This week, Lisa and Bernie sit down with actor, author and musician, Keanu Reeves. Keanu shares the story of Dogstar's reunion after 22 years, the inspiration behind their latest album, “Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees”, and the passion he has for the gear he’s using on their current tour. He discusses “The Book of Elsewhere”, a book he co-wrote with China Mieville, and gives us a sneak peek into his upcoming Broadway project, “Waiting for Godot” with Alex Winter. Join us for an insightful and candid conversation with one of the most genuine and passionate artists in the industry.

⁠DOGSTAROFFICIAL.com⁠

⁠linktr.ee/dogstarband⁠

⁠dogstar.lnk.to/PowerLinesAndPalmTrees⁠

⁠thebookofelsewhere.com⁠

******************************************

Hungry for more?

Check us out at isbreakfast.com

******************************************

In this episode, Bernie catches up with longtime friend Will "Mekatron" Jones, a multi-talented musician, composer, and digital forensics expert. Will discusses how his company, Mekatron Media Group provides services ranging from music production to assisting law enforcement with digital investigations. He shares how personal experiences pushed him to excel in digital forensics, making it a core part of his business. Will touches on his plans for future projects as well as the growing impact of his company.

mekatronmediagroup.com

reverbnation.com/Mekatronjones

******************************************

Hungry for more?

Check us out at https://isbreakfast.com

*****************************************

This week we sit down with Howie Abrams, a music executive turned author from New York City. Howie discusses his journey from working at major record labels to writing. He has now authored ten books, including the soon-to-be-released biography of Vinny Stigma from Agnostic Front titled, "The Most Interesting Man in the World". Howie also discusses co-authoring children's books like "Hip-Hop Alphabet" and "The ABCs of Metallica”. He shares his insights into the music industry, his creative process, and some of the stories behind his latest projects.

generationrecords.bigcartel.com/products

******************************************

Hungry for more?

Check us out at isbreakfast.com

******************************************

This week Bernie sits down with the multi-talented Sara Abrams. Sara is a singer, songwriter, and bassist for the NY based, death metal band Daughter Chaos. She is also a skilled guitar technician who works out of Main Drag Music in Brooklyn, and in the little free time she has, you'll find her making handcrafted soap! Sara and Bernie discuss her music career and her travel path through Los Angeles, Sweden, Philadelphia and how it all ultimately brought her to NYC. 

instagram.com/sara_abrams_

facebook.com/daughterchaos 

saradacraft.com

This week Bernie sits down with independent artist Humza Sohail. Humza is a filmmaker, actor, and comedian living in Brooklyn, NY. They discuss his early exposure into comedy, how he got into filmmaking, and moving to a new city in the middle of a pandemic. Humza also helps us understand what it was like for him to grow up as an immigrant child from Pakistan in a post 9/11 America.

 

instagram.com/shahrukhconman

youtube.com/watch?v=l5QerSUMN_Y 

vimeo.com/673052061

This week we sit down with expert guitar tech and my good friend, Gert Marckx. Gert is based out of Belgium and in this week’s episode he walks us through the start of his career in the live music industry and how it led him to looking after one of the most famous guitarists in the business. Yes, we are referring to the "Hitmaker" himself, Nile Rodgers! We also discuss iconic venues, some of our favorite cities, and what Gert likes for breakfast. 

gertmarckx.com

This week we have the pleasure of sitting down with Nate Dawson. Nate is a guitar technician, a stage manager, and a production manager… he really does it alll! I caught up with Nate on a day off and we dove into his history in the music business, our love of music, and our love of touring. Nate is probably one of the nicest guys in the business and it has been great touring with him.

instagram.com/the_natedawson

This week we sit down with the amazing Roy Bickel. Roy introduced motorized rigging to the concert industry in 1974 while on tour with Jethro Tull. Roy talks about his amazing career, beginning with his roles as a professional waterskier and human cannonball, his work with Disney, and then making his way into live music with the likes of Elvis, Kenny Rogers, Kiss, Reba McEntire, and more. Roy changed the game and is considered the FIRST rock and roll rigger. It was and honor and a pleasure to spend time with him. If you enjoy going to live concerts, then this episode is for you. 

etcp.esta.org

This we we talk with my good friend Marko Hajdinovic. Marko runs a successful LED lighting business and is the owner of a company called Hammersmith that makes excellent basses. Marko and I talk about how we met, his various endeavors, our favorite movies, and of course breakfast. I hadn’t seen him in four years and it was great to catch up with an old friend!

