Sometimes the topics just flow. Of course, you folks do help with that… and today it’s all over the place. Paul and Dave take you on a journey that starts with revamping the airline industry, touches on the beauty of Alex Chilton’s blue-eyed-soul-inspired power pop, mentions Rick Nielsen more than once, and digs into the money conversation.

It’s true, your two favorite weekend warriors celebrate their fourth anniversary of GigGab by having a verbal jam session, and you get to be a fly on the wall. Press play and enjoy, then let us know what you think at feedback@giggabpodcast.com!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 201 – Monday, February 18, 2019
• 00:00:50 Feb 19, 2015 first GigGab release, happy four years!
• 00:02:16 From the 2018 Gift List: Outlaw Nomad Pedal Board
• 00:06:15 Come Fly Propofol Airlines
• 00:09:52 New PitchSlap Cajon for Dave
• 00:11:40 The First Blue-Eyed Soul Performer, Alex Chilton
  • Alex Chilton, Big Star Tribute at SXSW 2010
• 00:19:35 Four gigs in a weekend!
• 00:22:00 Scenes matter!
• 00:27:29 Brushes with Greatness
• 00:31:02 Rick Nielsen
  • Double Fantasy
• 00:34:45 Power Pop requires attention to nuance
• 00:38:26 Kevin-Money Questions
  • Clearly defined (social) contract
• 01:03:04 Gig Gab 201 Outtro

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Some of the greatest art comes from an artist who trusts themselves, regardless of what others are saying, and just puts it out there. This, of course, can happen in many different forms. In music, it can be the guy who came up with an infectious piano groove to change a hit song to his liking, a songwriter who hones his tunes to perfection, a songwriter who took what she liked to hear and morphed it into her own, or in a live setting the band that trusts themselves enough to use one mic for their entire setup.

Whatever it is, confidence stems from delivering what you know is right, and your two favorite weekend warriors talk through a few examples of this they’ve come across as of late. Listen as Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton share their thoughts on all this and more. Press play… and enjoy. And remember… (say it together, now) always be performing!

Chapters/Timestamps

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 200 – Monday, February 11, 2019
• 00:02:10 Four electric gigs in one weekend!
• 00:04:32 Mike-199-Closing Your Eyes… and Feeling the Music
• Brad Madix
• 00:13:02 199-Feelin’ Alright Piano Player: Artie Butler
• 00:15:15 SPONSOR: ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN.com/GIGGAB gets you 3 months free with your 1-year subscription
• 00:18:09 Grammy’s Diss Rock!
• Top 25 Tours of 2018
• 00:25:29 Kenny Loggins on Daryl’s House (2016)-The Commitment to Songwriting Perfection
• 00:35:27 Hoot and Holler in Burlington
• 00:39:00 Gig Gab 200 Outtro

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How many ways do you communicate your identity or that of your band? Is it in your performance? Is it in your merchandise? Is it in your stage banter? Is it on your kick drum head? Is it in your name?

The answer is yes! And, of course, Paul and Dave have some things to add to this conversation. Even better, you folks have a bunch to add to this, too, and your two favorite weekend warriors are happy to share the feedback you’ve sent in and let it guide the conversation. You rock!

Keep it coming, folks. And press play and enjoy!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 199 – Monday, February 4, 2019
• 00:02:50 Super Bowl halftime show
• 00:08:30 PK Solo at The Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company
• 00:12:33 Getting to Know Your Inner Performer
• 00:15:04 Handling closed eyes
• 00:18:22 Ensuring Down-Time is not Wasted Time
• 00:21:40 feedback@giggabpodcast.com
• 00:22:56 Andy-198-Politics is about more than the issues
  • Tough conversations are usually about tribal identity
• 00:28:06 The Feelin’ Alright Resolution
• 00:29:25 FB-Kevin-prepping for a theater show
• 00:36:29 DK-Coming up with Band Names?
  • Where did Pearl Jam Get their Name?
• 00:48:34 Bandzoogle
• 00:51:31 GG 199 Outtro

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This week, your two favorite working musicians dig into the now-overflowing mailbag and share your thoughts and questions with the audience. Hear Kevin’s thoughts about having your own, band-specific, portable monitor rack, DK’s thoughts about the Soundcraft Ui24R, and Martin’s question about mixing politics and music.

