mytoronto.ca
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What It Really Takes to Stay a Working Musician
12 Sep 2025
00:52:53
Staying a working musician for 30-plus years is harder than most people think — and Rick Menary has lived every part of it. In this episode of The Riff, we sit down with Rick, singer, guitarist, and co-founder of the Toronto blues rock band The Spitfire Kings, for one of the most honest conversations about the music life you'll hear anywhere.
Rick shares how a childhood Kiss performance sparked everything, how he learned to sing by screaming Led Zeppelin at full volume in an empty house, and the exact moment he knew music was going to be his life. He breaks down the real challenges of building a band — finding the right people, keeping personalities aligned, and surviving the long road from garage rehearsals to paying gigs.
Then there's the story you have to hear: the time his band drove all the way to Newfoundland, got fired after two nights because the wrong promoter pitched them as a Top 40 band, blew the motor on the truck driving home, got stuck in a snowstorm, and had to call their dads for credit cards just to survive. If you've ever wondered why the music business is brutal, this is your answer.
Rick also delivers genuinely practical advice: how to use Facebook, YouTube, and booking agents to get your first real gigs, why versatility is the most underrated skill a working band can have, the iPad debate for live performers, and why band politics never fully disappear — they just get easier to manage with age.
Plus, hosts Gary O'Brien and Jeremy Green break down the surprisingly dark underbelly of the classic '80s hit "Let's Hear It for the Boy," and the team samples authentic Thai cuisine from PAI Northern Thai Kitchen, one of Toronto's most acclaimed restaurants.
Whether you're a musician, a music lover, or someone building something creative in Toronto — this one's for you.
🎸 Subscribe for new episodes every week 👍 Like this video if you learned something 💬 Drop your own band disaster story in the comments 📤 Share this with a musician who needs to hear it
PAI Northern Thai Kitchen — 18 Duncan Street, Toronto (Theatre District) | 2355 Yonge Street, Toronto (Yonge-Eglinton) https://www.painorthern.com
CHAPTERS
0:00 Welcome to The Riff — Episode 2 Intro 1:30 The Passive-Aggressive '80s Song Nobody Noticed 8:00 Introducing Guest Rick Menary 9:30 How Kiss Changed Rick's Life at Age 10 13:00 Learning to Sing by Screaming at Full Volume 16:00 From Garage Band to Paying Gigs 20:00 Why Most Bands Never Make It 24:00 The Newfoundland Disaster Story 30:00 How to Book Gigs: Practical Advice for New Bands 36:00 The iPad Debate: Is It Cheating to Use One on Stage? 41:00 Reading the Crowd and Adapting Your Set List 44:00 Toronto Food Break: PAI Northern Thai Kitchen 48:00 Band Politics and Keeping the Peace 51:00 Passing the Torch: Musical Kids and Father-Son Jams 55:00 New Music Worth Knowing: Polyphia and Landreth Brothers 59:00 Toronto Events This Week and Show Wrap-Up
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She Speaks 6 Languages and Shreds Guitar. Now She's a DJ.
21 Aug 2025
00:53:47
SamIAM - The Riff S1 ep.1
What do classical guitar, extreme metal, six languages, and Toronto's underground DJ scene have in common? Meet Sam Green — known on stage as Samiam — and this episode will completely change how you think about what it means to be a musician.
On this episode of The Riff, hosts Gary O'Brien and Jeremy Green sit down with Sam, a multidisciplinary Toronto artist who started playing piano at four, picked up guitar at seven, spent nearly two decades performing classical, blues, rock, and extreme metal — and then pivoted into DJing in 2024. What makes Sam's story so compelling isn't just the range. It's the discipline, the curiosity, and the philosophy behind every choice she's made.
We dig into how growing up in a small town with nothing to do became her greatest creative advantage, why boredom before social media produced better musicians, the surprising connections between metal and techno, what happens when your DJ screen goes dark mid-set, and why teaching the next generation of DJs might be the most important thing she's doing right now.
Sam also shares her community initiative Track Factory — open-decks DJ events designed to bring Toronto's electronic music community together — and her residency at Boxcar Social on the Harbourfront.
Plus: Tracy drops in with a world-class cheese tasting from Alex Farm Products at the legendary St. Lawrence Market, and we celebrate mytoronto.ca hitting 100,000 YouTube subscribers.
If you love Toronto culture, music education, and conversations that go deeper than the surface — this one is for you.
👍 Like this video if you learned something new. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Riff. 💬 Drop a comment: What's one skill you picked up out of sheer boredom? 📤 Share this with a musician or creative who needs to hear it.
mytoronto.ca — https://www.mytoronto.ca Boxcar Social (Harbourfront) — https://www.boxcarsocial.ca St. Lawrence Market — https://www.stlawrencemarket.com Free Play Toronto — https://www.freeplaytoronto.com Ableton — https://www.ableton.com
0:00 Welcome to The Riff — Intro 0:45 The Home Depot Toilet Story 6:30 mytoronto.ca Hits 100K Subscribers 9:20 Meet Sam Green (Samiam) — Full Bio 11:00 Growing Up in Port Perry — Small Town, Big Creativity 15:30 How Boredom Made Her a Better Musician 18:00 Randy Rhoads, Ozzy, and Falling in Love with Guitar 22:00 How Guitar Training Made Her a Better DJ 27:00 The Busking Story — Funding Concert Tickets with Classical Guitar 31:00 Six Languages — How She Learned Them and Why 37:30 From Metal to DJ — The Surprising Overlap 43:00 The EDM and House Music Community Explained 49:00 When the Screen Goes Dark — DJing by Ear Live 55:00 Why Online Learning Creates Knowledge Gaps in Music 1:01:00 Track Factory — Building Toronto's DJ Community 1:08:00 Boxcar Social Residency and Renegade Beach Parties 1:14:00 Low-Res Party at Free Play Toronto 1:19:00 Motorsports — Rally Racing and CSCS Events 1:24:00 How to Stay Creative and Grounded 1:29:00 Building a Homemade Speaker During Lockdown 1:33:00 What's Next — Music Production, Ableton, and Touring 1:37:00 Cheese Tasting — Alex Farm Products, St. Lawrence Market 1:52:00 Closing Thoughts and Goodbye