This week we speak with William Brennan and Logan Sidle from New Haven, CT, who are collectively known as Robot Monster! In early 2020, Will and Logan used IG and Tiktok to unleash a series of viral videos of them playing venues like backyards and wrecking yards, quickly catching the attention of thousands of followers (including Skrillex, and Fred Durst). Soon, producer Jaquire King (Buddy Guy, Kings of Leon, Tom Waits) threw them into a studio, and before long, their debut album was released on all streaming platforms. They have recently announced a tour with The Bronx and Drug Church but they took a little time to chat with me about how it all started and where it’s going. Will and Logan are ready for whatever comes next, and it couldn’t have happened to two nicer guys! https://open.spotify.com/artist/5hUuP1ezGGEm6JSUdFcA9t?si=9y3t7I9SQpCbd1pJE7toVQ https://www.robotmonstermusic.com/

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Davies Baird. Davies is an independent promoter representative who handles live events, but more importantly, he’s one of my best friends. I met Davies almost 30 years ago and we have been through it all together. We share some stories of our past, talk about how we met, and hear about his gig as a promoter rep. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

This week we sit down at Dallas’ own Three Links with bassist extraordinaire, Fatima Thomas. Fatima takes us on a journey through her early bass playing days and move to Texas. We learn her story, from happiness to heartbreak, and then on to a new chapter with HESS and Flickerstick. Fatima is a fighter and she’s ready to take on whatever comes her way!

instagram.com/fatimaplaysbass

instagram.com/flickerstick_official

instagram.com/caseyhe55

This week we have the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Grammy Award winning engineer, and dear friend, Joshua Blair. Josh is a Berklee College of Music graduate and has worked with some of the biggest artists in the world such as Adele, Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson & Duran Duran. We had a great conversation, he told some fascinating stories, and we found out what he likes for breakfast. 

joshuablair.com

instagram.com/rocket88_au

This week Bernie reconnects with his childhood friend, Jeff Capehart, an artist known for his unique one-line "squiggly" art. Jeff discusses his journey from Corsicana, Texas, to Mesa, Arizona, the method to his artistic process, and the inspirations behind his work. He also shares his experience of creating custom pieces and the satisfaction he finds in his art.

etsy.com/shop/capehartlines

tiktok.com/@capehartlines

instagram.com/capehartlines

facebook.com

******************************************

Hungry for more?

Check us out at https://isbreakfast.com

******************************************

This week we had the pleasure of spending time with Pembe Tokluhan. Pembe is an event specialist who handles all aspects of event production including tour management, production management, and backstage coordination. She shares her amazing story with us and brings us up to speed on her events company, Petok Productions. Petok Productions provides a directory of women, trans, and non-binary professionals to match with various backstage roles. Pembe’s enthusiasm is addictive, and I’m grateful she took the time out of her busy schedule to do this interview with me. 

linktr.ee/Petok_Pem

On today’s show we sit down with my friend and fellow backline technician, Ozzie Henderson. Ozzie is a synthesizer programmer and keyboard technician who has worked with such artists as Stevie Wonder, The Gorrilaz, Sarah Brightman, and Duran Duran. We start off with talking about his early days in Hackney, then we discuss a bit about his photography and his latest endeavor, owner of Curated Frames.  instagram.com/ozziehenderson curatedframes.com

This week we sit down with London-based audio technician, guitar player, and all-around nice guy, Felix Threadgill. Felix and I have been on the road together for about three months and I wanted him to be on the podcast as soon as I met him. We chat about this gig, his band Recoba, and his love of the game of cricket!  

instagram.com/recoba_official

In this week’s episode we sit down with the extraordinary Jeffrey Bryant. Jeffrey is our wardrobe manager on the Duran Duran tour and also designs a lot of the band’s stage clothing. In our conversation he takes us from his teenage years, designing clothes for himself and his friends during the punk movement, all to way through to designing clothes for The Pet Shop Boys, Mick Jagger, and Tina Turner, among others. He and his work have appeared in a multitude of TV commercials, music videos, and films. Jeffrey is quite possibly the most creative and talented person I know, and I was honored that he made the time to chat with us. 

instagram.com/10jwork

This week we sit down to shoot the shit with my good buddy, Chris "Hollywood" Miller. Chris is a monitor engineer who I’ve known and traveled with for the past six years, and he’s one of the most stand-up guys I know in the business. In our conversation we discuss his intro to recording, landing his first production gig, and how he literally ran off and joined the circus! Chris is great guy who’s always willing to lend a hand, and I'm grateful he spent time on his day off to chat with me.