Paul and Dave talk through all of these with you, of course, and then share some of their own thoughts as well. Have you had band photos taken recently? What image do you think they convey? What image do they actually convey? Be honest… you know everyone else will!

Listen for more. Press play and enjoy. And remember… A.B.P.!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 198 – Monday, January 28, 2019
• 00:00:59 Hedwig Debrief
• 00:07:19 Updating Band Photos
  • Richard Kerris Photography
  • The Houserockers
• 00:15:49 Dan Meblin from Pop Fiction on Gig Gab
• 00:22:24 Thinking about costuming from various distances
• 00:25:56 SPONSOR: ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN.com/GIGGAB gets you 3 months free with your 1-year subscription
• 00:28:31 Kevin-197-Have Your Own Monitor Rack
• 00:33:32 Stage volume vs. In-ears
• 00:35:01 DK-196-Soundcraft Ui24R feedback
  • Shure PSM 300 In-Ears
• 00:39:49 Martin-196-The downsides of mixing politics and fans
• 00:46:23 Unintended consequences
• 00:53:47 GG 198
  • feedback@giggabpodcast.com

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Dan Meblin, leader of San Francisco Bay Area band “Pop Fiction” joins Paul and Dave this week to talk through running a successful cover/party/function band. Dan and his bandmates created Pop Fiction after playing together in a band catering to a similar market, and Dan’s history includes both playing in original bands and working in the Silicon Valley technology world.

Dan talks us through creating and marketing Pop Fiction, of course, but also some of the particulars. An on-the-fly segment, “Dan’s Tips for How to Treat a Venue Well” includes a great detour into setting up your own in-ears rack so that you can have perfect stage sound everywhere with very little adjustments needed at each venue.

Dan’s got a lot to share, and share he does. You’re gonna love this one. Press play, listen, and enjoy. Thanks, Dan!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 197 – Monday, January 21, 2019
• 00:00:45 The snow policy… was enacted!
• 00:02:14 Dan Meblin from Pop Fiction
• 00:03:06 Eric Martin Band and Dan’s history
• 00:05:57 “You Have to Learn To Love Those Cover Songs”
• 00:08:20 Running your own band
• 00:10:37 How did you know what you’re doing?
• 00:11:40 “This Band Sounds Really Good”
• 00:13:02 Gotta play Public Shows
• 00:13:38 Follow-ups are key
• 00:16:12 Venue managers are also your agents
• 00:17:50 SPONSOR: ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN.com/GIGGAB gets you 3 months free with your 1-year subscription
• 00:20:01 Dan’s Tips for How to Treat a Venue Well
  • Don’t leave garbage with your name on it!
  • Do a Site Check (size, parking, load-in, electricity, schmoozing)
  • Know and Follow The Rules (avoid the bar!)
  • Manage Your Volume
• 00:25:07 Make in-ears a band-wide priority
  • Behringer X32 – Rack Mounted
• 00:32:51 Presentation matters: “Dressy Flashy”
  • “You Want to Look Expensive”
  • “Don’t look like a waiter”
• 00:36:33 Expanding your business options
• 00:41:19 Intellistage to the rescue
• 00:44:50 Managing Rehearsals for a Working Band
• 00:46:39 jamLink for distant rehearsals (2010!!)
• 00:51:26 GG 197 Outtro

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We often talk about stage presence, but what about off-stage presence? And how much is too much? And what happens when a fan reads more into your vibe than you intended?

How do you remain appropriately distant without appearing to be aloof?

Then it’s on to some Cool Stuff Found that Dave encountered at CES. Definitely something here you’ll want to learn about.

Finally, Paul and Dave talk through upcoming shows and how they’re approaching everything. Press play, listen, and enjoy!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 196 – Wednesday, January 16, 2019
• 00:02:45 Time is the time
• 00:05:18 Lost some fans
• 00:15:38 Controlling Your Outward Vibe
• 00:21:43 New Segment: Cool Stuff Found! feedback@giggabpodcast.com
• 00:22:46 CSF at CES-Soundcraft Ui24R Mixer – $999
• 00:28:48 CSF at CES-Jammy Portable Guitar – $399 pre-order
• 00:30:59 CSF at CES-Loop Earplugs – $29.95
• 00:33:08 Foo Fighters live at CES
• 00:38:18 Paul’s Tributes: Petty Show, Bruce/Lynda/John Show
• 00:43:30 New Houserockers Tunes
• 00:52:51 GG 196 Outtro
  • Next week: Dan Meblin from Pop Fiction

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It’s been 195 episodes and almost four years. Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton take you through some lessons they’ve learned this year. What lessons have you learned? Send ’em in to feedback@giggabpodcast.com.

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Songs, Lessons, Resolutions, and Synchronicity – Gig Gab 195 – Monday, December 31, 2018
• 00:01:10 What does New Years Eve mean?
• 00:04:41 Hedwig and Rocky!
• 00:07:41 Lessons and Resolutions
  • It doesn’t pay to be cute
  • Read the contract
• 00:12:46 Uphold the value of the arts
• 00:18:33 SPONSOR: ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN.com/GIGGAB gets you 3 months free with your 1-year subscription
• 00:21:13 Think about Sound/Tone/Volume
• 00:26:58 Have an agreement amongst your band
• 00:34:52 Resolutions
• 00:43:38 GG 195

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Your weekend warriors love gear as much as the next musician, so they each take some time to talk through a few things on their Gigging Christmas Wishlists. But first, it’s time for a few discussions.

Do you have trouble memorizing your lyrics? The guys talk through their tips and strategies for that… as well as commiserating about how difficult some tunes can be to internalize!

Paul then talks Dave through the process of building setlists that are satisfying to everyone, band and audience alike. The priorities involved in this process are varied and treacherous, and a few wrong steps can land your band in a bad spot with not only audiences, but amongst yourselves, too.

All this and more!

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 194 – Monday, December 17, 2018
• 00:01:07 Dave’s Roped into that Hedwig gig
• 00:02:07 The Mad Haus End of the World Mayhem
• 00:05:51 A better lyric memorization science
• 00:12:38 Being on the same page as a band
• 00:18:04 Satisfying Setlists
• 00:29:37 Defining Time to Shine
• 00:35:46 Prioritize Buy-in
• 00:37:57 The Africano/Power Lesson
  • Jeff Cohen’s 12 Tracks of Christmas
• 00:47:11 Xmas Wish List
  • Paul: Kemper Profiler
  • Dave: PitchSlap Wearable Cajon
  • Paul: Nomad Rechargable Pedal Board
  • Dave: Turbosound Inspire IP2000
  • Paul: Gator 6-Guitar Case
  • Dave: Paiste Signature 15” Crash
• 00:55:13 GG 194 Outtro

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Does multitasking work? Wait, what were you doing? You were listening to Gig Gab. Press play to resume hearing Paul and Dave talk through how to know – and respect – your place amongst your fellow musicians. Lots to sort through here, folks, and your two favorite weekend warriors get the job done!

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 193 – Monday, December 10, 2018
• 00:01:10 Multitasking doesn’t work
• 00:03:53 Giving Yourself the Gift of Time
• 00:08:22 Know and Respect Your Relationship with Music
• 00:12:08 The Vibe of an Event
• 00:16:00 Dos and Don’ts of Networking
• 00:30:24 Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul
• 00:38:00 Dave’s Acoustic Monkey Fist Gig
• 00:50:22 GG 193

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Managing calendars during the holiday season – especially December – is tough. Listen to how your two favorite weekend warriors are each addressing their December scheduling dilemmas. Then it’s time to revisit the concept of vocal stomp boxes – and stomp boxes, in general. Your comments helped open Dave’s eyes (and mind!) on these, and he and Paul share their further thoughts on the subject. Press play and enjoy!

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 192 – Tuesday, December 4, 2018
• 00:00:55 Paul’s Annual Musician’s Happy Hour
• 00:03:28 Dave’s Scheduling Dilemma
  • Doodle
• 00:17:40 Booking the holiday season… or not?
  • Pop Fiction Band from San Francisco
• 00:27:49 Revisiting Vocal Stomp Boxes
  • Sean-190-Voicelive 2 pedals for All
  • George-Putting all vocalists on TC-Helicon Mic Mechanics
• 00:35:00 Gain structure
• 00:37:30 New isn’t necessarily better
  • Will-190-Vocal Stomp Box conflicts
• 00:43:33 Keith-Vocal Stomp Boxes for Horn Players
• 00:47:00 Does your audience know?
• 00:51:45 More guests!
  • Robert Berry on Gig Gab 71
• 00:54:03 GG 192 Outtro

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