This week on Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart reviews some music that he has not been able to sit down and listen to in depth until now! Leave comments for new music that you would like to hear reviewed!
In this episode, you’ll hear
Liam Gallagher “Why Me, Why Not?”
Iron Maiden “Senjutsu”
The Wildhearts “Renaissance Man”
Kansas “Absence of Presence”
AC/DC “Power Up”
Links to Connect:
Connect with Bart Allmand
This week on Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart dives into a spare time killer…books! Bart reviews four books that he read over the last year. Be sure to leave a like, review, or comment on anything else you would like to hear us talk about!
In this episode, you’ll hear
Bart reviews four books that he’s read and enjoyed and would love to recommend
Book One: Austin Translation by Zach Selwyn https://www.amazon.com/Austin-Translation-Zach-Selwyn/dp/B08QTHKPVV
Book Two: Is This Anything? By Jerry Seinfeld https://www.amazon.com/This-Anything-Jerry-Seinfeld/dp/1982112727/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1641919963&sr=8-1
Book 3: Monty Python Speaks by David Morgan https://www.amazon.com/Monty-Python-Speaks-Revised-Updated/dp/0062866443/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2EBH9RQS2TLIR&keywords=monty+python+speaks&qid=1641920028&sprefix=monty+python+speaks%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-2
Book 4: Laugh Lines by Alan Zweibel https://www.amazon.com/Laugh-Lines-Helping-People-Funnier/dp/1419735284/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1641920055&sr=8-6
Links to Connect:
Connect with Bart Allmand
For the first episode of 2022 of Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart outlines what the future of the podcast will look like!
In this episode, you’ll hear
Bart discusses the new direction of the podcast
Links to Connect:
Connect with Bart Allmand
This week on Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart and Wife Amy Allmand get in the Christmas spirit by listing their top five Christmas movies. Leave comments and reviews for your favorite Christmas movies!
In this episode, you’ll hear
Bart & Amy discuss their favorite Christmas movies
Links to Connect:
Connect with Bart Allmand
This week on Thinkin’ and Drinkin’, Bart and Amy Allmand give their review of the latest Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. They walk you through each of the four categories and give their thoughts on some of their favorite inductees.
In this episode, you’ll hear
Bart & Amy share their thoughts on the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction ceremony
Links to Connect:
Connect with Bart Allmand
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Paige 6 String Guitar Capo, https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PO-6--paige-6-string-standard-capo-black
Elixer Guitar Strings, https://www.sweetwater.com/store/manufacturer/Elixir_Strings
Guitar Picks, https://intunegp.com/
Under $50:
Erruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen, https://www.amazon.com/Eruption-Conversations-Eddie-Van-Halen/dp/0306826658/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=eruption+book&qid=1637612908&sr=8-1
Under $200:
Glyph Studio 2TB Hard Drive, https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StuPro2TB--glyph-studio-2tb-desktop-hard-drive
Unlimited budget:
Pro Tools, https://www.sweetwater.com/shop/pro-tools/
KRK V8 S4 8 inch Studio Monitors, https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/V8Mon--krk-v8-s4-8-inch-powered-studio-monitor
1959 Sunburst Gibson Les Paul, https://www.ebay.com/
Blog Description: On this week's episode of Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart gives ideas for gifts this holiday season. He gives options at four different price points for whichever level gift you're looking to get for the musician in your life.
In this episode, you’ll hear
Bart shares his gift ideas for the musician in your life for different budgets.
Links to Connect:
Connect with Bart Allmand
This week's episode of Thinkin’ & Drinkin’ is a throwback all about Halloween! With only 5 days left until the spooky holiday, Bart and Amy talk about their favorite Halloween movies and songs! Tune in to hear if one of their favorites is also one of yours!
In this episode, you’ll hear
Bart & Amy discuss their favorite Halloween songs
Bart & Amy discuss their favorite Halloween movie
Links to Connect:
Connect with Bart Allmand
This week on Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart reviews an Earth, Wind, & Fire concert with his wife Amy, brother Brad, and sister-in-law Beth! They review the song list and compare the show to past Earth, Wind, & Fire concerts they have seen.