In this week’s episode we sit down with my good friend Kevin “drum master” Bell. Kevin has worked as a drum tech in this industry for 36 years. We discuss his early days working for session drummers, how he got his first gig on the road, and how he (and I) both ended up working with Duran Duran for the past 12 years. Kev and I have had countless conversations about life, music, and sometimes nothing at all, and now you get to listen in on one of them!

This week we sit down with my friend Fred Burke. Fred is a fellow backline technician, based out of Dublin Ireland. He has worked with acts such as One Direction, Robbie Williams, Hozier and Duran Duran, among others. Surprisingly, he doesn't play an instrument and has no social media! Our interview gets deep and we have a great conversation about work, life, and the popular misconceptions about what life is like on the road.

This week sit down with singer and songwriter Peter Sinclair! Peter is based out of Wortham, TX and he recently released his debut album, The Freestone Man. We get into his (relatively) short but impressive career so far - his songwriting, touring, and his relationship with country legend Billy Joe Shaver. Peter is a young and amazing talent who I’m sure we’ll be hearing about a lot more in the future. 

linktr.ee/petersinclair

This week we sit down with lighting technician, and artist, Denise Simpson. Denise was born and raised in the live music industry. She tells us stories about watching show production as a child and and what it's like to work in the many different facets of live entertainment. Denise is super humble and talented, and is definitely an asset to any production she is a part of! 

instagram.com/dsimpson_lites

In this week’s episode we chat with my good friend and talent buyer, "Big Mike" Rios. Mike and I talked about his early days of living in San Diego, how he learned about the industry, and how he started booking shows. Mike also shared with me why after 30 years of booking bands in Dallas for his company IRock Entertainment, he has decided to give it all up!  

instagram.com/irockent5566

In this week’s episode, I am back in the driver’s seat and interviewing my podcast partner Bernie Guerra about his recent work with Duran Duran and U2. Bernie shares behind-the-scenes details of the U2 Las Vegas Sphere residency, what it was like looking after Adam Clayton, and some of the differences between working a residency and being on tour. We also discuss his recent nine-date run with Duran Duran and how it felt like getting back to the “old family.” We reflect on our podcast’s journey, a few of our favorite interviews, and our appreciation of our supportive listeners.

Check out our store: shop.isbreakfeast.com

*********************************

Hungry for more?

Check us out at ⁠isbreakfast.com⁠

*********************************

In this week’s episode we sit down with singer, songwriter, bassist, producer, and artist generally known for fronting progressive metal bands, Jason McMaster. That’s right, I’m talking about Pastor McMaster from the Church of Disaster himself! 33 years ago this week, Jason and his band Dangerous Toys released their self-titled debut album. Jason shared stories about starting his career in Texas, his time with both Watchtower and Dangerous Toys, and the work he does today with School of Rock. 

jasonmcmaster.net 

American Graffiti, One Day at a Time, So Weird, Orange Is the New Black - the list goes on and on. That’s right, this week we link up with Mackenzie Phillips! We talk about her early days of getting into acting and how she found her passion, doing what she's doing now. She currently works with people battling addiction and eating disorders at Breathe Life Healing Center in West Hollywood, California. Mack is a unique soul who has weathered many ups and downs, but has come through it all shining like a star! 

instagram.com/mackphillips

In this week’s episode we sit down with hard-working singer/songwriter Caleb Grant. Caleb hails from Dawson, TX, and in this episode he walks us through his time as a solo artist as well as a sideman. He opens up about getting sober and shares his new outlook on life and his plans for the future!  

instagram.com/calebgrantmusic

This week we chop it up with Michael Briggs of Civil Audio located in Denton, Texas. We discuss how Michael got his start recording music, what led him to join Lorelei K as full-time member of the band, and what life was like on their recent west coast tour. Michael has a very busy schedule but he made the time to talk to us about the things he loves to do. 

linktr.ee/michaelbriggs

In this week’s episode we sit down with filmmaker Gavin Elder. Gavin takes us through his evolution as a filmmaker and discusses working with such renowned artists as Duran Duran, David Lynch, AC/DC and David Gilmour, among others. He has had an incredible career which spans decades and he just keeps growing and honing his craft. Gavin and I were both on location in Los Angeles and I’m grateful he took the time to meet up and have this conversation with us. 

heyluke.com

instagram.com/gavin_elder

This week we sit down with author, musician, and legend hunter, Lyle Blackburn. Lyle is considered one of the leading experts on the Beast of Boggy Creek, and has written several books about sightings of unknown creatures (and other legends). He has narrated three documentary films: Terror in the Skies, The Bray Road Beast, and The Mothman of Point Pleasant for which he was also executive producer and co-writer. I had a great time talking with Lyle and learning all about cryptozoology! 

lyleblackburn.com

This week we sit down with Lighting Designer extraordinaire, Vince Foster. Vince shares some wonderful stories about getting his start in the industry, working for his heroes, and watching the industry change while adapting to it. I have worked with Vince for 11 years and was honored he took the time to sit down to do this interview with me while we were out on the road.

This week we talk to the multi-talented Dahlia Knowles. Dahlia is a tattoo artist and hairstylist, but most well known as the lead singer of the dream pop band, Lorelie K! Dahlia and I talk about her early days playing house shows, her new album "Swimming Pool Eternity", and her producer Michael Briggs. She also gets into what it’s like to be a transgender female in the music business and a bit about her transition.

lorelei-k.bandcamp.com/album/swimming-pool-eternity

This week we sit down with my good friend Jude Dyllan Martinez. Jude is a songwriter and producer based out of Ennis, TX. We had a great conversation, talked about playing in a band, the Nashville writing process, and the lessons learned on his journey from an artist to a songwriter.   instagram.com/judedyllan  facebook.com/JudeDyllan

In this week’s episode we sit down with the artistic director at Dallas’ Kessler Theater, Jeff Liles. Jeff has done it all in the music industry and he shares some interesting stories about his early days at Theater Gallery in Deep Ellum. I have wanted to sit down with Jeff for some time now, we barely scratched the surface, but it was well worth the wait! 

thekessler.org 

instagram.com/kesslerxplus

In this week’s episode, we sit down with veteran FOH engineer Karl “Snake” Newton. Snake discusses his background as a bassist turned sound engineer, as well as his use of innovative technologies like virtual soundchecks and snapshot automation. He also shares his unique perspective on live sound mixing and some of the challenges that come with delivering consistent audio quality on tour. snakenewton.cargo.site ****************************************** Hungry for more? Check us out at https://isbreakfast.com ******************************************

This week marks the first anniversary of our podcast and we’re closing out our first season the same way we started it - with a badass female artist! Jalesa Jessie aka Chief Cleopatra is an independent artist based in Austin, TX who is currently making waves in the industry. We talked about her upbringing, her fascination with drummer Jon Theodore, and her moves to Austin. Her hard work is finally paying off and today she releases her new EP, “Luna”. Check it out! 

thegrowmanagement.com/artists/chiefcleopatra

solo.to/chiefcleopatra

Chaz Knight was a legendary part of the Dallas radio scene during the 90s and early 2000s. We recently sat down and had a great conversation about his stints at 97.1 and 105.3, The Local Show, and his band Red Leather. Chaz shared some great stories and life lessons, and he didn’t hold back.  

www.reverbnation.com/RedLeather  

editmycredit.net

In this week’s episode we sit down with Russ Hewitt. Russ is a Flamenco artist who recently released a single called “Chasing Horizons,” featuring Nuno Bettencort of the band Extreme. We talk about Russ’ early days studying classical guitar, playing in rock bands, and recording his debut album with his all-star band.  

linktr.ee/russhewittmusic

This week we sit down with Brittany Elliott and Johnny Araya. Brittany is a tattoo artist based out of San Antonio, TX, and Johnny is a former guitar tech who has worked for bands such as Slayer, Danzig, and Misfits. Together they own The Haunted Chapel which designs unique enamel pins, stickers, and one-of-a-kind heavy metal coffee tables!  

bztattoo.com

thehauntedchapel.com

For this week’s episode I drove back to my hometown of Corsicana, TX to sit down with head coach Monica Aldama, star of the Netflix series Cheer! Nothing was off-limits with “the queen”; she answered all of my questions about Cheer, Dancing With the Stars, and her brand new book “Full Out”. I had a great time catching up with my former classmate and I hope you enjoy our conversation.

 linktr.ee/MonicaAldama

*********************************

Hungry for more?

Check us out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠isbreakfast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

*********************************

This week we chat with director and independent filmmaker, Justin Powers. Justin recently released a documentary, “Everything is A OK” which covers the Dallas punk scene from the late 1970’s to the early 2000’s. It features interviews with The Nervebreakers, Riot Squad, Loco Gringos, Pumpin Ethyl and tons of others! We talk about the making of the movie, how the pandemic helped him focus on editing, and what he’s up to now. 

dallaspunkdoc.com

instagram.com/fringemedia

This week we sit down with artist, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Kellindo Parker. Kellindo is lead guitarist and collaborator with Janelle Monae. We met up at Dallas’ Three Links which set the vibe for a great conversation! We discussed his famous uncles (Maceo and Melvin Parker), jammin’ with Prince, what he’d order for breakfast, and so much more. 

kellindo.com

instagram.com/therealkellindo

In this week’s episode we have the pleasure of chatting with my friend Kenny Barnwell. Kenny is a guitar tech / production manager based out of Tampa, Fl, and ALSO an actor, published author, entrepreneur, and a concert promoter! I’ve been wanting to interview Kenny for a while now and our schedules finally lined up. He takes us through his incredible journey in the entertainment industry, from hardships to successes, we talk about it all! 

youtube.com/c/KennyBarnwell

freedommusicevents.com

This week we sit down with John Zaskoda, the production manager for Billy Bob's Texas also known as “The Worlds Largest Honky Tonk.” Located in the Ft. Worth Stockyards, Billy Bob's host some of the biggest names in music entertainment as well as regional acts and up-and-comers. John walks us through what a normal day looks like for both small and big shows. We talk about the various jobs he’s done (and excelled) in the past, and what he’s doing now outside of Billy Bob’s.

facebook.com/dirtypoolmusic

On this week’s episode we sit down with Dallas based country singer, Big Joe Walker! We talk about what it was like for him growing up playing piano and how he tried to create a trio out of a duo with his best friend and drummer, Chris Johnson. Joe gives us his thoughts on songwriting, shares a story about the time he was covered in pizza at a Pat Green show, and tells us all about his upcoming album, Countryversal, produced by Jon Jon Traxx.  

bigjoewalker.com

In this week’s episode we are joined by UK-based Systems Engineer, Wayne Hall. Wayne's impressive portfolio includes working with Lady Gaga, Roger Waters, and Duran Duran. He tells us how he got into audio engineering and about some of the technical challenges he faces during gigs. He shares his thoughts on the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and strong camaraderie among tour crews. Wayne also discusses the latest advancements in audio technology and their impact on live sound production.

*********************************

Hungry for more?

Check us out at ⁠isbreakfast.com⁠

*********************************

On today’s show I sit down with my friend and Duran Duran co-worker, Phil Kemp. Phil is a fellow guitar tech who got his start in this business working for Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders) and the story of how he landed the job is even more unbelievable! He also tells me about the time Phil Collen (Def Leppard) played his custom Jackson guitar live, who else he’s toured with, and what he loves about being a guitar tech. 

instagram: @philipkemp13

This week we talk to Ian Rendall, founder of The Guitarwrist. The Guitarwrist is a nonprofit organization which repurposes guitar strings donated by artists to make amazing jewelry. 100% of the profits go to a charity of the artist’s choice. Ian talks about how he started The Guitarwrist, the string treatment process, and what he has planned for the future!  

theguitarwrist.co.uk

In today’s episode we sit down with a guitarist and songwriter who I've known for the better part of 30 years, Ted Levin. Ted heads up a trio called Sweet Crooner who play all the hits from the 50’s and early 60’s. In our discussion, Ted tells us a few stories of what brought him from NYC to Texas, what it’s like playing in the Dallas metal scene and about the time he auditioned for Marilyn Manson. 

tedlevin.bandcamp.com/releases 

instagram.com/sweetcrooner