Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

This week on Gig Gab, guest co-host Daniel East joins Dave Hamilton for a deep dive into the art of harmonies and the essentials of live sound. You’ll discover how to add harmonies to your band by honing in on the timbre of each singer and experimenting in real-time with just a guitar or piano. Whether you’re aiming for the Eagles’ perfection in a gymnasium or channeling the Bee Gees on a couch, nailing harmonies means knowing when to start and stop, as well as understanding if your lead singer naturally veers sharp or flat. Always Be Performing by ensuring your harmonies elevate the lead, not overshadow it.

When it comes to miking and mixing drums in small to medium clubs, balance is key. Start with a well-balanced stage sound and tweak from there—pulling out some midrange from the toms can prevent them from overpowering the mix. The gear talk doesn’t stop there; from the Stage Ninja MIC-12-CB Gooseneck Mic Clamp to the Yamaha TF-Rack, and even the Zoom H1 XLR Portable Digital Recorder, Dave and Dan cover the tools that keep your setup sharp. Whether you’re fine-tuning your instruments or your sound, remember: Always Be Performing.

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 445 – Monday, September 2nd, 2024
  • September 2nd: National Blueberry Popsicle Day
• 00:01:51 Guest Co-host: Daniel East
• 00:03:09 Brian-How do you add harmonies to your band?
  • Approaching harmonies
  • Be aware of the timbre of singers
  • Get into a room with just a guitar or piano and sing into the air. How does it sound?
  • Beegees on a couch…and crushing those vocals!
  • The Eagles Singing in a Gymnasium, so perfectly!
  • Learn whether the lead singer naturally sings sharp or flat
  • Harmony vocals verses Background Vocals
  • Start harmonies after, end them before the lead
• 00:27:58 Ted-Best way to mic and mix drums in a small or medium club?
  • First: make it sound balanced on stage
  • EQ some midrange out of the toms if they’re too present in the club mix
  • Stage Ninja MIC-12-CB Gooseneck Mic Clamp
  • Yamaha TF-Rack
• Gear Gab
  • 00:42:48 PreSonus Quantum HD 8 – $999
  • 00:49:13 Zoom H1 XLR Portable Digital Recorder – $149
  • 00:52:56 Stage Ninja FON-10-CB Gooseneck Phone Clamp
  • 00:54:21 Shure SM58 …now in all Black
  • 00:55:00 Universal Audio ANTI 1992 Guitar Amp Simulator … with App Control!
  • 00:57:24 Tonewings for Drums Internally-mounted sound-contouring devices
• 01:02:29 Teach your students how to maintain and tune their instruments in addition to playing them
• 01:06:28 Gig Gab 445 Outtro
  • Contact Daniel East
    • DanielEast.net
    • Dan East on LinkedIn
  • Contact Gig Gab!
    • @GigGabPodcast on Instagram
    • feedback@giggabpodcast.com
    • Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List

The post How to Perfect Your Harmonies and Elevate Your Band’s Sound — Gig Gab 445 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Dive into the world of music and neuroscience with Daniel Levitin on this week’s Gig Gab! Join him and Dave Hamilton as they unpack Dan’s upcoming book, “I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine”, releasing August 27th. Discover the intricacies of the Default Mode Network, and how music impacts everything from opioid release to temporary cognitive effects. Uncover the neurological roots of our musical preferences, balancing expectation with surprise, and hear Dan’s insights on the fascinating “Levitin Effect” where we inherently remember songs in their correct key.

As they chat, you’ll hear stories of Dan playing with legends like Victor Wooten and Bobby McFerrin, and insights on grabbing gigs through connections, like the time David Byrne invited him to play Brian Eno’s guitar parts. From the festival stages of Helsinki to intimate venues in Los Angeles, Dan’s musical journey is a testament to the show’s catchphrase, “Always Be Performing.” Tune in for a masterclass in blending science and music, and get inspired to keep performing no matter where your musical path takes you.

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 444 – Monday, August 26th, 2024
  • August 26th: National Spark The World Day
  • Guest Co-host: Daniel Levitin, cognitive neuroscientist, musician, record producer, and the author of four NYT best-selling books.
• 00:02:21 Dan’s new book “I Heard There Was a Secret Chord” releases August 27th
• 00:04:25 The Default Mode Network = your Mind Wandering Mode
  • We “Pay” for attention with oxygenated glucose
  • Mozart doesn’t make you smarter, sitting in a windowless room makes you dumber (temporarily)
• 00:11:01 Parkinson’s Disease and Music as a treatment
• 00:12:00 Music to release opioids or cortisol…depending upon whether you like it or not
• 00:14:24 Everybody Wants Some … Except Manuel Noriega
• 00:17:25 The Musicological Angle … Is there a neurological basis for aesthetics?
  • We tend to like music that’s slightly surprising
  • Perfectly balancing expectation with surprise (of all kinds)
  • King Crimson… or Shoenberg
• 00:20:57 Modulations
• 00:22:38 “Playing as often as I want to”
  • Playing a festival in Helsinki with Victor Wooten
  • For the Book Tour
    • Livingston Taylor in Boston
    • Bob Weir in San Francisco
  • Recently with Bobby McFerrin in Berkely, California
  • The Deductions (band) in Los Angeles
    • Gary Novak on Drums
    • Dean Parks on Guitar
• 00:27:00 What instruments do you play?
  • On “Turnaround”, Dan played all the instruments except bass on two songs (Victor Wooten, Elliot Randall, and Steve Bailey helped out!)
• 00:30:25 How do you get gigs?
  • David Byrne invited Dan to play Brian Eno’s parts for a gig
• 00:34:33 Parthenon Huxley with ELO: “Don’t Punish The People Who Showed Up”
• 00:39:05 You’re allowed to make adjustments during the show!
  • BFSD
• 00:41:15 Trying to hit that falsetto after a long day
• 00:47:06 People tend to remember songs in the correct key, aka The Levitin Effect
  • Turns out we all kinda have decent relative pitch
• 00:51:25 Check out The Musical Accompaniment to “I Heard There Was a Secret Chord”…and its playlists:
  • Apple Music I Heard There Was a Secret Chord playlist
  • Spotify I Heard There Was a Secret Chord playlist
  • YouTube playlist
• 00:52:11 Gig Gab 444 Outtro
  • Contact Daniel Levitin
    • DanielLevitin.com
  • Contact Gig Gab!
    • @GigGabPodcast on Instagram
    • feedback@giggabpodcast.com
    • Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List

The post How Music Heals: Daniel Levitin on the Neuroscience of Sound — Gig Gab 444 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Dive into Gig Gab 435 where Dave Hamilton teams up with guest co-host Adam Johnson from Cover Band Confidential for an electrifying episode. They kick things off with recent gig adventures, including the thrill of corporate live band karaoke and the indispensable value of rehearsals when subbing. Adam and Dave share insights on transitioning from analog to digital mixers, highlighting gear like Behringer XR and Mackie DL-series, and emphasizing the benefits of built-in compressors and parametric EQs for your weekend warrior band. As always, remember to “Always Be Performing.”

The conversation doesn’t stop there. Adam introduces his B.A.N.D. system, a treasure trove of inspiration to keep you moving forward without fear of failure. They explore the allure of new gear like baritone guitars and share tips for staying awake on long drives home from gigs, with sunflower seeds and Diet Mountain Dew as trusty companions.

The episode wraps up with shoutouts to must-listen podcasts like Disgraceland, Strong Songs, and Adam’s Cover Band Confidential. Don’t miss this jam-packed session—share the show and keep the performance spirit alive!

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 435 – Monday, June 24th, 2024
  • June 24th: National Pralines Day
  • Guest Co-host Adam Johnson from Cover Band Confidential
  • Played with Morris Day & The Time
• 00:02:17 Recent Gig Chatter
  • Corporate Live Band Karaoke
  • The Value of Getting At least One Rehearsal (when subbing)
• 00:04:56 Which Country Music?
  • Jaret Reddick’s Country Project
  • Alex Melton
• 00:11:15 Migrating from Analog to Digital Mixers for your Weekend Warrior Band
  • Behringer XR or Midas Mixers
  • Mackie DL-series Digital Mixers
  • Master Fader
  • Allen & Heath Digital Portable Mixers
  • The benefits of a digital mixer: compressors built-in, parametric eqs, and more
• 00:20:45 Always Listening to “My Mix”, Regardless of The Gig
• 00:23:40 Midas StageCONNECT Ultranet
• 00:25:04 SPONSOR: Bandzoogle makes it easy to build a stunning website and online store for your music in minutes. Try it free for 30 days, then use promo code “giggabpod” to get 15% off your first year.
• 00:26:47 Adam Johnson’s B.A.N.D. System
  • It’s great Inspiration Fuel
  • “Don’t let the fear of failure keep you from STARTING”
• 00:38:28 Exciting and Shiny Things Capture Our Attention
  • Baritone Guitar
  • Presidents Of United States Of America
  • Caspar Babypants
  • Stompy The Bear
  • 6 channel mixer!
  • Parry Gripp
• 00:44:39 Gear Gab: MaestroDMX (save 10% with Adam’s Link)
• 00:51:36 Podcasting about Music…and other things!
  • Mike Schulte
• 00:54:26 Go listen to Cover Band Confidential!
• 00:59:23 Falling asleep on the way home from gigs
  • Sunflower Seeds to stay awake while driving
  • Diet Mountain Dew
  • Strong Songs
  • Disgraceland (true crime and music history)
  • Tales From The Tour Bus
• 01:05:23 Gig Gab 435 Outtro
  • Share the show!
  • Contact Adam Patrick Johnson
  • Cover Band Confidential
  • Contact Gig Gab!
    • @GigGabPodcast on Instagram
    • feedback@giggabpodcast.com
    • Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List

The post Staying Awake with Music, Mixers, and Motivation — Gig Gab 435 appeared first on Gig Gab.

How do you approach mixing your band from the stage when there is no FOH sound engineer? It’s Q&A time with Paul and Dave. Listen as your two favorite weekend warriors share their thoughts on putting together the right stage setup to get a good mix for your audiences…every time.

That’s not all though! A recent experience leads to a conversation about venue staff and how they can significantly influence the flow of the night…and whether or not your audience wants to return!

Press play and enjoy all of this, and remember: Always Be Performing!

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 345 – Monday, May 9, 2022
  • Children of the Grim
• 00:02:55 Mark-Mixing from the stage
  • Video: Don’t Make The Drummers Mad!
• 00:18:15 Henry-What Do You Think of Drum Shields?
• 00:29:50 Voice-management technique
• 00:32:45 Managing Requests as a Tippable Action
• 00:41:55 The Security Attitude
  • Roadrunner Boston
• 00:58:33 Gig Gab 345 Outtro

The post Mixing From The Stage — Gig Gab 345 appeared first on Gig Gab.

How often does your band rehearse? Would you consider yourselves a “rehearsing” band, or a “rehearsal-less” band? Either way, what are the costs of that on your band’s show? Listen as Paul and Dave talk through their experiences with both sides of this…and then listen as Gear Gab accidentally creeps into an answer to a question. Your two favorite weekend warriors talk through all KINDS of gear related to a speaker-free stage.

Press play and enjoy, and remember…Always Be Performing!

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 344 – Monday, May 2, 2022
• 00:03:18 The Rehearsal-Less Band
• 00:18:20 Playing to a Wicker Wall
• 00:23:57 SPONSOR: Bandzoogle — Listeners can go to Bandzoogle.com to try it free for 30 days, and use the promo code “giggab” to get 15% off the first year of any subscription.
• 00:25:45 Dan East-343-Gear Gab for Ampless/IEM Setups
  • Yamaha TF
  • Pod Go
  • Fender Acoustasonic
  • Radial Firefly
  • Reddi DI Box
  • RNDI
  • ART S8-S3Way
  • Albatros Audio PH-9
  • Elite Core Audio PMA (Battery or AC Powered)
  • Rolls PM-50
• 00:40:45 Buying and Thinking About Gear Fills the Time Between Gigs
• 00:42:39 Dave’s Just-In Case
• 00:45:13 GG344 Outtro

The post The Rehearsal-Less Band — Gig Gab 344 appeared first on Gig Gab.

As the world of live music sees more and more of a resurgence, what are the important things to consider? Listen as Paul and Dave chat through things like managing your health, negotiating your way with sound engineers, navigating the contract process, and preserving your worth as an Entertainer. Press play and enjoy…and then send in your thoughts: feedback@giggabpodcast.com

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 343 – Monday, April 25, 2022
• 00:00:50 Ireland’s Pervasive Music
• 00:06:10 When your body fights the gig!
• 00:12:34 The Horror of playing without IEMs
• 00:14:25 Navigating a gig with All IEMs, All modelers
  • Mackie DL32S
• 00:27:49 Adam Johnson: ”I Am The Entertainment, Not The Help”
  • Cover Band Confidential
• 00:45:03 The Resurgence is Upon Us
• 00:49:55 Gig Gab 343 Outtro

The post Navigating The Resurgence – Gig Gab 343 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Keeping everyone on the same page in your band can be a trick, and Paul shares the method he used for his band this year, managing and then meeting those expectations so everyone could plan their lives. That’s not the only thing he and Dave discussed this week, though! Setlists are again a topic, this time from the angle of whether or not you should use the same one gig-after-gig.

Listen as your two favorite weekend warriors share their thoughts and then send in a comment with your own. How do you manage your bandmates’ schedules? How do you manage your setlist? Let us know at feedback@giggabpodcast.com, and remember, Always Be Performing!

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 342 – Tuesday, April 5, 2022
• 00:00:53 Dave’s Brand New Arm!
• 00:08:08 Max-CSM-Mixlo for discovering and tipping local artists
  • Bitter Pill’s “Spread Our Carbon Footprint” Tour
• 00:13:00 Regional Music festivals
• 00:16:39 SPONSOR: Bandzoogle — Listeners can go to Bandzoogle.com to try it free for 30 days, and use the promo code “giggab” to get 15% off the first year of any subscription.
• 00:19:03 Managing Your Bandmates’ schedules
• 00:26:07 Paul Gigs with Duo & Trios
• 00:34:16 The same setlist or a variety?
• 00:43:07 Gig Gab 342 Outtro

The post Managing Your Musical Calendar — Gig Gab 342 appeared first on Gig Gab.

With a week off and SXSW happening in between, Paul and Dave have lots to talk about today, including the sad news of the passing of Taylor Hawkins.

Dave saw some more great bands and music-related movies at SXSW, and he shares a few of his highlights, including how your band might be able to leverage the Blockchain for yourselves and your fans.

On top of that, your two favorite weekend warriors discuss the competitive nature of being in the business of being in a band, and how they each approach it a little differently.

Press play, and always be performing.

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 341 – Monday, March 28, 2022
• 00:00:51 All the stars align for Paul’s musical life
• 00:05:51 Dave’s Going Under the Knife
• 00:10:51 Taylor Hawkins’ Passing
• 00:22:43 A full show with in-ears!
• 00:28:01 SXSW: Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story
  • SXSW: Dio Dreamers Never Die
• 00:30:46 Bands Dave Saw @ SXSW 2022:
  • Tuesday
    • Night Moves
    • Seratones
  • Weds
    • Jazz Fest Movie Post-Show Performance
    • KT Tunstall
    • SASAMI
    • Wet Leg
  • Thurs
    • Kristin Hersh
    • Dream Syndicate
    • Bass Drum of Death
    • Lemonheads
  • Friday
    • Callie Twisselman
    • Kovic
    • Dolly Parton
      • Eluv.io
      • Blockchain Creative Labs
    • Creamer
  • Saturday
    • Phillip Creamer (solo acoustic)
    • Kristin Hersh
    • Beck
    • The Texas Gentlemen
• 00:46:02 Playing In a Band is a Competitive sport (to some!)
  • Balancing the A vs. the A-Hole
• 01:05:00 GG 341 Outtro

The post Watch Him As He Goes… — Gig Gab 341 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Paul’s got an idea about audience fatigue, Dave’s attending SXSW (remotely today, then in-person tomorrow), and there are some new music documentaries coming out. This is the hodge-podge upon which this week’s Gig Gab is built. Of course, your two favorite weekend warriors played some gigs from which they must debrief, and that’s what Gig Gab is all about. Press play, and always be performing!

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 340 – Monday, March 14, 2022
• 00:01:41 SXSW 2022, the Hybrid Model
• 00:04:11 SXSW: Sheryl
  • Giraffe (Bay area band)
• 00:15:51 SXSW: 32 Sounds
  • “I Get Knocked Down” and “This Much I Know to Be True” and Lizzo
• 00:25:30 Audience Fatigue
  • Free Bird,Brick House, Sweet Caroline, Brown-Eyed Girl
• 00:40:37 What’s Going On with Diaspora Radio
• 00:48:55 GG 340

The post SXSW 2022, Movies, & Knowing Your Audience — Gig Gab 340 appeared first on Gig Gab.

Sure, we rehearse, we practice (there’s a difference!), we craft setlists, and we gig…but what do you do to take care of your band as a unit? Paul asks Dave this pointed question and launches your two favorite weekend warriors into a discussion which digs deep into what it takes to make a band.

Dave had some interesting “friction points” at his gig on Saturday night, and shares a few of them here with everyone, and Paul talks about the success of his 100%-of-the-door gig, too, asking yet another pointed question, this time of all of you.

Listen, press play, email feedback@giggabpodast.com with your answers, and yes, always be performing!

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 339 – Monday, March 7, 2022
• 00:00:58 SXSW Next
• 00:02:47 Is Dave a Mexican Doctor?
• 00:05:14 Band Retreats
  • Cocktail Monkeys
• 00:14:01 SPONSOR: Bandzoogle — Listeners can go to Bandzoogle.com to try it free for 30 days, and use the promo code “giggab” to get 15% off the first year of any subscription.
• 00:16:16 Friction Creates Energy!
  • High-Impedence Air Gap
• 00:26:40 “100% Of The Door” Gigs
• 00:41:59 Why would you want to be a musician if you don’t have fans?
  • feedback@giggabpodcast.com
• 00:42:19 Dan-Only use K&M Mic Stands!
• 00:47:15 Gig Gab 339 Outtro

The post The Care and Feeding of Your Band — Gig Gab 339 appeared first on Gig Gab.