In this episode, you’ll hear
Bart discusses the Earth Wind & Fire concert at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville with his wife, brother and sister in law
Links to Connect:
Connect with Bart Allmand
This week on Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart talks with his wife Amy Allmand about their recent outing to go see The Rolling Stones in concert. They go through the set list and talk about how The Rolling Stones helped inspire the production of “You Can’t Take The Honky Tonk Out Of The Girl”, written by Bart! All in all, they enjoyed the chance to get out and see an energetic Mick Jagger perform!
In this episode, you’ll hear
Bart & Amy discuss their reviews of The Rolling Stones No Filter Tour
Links to Connect:
Connect with Bart Allmand
This week on Thinkin’ and Drinkin’, Bart talks with Dan Weller. Dan is an International metal music producer that has worked with Cody Frost, Bury Tomorrow, and Enter Shikari. Being introduced to Metallica by his sister, his interest in metal music started early. Before getting into production Dan had a successful band that went by Sikth. This episode brings you through his transition of careers and how he reflected during the pandemic.
Meet Dan Weller: London-based Dan Weller is an award-winning **** producer/mixer, writer, and guitarist, known for his work in rock and metal, but with credits as diverse as Children's BBC to his name.
Dan began his musical career as a founding member/producer of metal band SikTh. Renowned in the metal scene and along with Meshuggah credited with spawning the microgenre 'djent'.
SikTh are often name-checked as an influence by bands the world over. In a career spanning almost 20 years, they released six records and toured the globe extensively. In 2015 they toured with US metal titans Slipknot and were featured on the cover of the Rolling Stone magazine in India. Their final show was in 2019 where they were invited to Manila in the Philippines to support Slayer on their farewell tour.
These days Dan is best known for nurturing talent and extracting the very best from the artists he works with - taking a completely holistic approach from start to finish. His long-time studio collaborations with UK's Enter Shikari have seen them rack up 3 x UK top 5 records* including a number 2 in April 2020**), Monster Truck, Bury Tomorrow, Young Guns (Active number 1 in US***) and many more.
In more recent years Dan has found a balance between Producing/Mixing and his first love - Songwriting. Credits include Taylor Swift approved Austrian-based Hunger, Sea girls, Holding Absence, Shvpes, Cody Frost, and many more.
What Bart has to say: I met Dan on a Country writing session with another guy named Dan Weller that I knew from when he played banjo/guitar/keys with Flordia Georgia Line. We hit it off because of our mutual love of metal. Ever since we’ve stayed buddies. We’re hoping he’ll be our tour guide on an upcoming trip to the UK.
In this episode, you’ll hear
(around 11 mins in) Dan started talking about how he heard the Metallica ‘Black Album’ coming out of his sister’s room as a teenager and he knew he’d never be the same.
(around 31 mins in) During Dan’s time off (with COVID), he was concerned he was getting into working with too many different genres of music.
Links to Connect:
This week on Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart talks with singer and songwriter, Tina Parol! Tina started writing songs at the young age of 11 and got her first publishing deal at 16. In her first year of college at NYU she received a record deal with Motown! Tina now works with sync, short for synchronization, which is making records to be put into shows or movies.
Meet Tina Parol: Bold, dynamic, fierce, powerful, fun. These are the words used to describe Tina Parol’s new sound. You could say that Parol’s music career was destined from birth - her parents named her “Tina” after the iconic Tina Turner and she shares her namesakes tenacity. Born in New York to Polish immigrants, Tina was constantly immersed in culture and still has family that lives all over the world from France to Poland to The Netherlands to Canada and the USA. Growing up on everything from pop music to rock, hip hop, and soul, she gained a strong music education in her youth which gave her all the ammo she needed to pave her path in the musical landscape. During her freshman year at NYU's Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music, Tina signed a record deal with Universal Motown and released her single “Who’s Got Your Money?", which went on to become a Billboard pop top 40 hit. After touring the country twice over, Tina decided to take time off from the road, and really hone in on her songwriting which led her to settle down in the songwriting capital of the world: Nashville, Tennessee. She has written songs with and for pop legends like Britney Spears, Celine Dion, iconic country band Lady A (#1 country radio hit “Champagne Night”), Jessie James Decker, Sabrina Carpenter, as well as up-and-coming country starlet Tenille Townes (“Jersey on the Wall (I’m Just Asking)”, for which Tina won the 2020 CCMA Songwriter of the Year award alongside co-writers Gordie Sampson and Tenille). In addition to her work for other artists, Parol’s songs have been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, Lifetime, Fox, Fox Sports, Disney Channel, in Disney global theme parks, in Touchstone Pictures films, and beyond. Tina is ready to step back into the spotlight, and start a new era and sound in her career. Combining her love of pop melodies with intense beats and inspiring, powerful lyrics with her dynamic vocals, Tina is ready to show the world what she is truly capable of. Buckle up, Tina Parol is just getting started.
What Bart has to say: Tina was so much fun. The kind of writing she does with sync is a completely different side and way of writing than what I am used to. I don’t know much about sync, and she explained it so well that now she’s definitely made a career of being a sync writer which is very encouraging.
In this episode, you’ll hear
Tina’s first band was called Tina Parole & the Convicts, which she added the ‘e’ to her last name so it would make more sense for the convicts.
(at 34 mins in) Tina’s first concert was Tina Turner, who she was named after.
(5 mins in) She got her first record deal with Motown when she was 19.
Links to Connect:
On this week's episode of Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart catches up with an old friend and world famous drum tech, Derek Benitz. Derek explains which kind of drum tech he is, catering to the drummer and they want out of the kit for each set. Derek explains his recent transitions from FGL to Sam Hunt, to working full time for Amazon during the pandemic, and finally his current band with Chris Stapleton.
Meet Derek Benitz: Derek Benitez is a touring professional from Kentucky now living in Nashville. Drum tech to the stars…and other drummers. Really touring just to see all the truck docks of all the venues around the world and have some cocktails with friends. Kentucky bourbon is the drink of choice!
I started drum teching for Joe Rickard of the band Red. Then Sean and have done short runs and one-offs with Chris Kimerer/Thomas Rhett, Ray Luzier/Jonathan Davis solo, Lester Estell, Joe Bonamassa(Greg Marrow/Anton Fig), and now Derek Mixon with Chris Stapleton.
What Bart has to say: Derek was always one of the most fun guys to see every day when he got off the bus, back with it was out with Florida Georiga Line. I always enjoyed his sense of humor. Another great guy I’ve remained friends with that to me shows the quality of people that Florida Georgia Line surrounded themselves with.
In this episode, you’ll hear
(20 mins in) Derek talks about the differences between different tours, mainly being the crowds
(30:40 in) Derek discusses how he finds each drummer’s pulse and how that helps him work with different drummers
Links to Connect:
This week Bart talks with Lt. Dan Hurd, founder of One Pedal At a Time Movement, about his journey from serving in the military to where he is now. Dan talks about the ride that really changed his life, a long weekend ride with a friend that he was fighting to finish, getting some much needed advice “It’s just one pedal at a time”. He is currently on a cross country ride to raise awareness for suicide provention. Along the way he has participated in suicide intervientions, been saved by Christ, and been hit by a car. He is on pace to finish on October 10th, National Mental Health Day!
Meet Dan Hurd: I am Daniel Hurd of Ride With Dan USA and the One Pedal At A Time Movement (OPAAT Movement). This is how this journey all started for me and how a movement was born for us.
In 2017, I was in a dark place in life. I had tried to commit suicide for the third time and felt like my life was this dark void. After I was released from the hospital I was in the stage of telling everyone I was better but deep down I still had no idea how to change my life or what direction to go in.
My best friend had tried for years to get me to go bicycling with him with no success. He was an avid rider and I never really had the motivation to join him. I rode motorcycles and in my mind, that would be a downgrade. This time though, for several reasons I ended up taking up his offer. With nothing to lose, I decided to ride with him and two mutual friends. We rode 20 miles! It felt good in the moment but I still felt the same after. A few days later we rode again. This time 30 miles! Again in the moment riding felt good, but this feeling of being in a void lingered. What changed everything was the third ride I took with him the following weekend. We took a 166-mile trip. I remember in the first half of the ride falling asleep while riding and barely made it to our destination. What helped me get through it though was the encouragement of my friend who told me "stop worrying about what we've done and don't worry what we got left; it’s left-right-left, one pedal at a time."
After that trip, everything changed. I realized what got me through it wasn't worrying about the past or the future but only by living in the moment. Taking it “one pedal at a time" became my mantra and my turning point. Hearing that being said to me was like someone throwing a glow stick in the void. My void wasn't as deep as I thought.
I fell in love with bicycling quick and started planning longer trips. I became addicted to cycling. This was a better addiction then my past choices of alcohol and drugs. Only a few months of riding I knew that I needed to do something EPIC. Realizing living in the moment was the key for me in my life which has led me to this journey. On March 5th 2018 from Massachusetts, I started on a projected 3 year EPIC Journey of the Lower 48 States.
What Bart has to say: September is suicide prevention month. Twenty-two soldiers commit suicide a day and Dan is riding his bicycle across America to bring awareness to this cause. His 20,000-mile ride will end on October 10th in Las Vegas, which is World Mental Health Awareness Day.
In this episode, you’ll hear
(At 16 mins) Dan talks about his cause, One Pedal At A Time
(At 43:25) Dan talks about how everyone has a purpose and this is how he found his on a bicycle
Links to Connect:
Connect with Dan Hurd
Connect with Bart Allmand
This week on Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart talks with Steve Mackey. Steve, a former neighbor to Bart, talks about the early years of playing the bass in high school. He then attended Berkley in Boston for Music before moving to Nashville. Steve shares how he is able to put his own touch on a track while providing artists and producers what they are looking for.
Meet Steve Mackey: Steve Mackey has been a fixture in the Nashville music community for over 20 years, lending his talents to multiple recordings and performances with artists including The Wallflowers, John Oates, Garth Brooks, and Dolly Parton, among many others.
What Bart has to say: My guess is that Steve Mackey has played on a couple hundred of my demos. In a small world situation, I saw Steve walking down my road about 10 years ago and stopped and asked why he was on my road. He replied, “why are you on my road?” Unbeknownst to either of us, we were basically neighbors for several years before he moved closer into town. It was great to reconnect with another old buddy.
In this episode, you’ll hear
(About 6 mins in) Steve discusses when he attended Berkley in Boston.
(About 8 mins in) Bart asked Steve about when he started playing bass and if that was what envisioned for the rest of his life, and Steve said it’s all he wanted to do.
Links to Connect:
This week on Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart talks with Neal Spielberg. Neal talks about breaking into the business side of music through an uncle that was a big mentor in his life. Getting his feet wet in the sales side of radio, spinning that into a gig promoting a three ring circus, and selling home movies wholesale for video stores. After he transitioned into working for Atari, then a job at Warner Brothers Nashville.
Meet Neal Spielberg: A passion for music and family entertainment from a very early age led the way to a career in entertainment sales, marketing, and artist management, spanning over 40 years. Spielberg began his career with Feld Entertainment (Ringling Bros Circus), then WEA Distribution and Warner Bros Records (Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam, Jeff Foxworthy, Hank Williams Jr, Faith Hill, Take 6). He then began Spielberg Consulting in 2003 working with several independent record labels and artists including Merle Haggard, Clint Black, Little Big Town, Neal McCoy, and now Spielberg Entertainment manages several artists, including country music artists Blane Howard, Bluegrass/Folk artist Nefesh Mountain, Comedian Byron Kennedy, Jam Band Perpetual Groove, Caribbean music duo Hi Tide, Americana artist Tracy Nelson, and Christian Music artist Ben Fuller.
Neal is a proud member of the CMA, ACM, AMA, and IBMA, The Recording Academy, Leadership Music board member (class of ‘95), and Musical Instrument Museum (Phoenix, Az) Ambassador.
He and his wife Tina live in Nashville and they have children, Chana and David.
What Bart has to say: Neal has always been such a sweet guy, a give you the shirt off his back kind of guy. He’s always loved music and creative people. He’s outlasted most people in the music industry and someone I call a friend.
In this episode, you’ll hear
Neal is the only guy that I’ve ever known that’s been in a real 3 ring circus with Bengal tigers.
Neal shared Jim Ed Norman’s (former President of Warner Brothers Nashville) philosophy at Warner Brothers, which was ‘let’s sign great artists, then we’ll find an audience for them.’
Links to Connect:
On this week's episode of Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart talks with Chad Allison, the driver of the stars! Chad got into the entertainment coach industry by being persistent on the phone until someone gave him his first gig, touring with One Direction. He explains the difference between a crew bus, band bus, and a star bus. Chad shares some stories over the years of touring on the road. Chad shares all in his book “Between the Mayonnaise and Mustard”.
Meet Chad Allison: it all and has With more than 7 years of experience in driving artists, Chad Allison has seen it all and has mastered the tricks of the trade. In his book Between The Mayonnaise and Mustard, he provides helpful insight into the Entertainment Coach Industry for new CDL A holders as well as bus and truck drivers who need a change in careers.
What Bart has to say: I got to know Chad on the road for a long time and he always had a motto of don’t just talk about doing something, actually do it. And he talked about writing a book and he did it and I read it. We’ve never had an entertainment coach driver on the show and I knew it would be fun from our friendship from the FGL days.
In this episode, you’ll hear
(12:30) Chad talks about the first time he drove a bus into Canada and what that experience entailed
We talked about how I was out with him and Florida Georgia Line and the best part of my day was sitting in the jump seat next to Chad and that bus windshield felt like a giant movie screen.
Links to Connect:
This week, on Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart reminisces with Amy about their experiences watching MTV growing up to celebrate the 40th year of the channel being live! Over the years, MTV introduced millions of people to some of the most iconic music videos of all time.
In this episode, you’ll hear
Bart & Amy discuss a milestone of music, MTV turning 40 and what that means to them
Links to Connect:
Connect with Bart Allmand
In this week’s episode of Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ Bart talks with Blair Garner about being discovered by a local radio station while detailing cars. Blair took the money from his first radio job to buy two new cars and ended up falling in love with radio work. Blair had a long journey that brought him to many cities across the United States that helped grow his career to what it is today.
Meet Blair Garner: Discovered by a local radio executive in his hometown of Canyon, Texas, Blair Garner has been on the radio waves since age 17. Working on local radio stations all through college, Garner quickly climbed the ranks as his voice caught the ear of program directors from many major markets. He quickly found himself working for legendary stations in Washington, D.C., New York City, Houston and Los Angeles.
It was in the early 1990’s, though, that Garner found his niche – late-night radio. He found that the demand for third-shift disc jockeys was high across the country and set out to fix that problem. Garner planned for two long years before After MidNite ever hit the airwaves. It quickly became a fast-growing syndicated country radio show with over 100 affiliates picking it up in the first year.
After waking up America as part of America’s Morning Show for three years, Blair is back to his niche – late-night radio with the Blair Garner Show.
Garner credits his drive and success to the unwavering support from his parents growing up. “Every day they would tell me to ‘work hard and be kind,’” says Garner. “and even today, when I tuck my kids in at night, I say the same to them. That’s how important I think it is.” With over 30 years in the business Blair has definitely done those two things. As proof, he has been hailed three times from the Academy of Country Music as their “National Radio Personality of the Year.” He’s also been nominated for the prestigious Marconi Award in broadcasting and not to mention the invaluable adoration of country music’s biggest stars. In 2013, he was inducted to the National Radio Hall of Fame.
What Bart has to say: I was so thankful to reconnect with Blair. It had been a long time since we worked together and he’s got an amazing new venue, The Mulehouse, in Columbia, Tennessee.
In this episode, you’ll hear
How Blair was on the radio as a host and moved from coast to coast to coast to coast.
Bart & Blair discussed the birth of Blair’s show “After Midnight” which was a live radio show that was featured on over 300 affiliate stations. His show was one of the biggest ads to get as a record promoter.
Links to Connect:
Connect with Blair Garner
Connect with Bart Allmand
This week Bart talks with his wife Amy Allmand about the top country songwriters throughout each decade.
On this week’s episode, Bart talks with Gage Speas about getting his start in the music industry by learning to scream lyrics for a metal band. Gage explains how he got his nickname and future business name, Daisy May. Learning how to make hats in his bull riding days, Gage now has a successful career making custom hats. In his spare time he likes to bow hunt and play around on the guitar.
Meet Gage Speas: GAGE SPEAS KNOWS COUNTER-CULTURE.
HE KNOWS THE OPEN ROAD’S SONG TO THOSE WITH ROCK-AND-ROLL IN THEIR HEARTS.
A NEW MEXICO NATIVE AND LONG-TIME NASHVILLE RESIDENT, HE KNOWS THAT HISTORY HAS ITS PLACE IN THE PRESENT.
IN FORMING DAISY MAY HAT CO. , GAGE HAS COMMITTED HIMSELF TO HIS CRAFT, KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FUTURE WHILE PAYING RESPECT TO TRADITION.
WHY?
BECAUSE GAGE SPEAS KNOWS COUNTER-CULTURE IS BECOMING POP-CULTURE.
THAT’S WHY DAISY MAY IS HIS PIPE-BOMB THROUGH THE WINDOW OF FAST-FASHION.
DAISY MAY ISN’T AN ACCESSORY — IT’S A THOUGHTFUL REPRESENTATION OF WHOSOEVER BEARS THE WEIGHT OF ITS CROWN.
IT’S HAND-CRAFTED, 100% CUSTOM, AND MADE WITH HIGH-QUALITY BEAVER FELT TO GUARANTEE THAT YOUR HAT ISN’T MADE FOR THE SEASON: IT’S MADE FOR THE GENERATIONS.
EMBRACE THE FEVER. LIVE THE DREAM.
What Bart has to say: I read an interview about him in the magazine Hook & Barrel and thought he was an interesting guy and we had a lot of common friends. Turns out he’s interesting, a real go-getter and hilarous.
In this episode, you’ll hear
How Gage got into singing/screaming metal music
How Gage went from metal music, to bull riding to making hats for a living
Gage explains the meaning of the name of his business, Daisy May
Links to Connect:
This week Bart talks with his wife Amy Allmand about the top country songwriters throughout each decade.
On this week's episode Bart and a bunch of friends get together after a day of swimming at Al McManus’s house. The group touches on how they first became friends through work and what they have been up to since COVID. Everyone talks about the differences in Music Row and how they miss it.
Meet Shawn Catz: Shawn Catz has worked at WEA, Sin City and tour managed Jerom’e McComb and Lee Brice. Prior to COVID, he was the brains behind the popular Music City Male Review, a PG-13 Vegas style male dance show.
Meet Jeff Lysyczyn: Experienced artist manager and educator, skilled in business development, planning, logistics, and budgeting. Increased annual revenue for primary clients by 246%. Successfully brokered partnerships for clients with companies including Dr. Pepper, NASCAR, Jagermeister, FFA, Special Olympics Tennessee, and Cartoon Network. Seasoned in both the development of new business and growth of revenue for existing entities. Excellent communicator able to build trust and loyalty with employees, clients, vendors, and partners.
Meet Al McManus: Music is my passion. Event coordination and artist management is my forte. Cruise ships, coffeehouses, arenas and everything in between. Sword swallowers to Grammy winners..... Joe Diffie to Mötörhead. Producer of “Making Waves, The ShipRocked Podcast.” Music composer and producer. I also play in a cover band called "No Fun Intended", and we're awesome.
What Bart has to say: Al McManus sent out an invite to a bunch of old industry friends to have a fun afternoon to catch up and I thought it would be a great episode. We’ve known each other for over 20 years.
In this episode, you’ll hear
We all talked about how we’re connected through our careers in the music industry
What we’ve each been doing since COVID and how we all miss Music Row
Links to Connect: