The Musicians Guild with Steve Choi

This week we are joined by Josh Staples a bassist/vocalist who plays in The Velvet Teen, The New Trust and sometimes Loma Prieta. In addition to being an all around lovely human, one of Josh's powers is having a conductivity of creative energy through his sense of humor, knowledge and humility. He makes everyone around him better at what they do. Josh makes cool stuff and is a cool dude. In this conversation we chat about The New Trust tour with The Good Life, swimming in craters, the Loma Prieta pizza tour, odd habits of pets, bad sounding venues, more pizza talk, and lots more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are honored to have Summer Swee-Singh with us for this episode. Summer is a highly skilled pianist and composer who has everything from a law degree to playing on stage with one of your favorite indie bands on her resumé. Summer is very humble and kind beyond what one could expect of someone with her level of skill and training, but it's not all technical, Summer can shred from her soul. In this conversation we talk about playing shows on keys with Circa Survive, working best under pressure and deadlines, performing at Outside Lands with a K-Pop group, why weighted keys are great, conductors not moving the baton on beat and lots more! Thanks for listening and keep enjoying your time on Earth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So nice to be back with all of you. This week we catch up with Nick Reinhart as he returns to chat with us not long after his return from being on tour with DeathGrips for a couple months. He catches us up on how he's been decompressing and getting back into home mode. In this episode we discuss his tour with DeathGrips, coyotes in his neighborhood, his favorite fried chicken sandwich at the moment, his busy year on the road which included opening for, and then playing bass in Pinback, how he enjoys his life in LA as a musician, getting into earplugs on stage, enjoying activities solo, intensive movie collections and lots more! Thanks for listening. You are unique, valuable, and make the world a better place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we welcome Gunnar Olsen of Puscifer to The Musicians Guild. Gunnar is a drummer/musician that has recorded/toured with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Big Data and many others. We've known each other for over 20 years since our bands met at a random show in Poughkeepsie, NY. Following that meeting RX and his band at the time,The Exit, did a fair amount of touring together and I'm honored to remain a friend and contemporary. Gunnar is from New York City and is one of the finest drummers in the city without a question. In this conversation we get into chatting about why he doesn't use in-ear monitors anymore, having lots of gear and maintaining it, difficulties of being creative on the road, working with Mr. Springsteen, finding where a drum wants to be tuned, Lay's Sour Cream and Onion chips, whats in his hi-hat drink holder and lots more! Thanks for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we caught up with Tim and Brittany of the Philadelphia based band Catbite. We chatted on a relaxed Sunday evening and had a lovely time. Catbite does a really legit modern take on two-tone ska that also conjures punk, soul & new-wave with top-notch musicianship. Whether it's your thing or not, you can't really deny the vitality in their musical aesthetic and they will easily expose those who can dance and those who can't. In this conversation we talk about vocals and horns competing for space in songs, going to the merch table after your set, Brit's formal vocal education, Tim's hip replacement, their first sold out hometown show, Tim's culinary prowess and lots more! Thank you for listening, and please rate the pod if you can find it in your hearts! Much Love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we have Jeff Schroeder of The Smashing Pumpkins joining us in the hall of discussion. We caught up with Jeff on a day off while in New Mexico on a headlining tour. It was great getting to have such a down to earth chat with someone playing in one of the biggest rock bands of not only our generation, but arguably in the history of modern rock. As always, we really enjoy getting to chat with someone as humble and real as Jeff. In this conversation we get into the Korean-American experience, reluctantly attending Korean Church for the food, our love for Jazzmasters, current stage setups, Jeff's beginnings in music, home life, pre and post show meals and lots more! Thanks for listening, as always. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are blessed to have Casey Cavaliere of The Wonder Years join us at The Musicians Guild. Casey plays guitar in the band and also has his own pod called The Record Process. In addition to being a musician Casey is also an engineer/producer and also is involved with managing artists through the Lesser Matters entity. Casey is a humble and earnest musician dedicated to his craft and one of my favorite types of people to chat with as he is well spoken and self-aware. In this conversation we get into what its like being in a band for him, musical sensibilities of the U.K., learning musical rules so we can break them, Casey's touring style and what he likes on the rider, gear talk including his preferences in guitars and amps and lots more! Never forget that we are all connected and made of the same stuff, but you as an individual are unique and powerful in your own way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are blessed to have Lauren Millar join us at The Musicians Guild. Lauren works for Billie Eilish as her assistant tour manager and as part of the touring production team. We were blessed to have Lauren as a tour manager for an RX tour before she started touring with some of the largest pop stars on the planet and we experienced first hand how Lauren approaches work and life with the principle of balance at the forefront, and her detail oriented work ethic allows her to handle high-pressure situations with grace and precision. I really enjoyed getting to catch up with her and in this conversation we talk about some of the ins n outs of working for one of the most famous singers on earth, touring managing Skinny Puppy and getting their bus getting caught-up in a parking lot shootout on a day off, our mutual disdain for "networking", why she carries cans of refried beans in her production pelican case, what else is actually in her production pelican, and lots more! You all make the world a better place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are honored to have Alex Estrada who owns and operates Pale Moon Ranch studio with us at The Musicians Guild. Alex is an engineer, producer and musician. He has made recordings for bands such as Joyce Manor, Touché Amoré, NAILS, and Xibalba among many others. Alex is also a legit vegan cook and walks the talk as he is a strong reference point for great plant based recipes and meals. Alex approaches his musical work and living style with a thoughtfulness and intent that I find carries an energy in a strong and great way; both seriously and with a sense of humor. We talk about Alex growing up with his father being a well known mariachi leading Mariachi Sol De Mexico, how bands can rehearse better, helping music scenes thrive on both a large and small scale, his vegan version of El Pollo Loco, tending to a rural property, excessive mix revisions from bands, preferred approaches to making records and lots more. Thank you all for being wonderful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we have with us a bandmate, collaborator and brother to me by the name of Rich Balling. Many of you will know Rich as leader of The Sound Of Animals Fighting but he has also has created projects such as Pyramids and Hospital Gown. In addition to being a musician/producer Rich is also an educator by trade, devoted family man, and high level film buff specifically in the horror genre. After finishing our last TSOAF shows of the year Rich and I sat down and had an excellent chat that unfortunately requires you to listen to my stupid laugh more than I'd like anyone to endure. In this conversation we talk about Rich's breakfast game, egg cooking techniques, his band merch collection, the magic of certain lead singers, being present with our age, his daughters making fun of him for being cringe, Braid's Frame and Canvas, his love for Del Taco and lots more. Thank you esteemed members of The Guild. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greetings to all of you esteemed members of The Guild. This week we are honored to have Lizzie Killian from Teens In Trouble with us. Teens In Trouble are signed to Asianman Records and they have been working hard af. We catch up with Lizzie right after she returned home from one tour while getting prepared to leave for another run of shows. In addition to being a musician Lizzie owns and operates her own PR firm, so naturally we discuss the balance between her work/music life, her songwriting process, road snacks, long drives, her upbringing in South San Francisco, her advice for artists trying to get themselves our there and lots more. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good to be back. This week we have Issac Bolivar joining us in the study. Isaac is a guitarist/musical director from California who has played shows with a diverse list of artists including Seal, Taking Back Sunday and Harry Hudson among others. The two of us have known each other a long time, and even in collecting photos for this episode Isaac sent me a photo of the two us together in Australia back in 2010 while both doing the Soundwave tour which really stoked me out. Isaac has reached a place in his life where his authenticity seems to be fueling his connection with his craft and we talk about that while also getting into talking about beloved studio musicians behind the scenes, our Bay Area origins, being hyper nostalgic, climbing to high vantage points to feel small, and lots more. You the listener are appreciated and valued by The Musicians Guild and I hope you feel the respect for your ear and your time. Thank you for listening, more episodes to come! The Musicians Guild has the lights kept on by Evergreen Podcasts and Sound Talent Media, and we appreciate everyone involved very much! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Field Report from friend of the pod Brian Diaz last summer while he was working with Bush, on tour with Alice In Chains. While he is in the middle of Arkansas he took the time for a chat and we thank him for his Field Report. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are featuring a nice long conversation with Aaron Carnes and Adam Davis from In The Defense Of Ska podcast. This is one of the longer conversations we've had inside The Guild so if you're on a long drive or have a full day of work this might be a good episode for that. Aaron is author of the book also titled In the Defense of Ska which came before the podcast. These two fine humans were kind enough to come to my home and we sat in my den by the fire and discussed how Ska got hated on so much, the new face and direction of Ska, Ska fashion crimes, older punks going MAGA, seeing Fugazi live, bad driving while searching for music, Adam's kids disliking LEGO, 17 band bills, and lots lots more. Thank you for being you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we have a Field Report from my fellow Korean-American brother Dave Jun soon after arriving home from a run in South America with Miley Cyrus. He fills us in on an emergency landing their jet had to make upon being struck by lighting in a bad storm, their festival run, zig-zagging across the continent and sketchy bad weather stages. Thank you to Dave and thank you esteemed members of this guild. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greetings wonderful humans. In this episode I take you through vibes and sounds of this last T.S.O.A.F. tour we just finished a couple weeks ago. You'll get a peak inside my routines, habits, and preferences on tour in a style similar to an amusement ride, meaning you just sit back and take it all in at the pace already set. You'll also get to be a fly on the wall for different conversations during the tour; you'll be listening from a hotel room, a dressing room, a hotel room, in an alley and on the street. After this episode we will continue to roll on with more Field Reports and more full length conversations with guests. Thanks for being a member of The Musicians Guild Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...And 3 days before I leave for tour, we are back! Today's session includes introducing our new 'Field Reports' series and reintroducing myself to your time and attention which I always appreciate. Just in this episode you'll be with me In a dressing room, walking through a forest, and in a Van in NYC. More long from conversations and Musicians Digest coming along with plenty of Field Reports with former guests and new friends of the pod. Thanks for listening! Thank you Sound Talent Media and Evergreen Podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are very happy to have radio personality and host Megan Holiday with us. Although Megan is on the other side of the aisle from us musicians, she is part of the crucial balance I speak of where musicians and non-musicians need each other to maintain the balance of the industry as we know it while it quickly and continuously changes. People like Megan are true advocates for music and musicians so her way of approaching her role in this whole structure is a valuable asset to us creatives. We get into how Megan got her start in radio so naturally we also get into her story of recovery and sobriety after the inevitable rock bottom, and emotions run high. This is delicate vulnerable stuff after all, but it also facilitates gratitude and appreciation of life and sobriety through Megan's story. We also get talk about her 1st times live on air, manifesting people into her life, getting a glow necklace from Aaron Paul at Coachella, tripping hard at Shoreline Amphitheater and lots more! Thanks for listening and being part of the guild. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another installment of editorial ramblings. I sort out some thoughts on the RE-20 regarding new technologies around music, positions in the music industry, interpersonal band dynamics and Get Back, the film about The Beatles and their recording/rehearsal sessions. This episode feels very music nerdy, could be extra boring. Thank you for listening. Be excellent to each other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This intro was a bit longer and I feel like I didn't necessarily do the subject justice. But I'll just keep trying to improve! Toki has made a new bed near my recording desk and has been present for all of the making of this episode. This week we are very honored to welcome innovative musician, righteous guitarist, and legit-ass human Nick Reinhart to the hall of discussion. You might know Nick from his band Tera Melos who were label and touring mates of RX during our Sargent House days, or you might know him from his more current projects such as Disheveled Cuss, Undo K From Hot, or Vertical Scratchers. Nick has a very hefty and droppable list of names of bands and musicians he's played with including playing with Best Coast on late night tv performances and jamming with various indie and mainstream legends. All the while, Nick maintains his authentic and vibrantly stoic vibe while always asking questions of how we listen to music. In this conversation we talk about burritos, Nick's sonic inspirations, home studio setups, whether or not we'd make music for a McDonals commercials, over stuffing guitar racks and pedal shelving and lots more! Be Excellent to each other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices