In this excerpt from episode 48 with Alex Case, the guys dissect the infamous solo from The Beatles' "In My Life" and uncover the recording techniques used.

Listen to the full episode at http://bit.ly/48AlexCase

"In My Life" Excerpt from Ep. 48 with Alex Case

Steve Vai is a Grammy award-winning musician, composer, producer, and inventor .of the Hydra: a three-neck, 36 string beast of a guitar with a steam-punk attitude and endless possibilities. Steve shows just what the instrument is capable of on his newly released album, ‘Inviolate’. In this episode, John and Stewart chat with Steve about his creative process, his fantastic new record, and the inspiration and design behind the Hydra. This is part one of a two-part interview. 

Steve will be on tour in the US in support of 'Inviolate' from September 28th through December 3rd, 2022. Head over to vai.com for tickets and more info. 

Stay tuned for the second part of Steve's interview, where we go in-depth on Steve's inspiration, motivation, and philosophy in music and more.

#82: Lair of the Hydra with Steve Vai (Part 1)

Mastering engineer extraordinaire Greg Calbi is a dear friend and was our guest on Gear Club Episode #2 way back in January of 2017. Over the last 50 years Greg has mastered a seemingly endless list of albums across every genera of music, and it’s almost a certainty he’s had a hand in the making of one of your favorite records. In this episode, Greg chats about Sterling Sound, moving from Manhattan to its new facility in Edgewater NJ, his workflow from converters to compressors to clients, and the unique changes, challenges, and expectations of modern mastering.

Ketchup with Greg Calbi

In this episode, we’re delighted to talk with industry legend, Thom Panunzio. Getting his start as an assistant at NYC’s Record Plant, Thom went on to work in every facet of the music business. He’s produced, mixed, and engineered albums for Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Joan Jett, Ozzy Osbourne, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Alice Cooper, and Aerosmith just to name a few. He helped design The Hit Factory in NYC, A&M Studios in LA, and the Thom Thom Club in Santa Monica, and was the Executive VP for Universal Music and head of A&R at Geffen Records for many years. Thom talks with John and Stewart about his time on staff at the Record Plant, his favorite mixing desks, his reluctant entrance into the world of A&R,  and how the industry and technology has changed over the course of his almost 50 year career.

#93: The Singer and the Song with Thom Panunzio

In 2018 the H9000 Harmonizer®, Eventide’s flagship multi effects processor, won a TEC award for best signal processing hardware. We had the team behind the H9000’s design and development on the podcast in Episodes #66.1, #66.2 and #66.3 to talk about the process of designing, building, and testing the latest in Eventide’s revered Harmonizer line. Now we’re back to talk about what’s new at Eventide and the 2023 TEC award for best signal processing software awarded to their revolutionary equalizer plugin, SplitEQ. Russell Wedelich is the VP of development and director of signal processing at Eventide and had a heavy hand in writing the DSP code that went into the H9000. He’s also the lead DSP engineer responsible for the SplitEQ plugin and its patented technology. Russ and I got to chat about what went into developing SplitEQ, the new Eventide H90 Harmonizer pedal, and the culture that makes Eventide so consistently innovative.

Ketchup with Russell Wedelich

In this episode, John and Stewart sit down with producer, engineer, musician, song writer, studio owner, and the godfather of Jangle Pop, the one and only, Mitch Easter. Mitch has always been and continues to be a staple of the Indie Rock scene in North Carolina and beyond. First operating out of Drive in Studio located in his parents garage, and in 1994 moving to his current studio, the Fidelitorium. Mitch has worked with a laundry list of seminal artists, including R.E.M., Helium, Pavement, Wilco, Ben Folds Five, Pylon, and Polvo. 

He’s also an active musician and writer, releasing music for almost a decade with his band Let’s Active and currently as a solo artist. In this episode Mitch discusses building, operating, and outfitting his recording studios, the joys and perils of tracking to analog tape, producing the first R.E.M. records, and why it’s not always a good idea to fix everything in a recording.

#94: The Gear and the Garage with Mitch Easter

Producer and Engineer William Wittman was one of our early guests in 2017 with a two parter, Episodes #15 and #16, where he discussed making seminal records with Cindy Lauper, Joan Osborne, and The Outfield, his time coming up through NYC recording studios, and his work/prank relationship with our very own John Agnello. In this episode, I catch up with Bill about making records with his band Too Much Joy, drum mic techniques, the things we like about in the box mixing, and working at the famed Van Gelder studio in Englewood, NJ.

Ketchup with William Wittman

To celebrate Bob Dylan’s birthday, we’ve compiled a GearClub episode that offers a behind the scenes look into Dylan’s Life and music. Bob has been described as a shape-shifter, a song and dance man, and the Shakespeare of our time. Over his 60 plus year career, he’s written more than 500 songs that have been covered by over 2,000 artists. He’s played nearly 4,000 concerts. He’s won 38 Grammys, an Oscar, and a Nobel prize in literature. But who is this guy? What’s he like to work with? Listen in as Chris Shaw, David Mansfield, Toby Scott, Thom Panunzio and Steve Addabbo share their recollections of the man on stage and in the studio.

#95: Working with Bob Dylan – On Stage and In Studio

Our guest is Doug Wimbish, one of the most renowned bass players of all time, known for his work with a wide range of artists, including Living Colour, Tackhead, Sugarhill Gang, Mick Jagger, Annie Lennox, and many more. He is also the founder of WimBash, a series of community-based charity events supporting music education. In this episode, John and Stewart talk with Doug about his extraordinary journey through the music industry. They discuss topics such as his start at All Platinum Records, the birth of Sugar Hill Records, recording "Rapper's Delight", his life-changing encounter with Jaco Pastorius, and his experiences touring with music icons. Doug also shares his thoughts on mentoring young musicians, the evolution of bass playing, and the importance of giving back to the music community.

#96: Forget the Notes, It's Your Frequency:Doug Wimbish on Jaco, Sugar Hill, and the Birth of HipHop

Paul Prestopino was a musician, inventor, and technician with a long and varied career. From 1970 until its closure in 1989, Paul was a technician at the Record Plant in NYC, a venerated studio that helped produce an endless stream of hit records and launched dozens of careers for the engineers and producers that worked there. While working at the studio, Paul, known to everyone as “Presto,” was charged with the maintenance and care of the recording equipment, but he also played on dozens of albums for bands like Aerosmith, The Hooters, Alice Cooper, Slade, and Edgar Winter. He was also an integral member of the bands of Peter, Paul, and Mary, John Denver, and The Chad Mitchell Trio. Paul was part of the lifeblood of the Record Plant, and his passing in 2023 was felt deeply by those who worked with him at the studio. Our very own John Agnello organized this special memorial episode for Paul, where we interview Record Plant alumni and Paul’s brother, Greg Prestopino, to pay homage to a man who touched so many lives through his work and music. 

#97: Paul Prestopino: The Heart of New York's Record Plant

Updating Punk Classics: Ed Stasium Talks mixing the Ramones, Talking Heads Using Eventide Plugins

John and Stew are joined by legendary engineer Jay Messina, and discuss Rod Stewart's "Every Picture Tells a Story"

Episode 1: The Other Side of the Glass with Jay Messina

It's not always about perfection, as illustrated by Rod Stewart's mandolin-laced hit, "Every Picture Tells A Story". The title track from Stewart's classic album of same name, it's rocking without being loud, and everyone seems to be playing a little loose. A classic with charm and imperfection.

Record of the Week - Rod Stewart, "Every Picture Tells a Story" (Episode 1)

John and Stewart had the pleasure of talking to Suzanne Ciani, a pioneer of electronic music, composer and master of the Buchla synthesizer. She was at SXSW for a performance with Moogfest and for the premier of  A Life In Waves, a new documentary about her life.

#9: Live from SXSW with Suzanne Ciani - Electronic Music Pioneer

This week, John and Stewart catch up with Steve Shelley, drummer extraordinaire from the alternative rock band, Sonic Youth. His extensive catalog includes drumming for the likes of The Million Dollar Bashers, Ron Asheton from the Stooges, Sun Kil Moon, and Sonic Youth's own, Thurston Moore, just to pick a few.

But Steve's musical exploits, don't stop behind the drum kit.  Steve has also founded multiple record labels including Smells Like Records where he produced and fostered the careers of notable acts such as Blonde Redhead and Cat Power.

Learn more at www.sonicyouth.com

SXSW 2017

#18: Steve Shelley, The Drummer's Drummer

In this special Record of the Week, John and Stewart chat with engineer, producer and mixer Erin Tonkon, to discuss one of her favorite records "Goin' Out West" by Tom Waits.

2017

Record of the Week: Goin' Out West by Tom Waits

This week, we continue our series recorded at the NY AES Show. Sit back and listen to John and Stewart learn a thing or two from three-time Grammy® award-winning producer/engineer, Andrew Scheps. From making house calls at Frank Zappa’s Utility Muffin Research Kitchen to life on the road as Stevie Wonder’s keyboard tech to mixing Michael Jackson’s live shows, Andrew has seen, heard and done it all. In a career that spans nearly 30 years, Andrew has made hit records for Adele, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ziggy Marley, Linkin Park, Weezer, Green Day, Iggy Pop, My Brightest Diamond, Metallica and many more.

AES 2017

#27: The Means of Production with Andrew Scheps

Roy got his start working at Tony Bongiovi’s Power Station recording studio in the early nineties. After going freelance and working at first class studios from coast to coast, Roy returned to New York and became instrumental in the Power Station’s successful metamorphisis to Avatar helping to design and fine-tune the acoustics for Studio G, the mastering room, Studios E and W. 

Roy has worked with a wide variety of artists in many different genres including B.B. King, Missy Elliott, Blondie, Cheap Trick, P.O.D., Gavin DeGraw, Miles Davis, Peter Paul & Mary, Richie Havens, Carly Simon, Judy Collins, Gato Barbieri, Pat Metheny, Al di Meola, Kirk Whalum, Saisse, Roberta Flack, Bernadette Peters and Liza Minnelli.

Interviews 2018

#43: Roy Hendrickson: The Avatar of Power Station

Eight time Grammy award winner Kevin Killen's extensive discography includes projects with U2, Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel, Burt Bacharach, Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Tori Amos and so many others. Join our hosts as they learn how Kevin, born and bred in Dublin Ireland, came to be the man at the controls for some of the world's most iconic artists. In part 1 of our chat with Kevin his talent, his musical aesthetic, his technical expertise and above all his basic decency come through loud and clear.

From Hobo Sound 2018

#46: So, and So Much More with Kevin Killen

This is part 2 of a 3 part series recorded at the legendary Electric Lady Studios. As Manager and co-owner of Electric Lady, Lee Foster juggles schedules, personalities, and a river running underneath studio A on a daily basis. Beginning his time at the studio as a general assistant, Lee worked his way up to become Studio Manager. With an eye for both preserving the history of the studio and maintaining a presence in modern music, Lee has cultivated a staff, atmosphere, and clientele that continues to make Electric Lady a go-to recording destination.

#56: Fostering Creativity with Lee Foster

Everyone at Gear Club was saddened to hear of the passing of The Left Banke’s Steve Martin Caro, singer of Walk Away Renée. That song was the subject of a Gear Club song of the week, first appearing in episode 20. Eventide co-founder and Academy Award winner Steve Katz worked with The Left Banke back in the 60’s and recently related some details of Walk Away Renée’s recording to Gear Club. This episode is a reprint of that Song of the Week, followed by Steve Katz’s memories and insights into the recording.

Record of the Week Revisit: Walk Away Renée by The Left Banke

Sylvia Massy is a producer, mixer, recording engineer, educator, and author who has worked with everyone from Tool to Johnny Cash. In addition to hosting a mix with the masters workshop at AES 2019, Sylvia was part of a panel discussion with other women on their experiences working with Prince, hosted by the Women’s Audio Mission. At AES, she made time to come sit down with us at Sear Sound to talk about her studio in Ashland, Oregon, current work, mentors, mixing, and of course, a few Prince stories.

Photo by Chris Johnson

#67: Sylvia Massy: From Prince to Tool & So Much More

RIP John Prine 😢 Our Gear Club House Band, The Merkins, had been working on a set of Prine covers and it seemed only fitting to share an unfinished demo.

The Merkins are made up of Greg Calbi, Stewart Lerman, Tony Shanahan, and Tony Agnello with James Frazee & John Agnello as engineers.

In A Town This Size Demo - John Prine Cover

During the 2019 AES convention, Gear Club took over studio A at Sear Sound for several days of interviews. While there, the guys had the opportunity to talk to the owner and studio manager, Roberta Findlay. Roberta has a long history in film, working as a director, writer, producer, composer, camera operator, and actress in scores of movies from the 1960’s through the 1980’s. For the past few decades, she has booked and managed Sear Sound, founded by her and her partner, the late Walter Sear. Listen in as Roberta shares some amazing stories about the studio and film making, talks about how the studio came to be, and the impact that Walter had on the music being made there.

#71: Nimble… As It Were with Roberta Findlay

The Gear Club Podcast features an informative, yet irreverent, look at the art of recording with stories told by the pros in the industry. It's hosted by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth) and Stewart Lerman (St. Vincent, Patti Smith, Boardwalk Empire). Every episode features an interview with a legendary engineer, artist, inventor, or producer. They also deconstruct a recording that inspired them, discuss their favorite piece of audio gear, and offer recording tips and techniques.

Gear Club Podcast

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks