What It Takes To Be A Rockstar – Details, episodes & analysis

This week I am chatting with Kate "Babyshakes" Dillon of Full Flower Moon band. Full Flower Moon Band is an incredible rock band from Australia who started getting national attention in 2022 with their album "Diesel Forever." Recently they opened for the Foo Fighters, have done a couple Europe tours and have gone viral multiple times on the internet. We chat about all this and way more on this week's episode! Enjoy!

Check out Full Flower Moon Band here:

https://www.fullflowermoonband.com/

Check out the FFMB/Gustaf collab here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfdLHQ1ucPo

You can watch this full episode and others on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar

Listen to the playlist of all the bands that have been on this podcast here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5L9Odi1kuJiPEqIhBXmqMw?si=dabd928c5b13405d

Join the Community! Chat with others about the episodes on Discord for free:
https://tr.ee/NVMhCaRELa

If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to hit subscribe or follow - it's free and goes a long way!

If you'd like to support the show even more you can "Buy Me A Coffee" here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/whatittakestobearockstar

Or become a monthly subscriber here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2397323/support

Get in touch: whatittakestobearockstar @ gmail.com

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE!

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

Welcome to the bonus "What It Takes..." series! For this bonus episode I will be sharing the nitty gritty breakdown of what it's going to cost me in total to release 100 12" vinyl records for an album I've been working on for my band Francie Moon. I started working on this record in 2023 and am nearing the finish line, so I figured it would be a good time to share all the details! Enjoy!

You can check out my latest singles for this upcoming record here.

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE!

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

This week I am chatting with Charles Ellsworth, an incredible songwriter, podcaster and filmmaker originally from Arizona who has toured most of his adult life. Chuck tells me stories about living in his van while being flat broke to years later getting a full time job working with LCD Soundsystem. We chat about how he learned guitar in the back of a furniture store, his movie-worthy travel stories and the realities of choosing a life in the arts. You can also catch a glimpse of his dog Banjo if you watch on Youtube. 

Check out Chuck's website here:
https://charlesellsworthmusic.com/

Check out his podcast "A Dirtbag's Guide To Life On The Road" here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-dirtbags-guide-to-life-on-the-road/id1524043897

You can watch this full episode on Youtube (and see Banjo) here:
https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar

If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to hit subscribe! It's free and goes a long way. 

If you'd like to support the show you can "Buy Me A Coffee" here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/whatittakestobearockstar

Or become a monthly subscriber here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2397323/support

About the podcast: Host and musician Melissa Lucciola talks with signed and DIY musicians from around the world about their lives behind the scenes. From maxing out credit cards, sleeping on floors, sharing beds and having the whole band get paid $250 to play Madison Square Garden, you will hear the in's and out's of life on and off the road and the real struggles of the modern day musician. 

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE!

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

This week I am chatting with Katy Black (guitar/vox) and Casey Hanson (bass) of Spoon Benders, a heavy fuzzy psychy garage psych band from Portland, Oregon. We chat about how they got into music, how they got their van stolen multiple times, their upcoming plans to tour Europe and how they feel about big vs. small venues. We also chat about if they have other jobs, their life on the road and how they got their EURO booking agent. Enjoy!

Check out Spoon Benders here.

Check out my playlist of all the guests here.

You can watch this episode and others on Youtube. 

If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to hit subscribe! It's free and goes a long way. 

About the podcast: Host and musician Melissa Lucciola talks with signed and DIY musicians from around the world about their lives behind the scenes. From maxing out credit cards, sleeping on floors, sharing beds and having the whole band get paid $250 to play Madison Square Garden, you will hear the in's and out's of life on and off the road and the real struggles of the modern day musician. 

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE!

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

This week I talk with Lowell Hobbs of Tongues of Fire about DIY touring, recording in a garage-turned-studio, opening for Modest Mouse and turning down a well paying wedding gig to be able to tour. We also talk about how he tries to get creative and have fun with marketing, how he once sent 100+ emails and didn't hear back from anyone, and how he keeps staying persistent. He also gives some tips and tricks for how to not piss off a soundperson. Enjoy!

About the podcast: Host and musician Melissa Lucciola talks with signed and DIY musicians from around the world about their lives behind the scenes. From maxing out credit cards, sleeping on floors, sharing beds and having the whole band get paid $250 to play Madison Square Garden, you will hear the in's and out's of life on and off the road and the real struggles of the modern day musician.

Check out Tongues of Fire here: https://tonguesofire.com/home

Check out my playlist of all the guests here.

You can watch this full episode on Youtube along with others.

Check out my bands here:
Francie Moon
Gustaf
Crusasis

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE!

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

This week I chat with Haley Dahl of Sloppy Jane about how she got into music via acting and how she was able to bring up to 14 people around on tour. We also talk about how she made a record in a cave, how she turns goals into smaller bite sized steps and how she affords it all. 

Check out Sloppy Jane here: https://www.sloppyjane.land/
Support Haley's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/haleydahl

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE!

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

This week I chat with Tall Juan about his backstory of how he got into music, his move to the US from Argentina, how he got into recording and having a studio, and why he chooses to not really tour these days. We also chatted about how he managed to get a booker and to get 20+ people to play on his recent album, Racoon Nights. 

Check out more on Tall Juan here: https://talljuan.com/

Watch other full episodes of this podcast on Youtube here: 
https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar

Please subscribe if you enjoy this podcast! It's free and goes a long way - thank you! 

You can also support here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/whatittakestobearockstar

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE!

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

Hi! This week is a little different - I am doing a short recap of what we covered so far and giving a quick update about the next season for this podcast. Today I chat a little bit about my own thoughts as a working musician, while fresh on back to back tours in Europe and the USA. This podcast was inspired by a quote made by Caroline Rose which I do read to you all. Thanks for tuning in to Season 1! Season 2 will be out as soon as possible :). If you have any questions, comments, concerns you can email me at whatittakestobearockstar@gmail.com. Thanks!

You can watch this episode on Youtube.

Check out UMAW here.

Check out Caroline Rose here.

Check out my tour dates with Gustaf here!

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE!

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

This week I am chatting with Ozzie Silva of Show Brain. Show Brain is a DIY non-profit organization in NYC that books free shows in different parks around the city. Ozzie has tirelessly put on incredible and consistently fun shows for the last couple years with epic lineups and has done a lot for the NYC music scene. He also is a drummer who fills in for lots and lots of bands on a regular basis, sometimes during the same shows he is organizing. I wanted to chat with him because he has been making a big impact on building community via music. I wanted to see what sparked the idea for starting Show Brain, what the behind the scenes looks like and what he envisions for the future. Enjoy!

You can watch this full episode on our Youtube here.

Learn more about or donate to Show Brain here.

Learn more about Ozzie here.

Check out my remaining Europe tour dates with Tea Eater (playing bass).

Check out my upcoming USA tour dates with Gustaf (playing drums). 

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE!

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

This week I chat with Dylan Joyce of BALACLAVA, a "NYC trash rock" band. We chat about DIY recording, how he booked his own tours, coming back to music after taking a break and tour finances. They are currently on tour now in the US on the east coast so check them out if you can! 

BALACLAVA Tour Dates: 
NYC TRASH ROCK 
10/20 BALTIMORE
10/22 RICHMOND
10/23 ASHEVILLE 
10/24 MURFREESBORO
10/25 CARBONDALE
10/26 LOUISVILLE 
10/27 CINCINATTI
10/28 CLEVELAND

Check out their music here: https://balaclavanyc.bandcamp.com/album/have-a-taste

You can watch the whole episode on Youtube here - https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar

Check out my tour dates playing bass with Tea Eater in Europe here: www.teaeater.com

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE!

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.