Mid-Riff

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Bumper Music: “Smoked” by Thalia Zedek Band

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

071 / Lizzo and the Monsters

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Is Lizzo a monster? What about Morrissey? What about Jimmy Page or David Bowie or Ryan Adams the guy in that local band who always hits on teenagers or the myriad other artists who have allegedly engaged in behavior that has harmed others? How do we interact with them and their art once the harm is revealed? How does art intersect with the artist’s identities and experiences or our own? In today’s episode, Hilary digs into the nuances of these questions (and *spoiler* there are more questions than answers!).

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

EPISODE MENTIONS

Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer

We Will Not Cancel Us: And Other Dreams of Transformative Justice by adrienne maree brown

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Check out more from Ruinous Media!

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

070 / Guitar Gabby (TxLips) on Musical Longevity and Access

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Creating a 25-person musical collective featuring black women and gender expansive musicians, musical strategizing, and AI and appropriation are part of Hilary’s conversation with musician, lawyer, writer, and consultant, Gabriella “Guitar Gabby” Logan.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

GABBY’s BIO

Atlanta native Gabriella “Guitar Gabby” Logan is a Strategy Lawyer and proud Spelman College and Vermont Law School graduate. Her passion for perspective fueled her desire to establish TxLips Band, LLC., a global entity that triples as a TxLips Academy, TxLips Consulting Group, and an international female and gender-expansive rock collective. Logan believes it is vital for people to be well-rounded and strategic in creating careers based on passion and built off longevity.

She is the Diversity Editor for Guitar Girl Magazine, President of the Girls Rock Camp Alliance Board of Directors, and a Board Member of the Vermont Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors.

GABBY’s MENTIONS

Diamond / Cry Mob / J Fly / Sister Rosetta Tharpe / Tina Bell / Johnson / Ibanez / Jackson / ESP / PRS / EMG / Ernie Ball / Jodi Head straps / Crate / Fender / Kustom

GABBY’s LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

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Bumper Music: “The Dead Pool” by Guitar Gabby & The TxLips Band

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

069 / Can You Play Eminem at Work?

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 13:04:00 -0500

A recent court case found that playing songs with offensive lyrics in a workplace can contribute to hostile environment sexual harassment. But what the heck is that? And how can you prevent it? Hilary covers some harassment basics in this episode!

--> Some steps to follow if you've experienced harassment can be found on the EEOC website

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Check out more from Ruinous Media!

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

068 / Angie Swan (American Utopia, Cee Lo Green, will.i.am) on Flipping a Musical Coin

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Music as a reputable career choice, boy bands, prophetic guitar tattoos, visiting 34 countries, and the role of those with power in the industry are part of Hilary’s conversation with guitarist Angie Swan.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

ANGIE’s BIO

Angie Swan is a guitarist/producer originally from Milwaukee, WI. After Attending Berklee College of Music, Angie worked with artists such as David Byrne ("American Utopia"), Will.i.am, Cee Lo Green, Billy Porter, Fifth Harmony, Ari Lennox, Adam Lambert, Terri Lyne Carrington and many more. She has also toured with Cirque du Soleil’s production Amaluna. Angie is a 2x Grammy nominee and Tony Award recipient. Angie is currently working on releasing her debut album set to be released in late 2023.

ANGIE’s MENTIONS

NAMM / Berklee / Premier Guitar / Guitar World / Paul McCartney / Prince / Joe Satriani / Stevie Ray Vaughn / Tracy Chapman / Robert Cray / Dave Brubeck / Chick Correa / Green Day / Nine Inch Nails / Nirvana / Stone Temple Pilots / Jared Sharp / Talking Heads / Adrian Belew / David Byrne / Jerry Harrison / Wes Montgomery / Jimmy Page / Pete Kepler / Anna Blumenthal / Sam Barsch / Mono Neon / Lyndon Rochelle / Esperanza Spalding / Annie Clark / St Vincent / Justin Tranter / Reeve Carney / Thomas Pridgen / Ronald Bruner / Eddie Brown / Novo Guitars / Fano Guitars / Naggs Guitars / PRS Guitars / Lollar Pickups / Epiphone Guitars / Gibson Guitars / Kauer Guitars / Mesa Boogie Amps / Supro Amps / Kemper Amps / Fender Guitars / EarthQuaker Devices / Walrus Audio / Quarantine Effects / Boss Effects

ANGIE’s LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Check out more from Ruinous Media!

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

067 / Getting Active

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Feeling overwhelmed by the world? Want to come up with a plan to get involved, but need a few ideas? Hilary’s got you (and/or your music-related company) covered.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices / extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH / earthquakerdevices.com

Stompbox Sonic / personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA / stompbox-sonic.myshopify.com

Holcomb Guitars / custom guitars and guitar repair in RI/MA / holcombguitars.com

Check out images and citations for this episode here: https://www.hilarybjones.com/blog/getting-active

MID-RIFF LINKS

Website / hilarybjones.com/midriffpodcast

Instagram / instagram.com/midriffpodcast

Facebook / facebook.com/midriffpodcast

Blog / hilarybjones.com/blog

Gender and Music Gear Experiences Report / bit.ly/gendergear

Check out more from Ruinous Media / ruinousmedia.com

Thanks for subscribing, rating, and reviewing on your podcast player!

Theme Music / "Hedonism" by Towanda / towanda.bandcamp.com

Artwork / Julia Gualieri / juliagualtieri.com

066 / Why Are There So Few Moms in Music and Gear?

Wed, 24 May 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks about why there are so few moms in bands and in music gear more broadly and discusses what individuals and companies can do to help moms keep playing and pursuing their careers.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices / extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH / earthquakerdevices.com

Stompbox Sonic / personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA / stompbox-sonic.myshopify.com

Holcomb Guitars / custom guitars and guitar repair in RI/MA / holcombguitars.com

LINKS FROM EPISODE

Song Sandwich Podcast / instagram.com/song_sandwich

40 Watt Podcast / instagram.com/40wattpodcast

Handsy Instagram / instagram.com/handsybandsy

The Other F Word Documentary / en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Other_F_Word

How Do Abortion Rights Connect to Music Gear? / hilarybjones.com/blog/abortion-rights-music-gear

Second shift / en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Second_Shift

Glass ceiling / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_ceiling

Glass escalator / en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_escalator

Glass cliff / en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_cliff

Feminization of work / digitalcommons.tacoma.uw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=gender_studies

Gender wage gap / nytimes.com/2017/05/13/upshot/the-gender-pay-gap-is-largely-because-of-motherhood.html

Motherhood penalty / aauw.org/issues/equity/motherhood/

Are Musical Instrument Gender Associations Changing? / journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0022429409335878?journalCode=jrma

Musical Instrument Experiences YouGov Poll / today.yougov.com/topics/society/articles-reports/2022/08/23/musical-instrument-experiences-yougov-poll

7 Ways Music Retailers Can Support Parents / hilarybjones.com/blog/2021/12/30/7-ways-music-retailers-can-support-parents?rq=retail

State Medical and Family Leave Laws / ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/state-family-and-medical-leave-laws

Lactation Laws / dol.gov/agencies/whd/pump-at-work#:~:text=The%20Fair%20Labor%20Standards%20Act,need%20to%20express%20the%20milk

MID-RIFF LINKS

Website / hilarybjones.com/midriffpodcast

Instagram / instagram.com/midriffpodcast

Facebook / facebook.com/midriffpodcast

Blog / hilarybjones.com/blog

Gender and Music Gear Experiences Report / bit.ly/gendergear

Check out more from Ruinous Media / ruinousmedia.com

Thanks for subscribing, rating, and reviewing on your podcast player!

Theme Music / "Hedonism" by Towanda / towanda.bandcamp.com

Artwork / Julia Gualieri / juliagualtieri.com

065 / NAMM 2023 + Diversity in MI Industry

Thu, 04 May 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Mid-Riff went to NAMM and spoke with 6 manufacturers, 4 MI media/demo folks, and 1 retailer to give you the goods re: the current state of the industry/diversity, equity, and inclusion!

The following questions were answered:

What’s rad at NAMM?
What changes have we seen in the industry regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion since 2020?
What changes still need to be made?
Which companies have made major strides re: DEI recently?

By the following awesome industry folks:

Ally Amarall / EarthQuaker Devices / earthquakerdevices.com
Mark Turley / Summer School Electronics / summerschoolelectronics.com
Rob Cavanna / Hiwatt Amplifiers / hiwatt.co.uk
Sasha Dunable / Dunable Guitars / dunableguitars.com
Loki Davidson / Poly Effects / polyeffects.com
Emily Harris / Get Offset / youtube.com/c/getoffset
Joan Braga / Get Offset + Pedal Playhouse / youtube.com/c/PedalPlayhouse
Steve Rowe / 60 Cycle Hum / youtube.com/@60CycleHumCast/podcasts
Ruben Zarate / Seymour Duncan / seymourduncan.com
Johnny Morales / Oakland Guitars / oakland-guitars.com
Jason Mays / Working Class Music / youtube.com/c/workingclassmusic

Also: Looking for an inclusive management training for you or your company? Small manufacturers, luthiers, and retailers, take a peak at the upcoming online course, No Stairway Denied: Creating Inclusive Workplaces in Music running May 9th-June 8th!

Learn more here: bit.ly/nostairwaydenied

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices / extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH / earthquakerdevices.com

Stompbox Sonic / personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA / stompbox-sonic.myshopify.com

Holcomb Guitars / custom guitars and guitar repair in RI/MA / holcombguitars.com

MID-RIFF LINKS

Website / hilarybjones.com/midriffpodcast

Instagram / instagram.com/midriffpodcast

Facebook / facebook.com/midriffpodcast

Blog / hilarybjones.com/blog

Gender and Music Gear Experiences Report / bit.ly/gendergear

Check out more from Ruinous Media / ruinousmedia.com

Thanks for subscribing, rating, and reviewing on your podcast player!

Theme Music / "Hedonism" by Towanda / towanda.bandcamp.com

Artwork / Julia Gualieri / juliagualtieri.com

064 / Emily Hopkins and Russ Fro on Harp Pedal Partners

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0500

The geariest love story, the gendering of the harp, a solution for nagging wife memes, and leading by example are part of Hilary’s conversation with Emily Hopkins (aka, Emily Harpist) and Russ Fro.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

Register for No Stairway Denied Online Course: bit.ly/nostairwaydenied

EMILY and RUSS’s BIO

Emily Hopkins is a classically trained professional harpist who stumbled upon effects pedals and created a YouTube channel with her partner Russ as a resource for all musicians interested in discovering new sounds. With over 22 years playing experience, Emily regularly performs around Long Island, New York, where she resides, and also gives effect pedal clinics with Russ. They are currently working on various soundtracks and scoring projects, as well as regularly live-streaming on YouTube every Wednesday.

EMILY and RUSS’s MENTIONS

Edmark Castaneda / EarthQuaker Devices / Lion and Healy / Salvi / Dusty Strings / 29 Pedals / Empress Effects / Electrofoods / Strymon / Chase Bliss

EMILY and RUSS’s LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Check out more from Ruinous Media!

Bumper Music: Always & Forever by Emily Hopkins

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

063 / Values Are Magic

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0500

Most companies want to be good rolemodels in the industry, but often don’t know where to start. In this episode, Hilary talks about the importance of creating company values and using them to create a better workplace and industry.

She follows up with info on her next online course, No Stairway Denied: Creating Inclusive Workplaces in Music, where folks can learn how to create and use company values and a whole bunch more!

ONLINE COURSE INFO

WHO is this course for?

Managers and small business owners in the music gear industry: retailers, manufacturers, luthiers, etc.

--> Perhaps you *whoops* accidentally started a business because you love music gear

--> You have limited management and/or diversity training

--> You want to meet other cool folks in the industry interested in this topic

--> You are a pretty small company and might not be able to hire someone to do this work 1:1 with your company

--> You really want to create a better workplace and industry

WHAT is this course?

We'll cover a range of management-related topics through the lens of diversity and inclusion, and we will dig into that specifically a bit, too. All content will be directly connected to the industry and taught in a way that is directly applicable to your daily work with tips and tools to get you creating a more welcoming workplace right away!

WHEN is the course?

Running five weeks, May 8th-June 9th, the course is online and at your own speed with a new topic released weekly. There will be optional (but encouraged-- it's a great chance to hear from and connect with others!) weekly check-ins Fridays at 12pm EST!

WHY should you take this course?

You want to be a good role model in your community and in the industry. The industry is changing for the better and you want to be on the front end of that change: for yourself, your employees, and your customers!

HOW can I learn more?

--> Sign up here to get get notified when registration opens: bit.ly/nostairwayinfo

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Check out more from Ruinous Media!

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

062 / Colleen Fazio (Fazio Electric) on a Work Bench of One’s Own

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0500

The perils and promises of repairing amplifiers and posting on YouTube, tips for getting into repair, and diagnosing your dying amp are all part of Hilary’s conversation with Colleen Fazio.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

COLLEEN’s BIO

Colleen Fazio started building guitar amps for fun shortly after high school. She then landed a repair job at Deltronics, an audio repair shop in Illinois, where her love for guitar amps flourished. Colleen attributes much of her progress to the patient teachings of the shop owner, Mike Delvalle.

After moving to Los Angeles in 2019, Colleen began working as a repair technician at Revamp with Andy Arahood, who became another pillar in her tube amp journey. Now, she is repairing and building amps out of her own workshop in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles.

COLLEEN’s MENTIONS

Fender / Gibson / Peavey / Hartke / Ampeg / Tube Amp Handbook / Mojotone / Marshall

COLLEEN’s LINKS

YouTube

Women in Music Industries Seminar at USC

MID-RIFF LINKS

NEW MID-RIFF MERCH!

Anticipatory Armor in Music Retail with citations!

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Check out more from Ruinous Media!

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

061 / Anticipatory Armor in Music Retail

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Many marginalized musicians have a shared experience of dread anticipating negative treatment when entering a music store— as though they are preparing for battle.

In this episode, Hilary talks about this experience of “anticipatory armor,” how it works, and how retailers can prevent it.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

MID-RIFF LINKS

Black Velvet Punks Facebook

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Check out more from Ruinous Media!

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

060 / Taylor Ngiri Seaberg (Black Velvet Punks) on Identities and Spaces Between

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Emily the Strange guitars, being musically typecast, mental health, and the Art of the Revolution are part of Hilary’s discussion with Taylor Ngiri Seaberg.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

Demonic Machines- LGBTQ+ owned, small-batch, handmade pedals in San Diego, CA!

TAYLOR’s BIO

Taylor Ngiri Seaberg (they/them) is a Kenyan-American, gender non-binary community organizer and multi-instrumentalist based in Chicago, Illinois, originally from South Minneapolis, MN. They play in the Twin Cities, MN alt jazz, hip hop, and punk band, Black Velvet Punks.

Ngiri was a lead director on a compilation community album called, “The Art of the Revolution,” which included works of resilience from 10 different Black arts organizers and activists. They are currently a Metro Regional Arts Council (MRAC) finalist for the 2021 $5,000 Next Step Fund grant for a live streaming concert incorporating Kiswahili and English for a live production showcase.

TAYLOR’s MENTIONS

Electric Arts / Washburn / Epiphone / Fender / Vig Guitar Shop / Electro-Harmonix / Boss / Line 6 / Roland / South Side Desire / Ike Riley Assassination / Traiveon Dunlap / Rodrick Glasper / BLK FM / Erik Novak / Art of the Revolution / Minnesota Youth Collective / Gully Boys / The Smokes / Kashimana / Rebecca Nichloson / Queen Drea / Nathaniel Nelson / Honey Dick / Minnesota Public Radio / Kendrick Lamar / Keston Wright

TAYLOR’s LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Check out more from Ruinous Media!

Bumper Music: “Lonely Mona” by Austen Nobles, Monica Rose, Dissonant Dessert, and Taylor Ngiri Seaberg

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

059 / Mid-Riff Live with SYM1, Nat Harvie, and Pamela Laizure

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Mid-Riff takes the show on the road to the Minneapolis / St. Paul area! Hilary talks gender and gear with SYM1, Nat Harvie, and Pamela Laizure in front of a live audience at Caydence Records and Coffee.

The night featured live performances, a lutherie demo, gear rundowns, a panel discussion, and audience Q+A!

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 | Episode introduction

2:50 | Welcome to event

5:10 | SYM1

15:47 | Nat Harvie

33:25 | Pamela Laizure

52:34 | Panel discussion

1:15:35 | Audience Q+A

1:33:00 | Event closing

1:36:22 | Episode outro

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsor!

Chase Bliss- effects pedals made in Minneapolis with a digital brain and analog heart!

ARTIST BIOs

SYM1

Unsubscribed from reality as we know it, SYM(1) is a Minneapolis based pop artist, producer, and vocalist where dance music, alternative genres, and hyperpop aesthetics meet.

Nat Harvie

Nat Harvie is a musician and audio engineer living and working in Minneapolis.

Pamela Laizure

Pamela Laizure is a luthier and musician residing in Minneapolis, MN. She plays bass for the surf-punk trio Black Widows and loves working on guitars out of her home under the supervision of her dog, Sofi, and cat, Penny.

MENTIONS

Ableton / Serum / Max for Live / TC Helicon / Reverend / TC Electronic / Resonant Electronic Design / MXR / Kinotone / 1010Music / Peterson Strobe Tuners / Danelectro / Electro-Harmonix / Boss US / Fender / Hartke / Telefunken / Klon / Sennheiser / PJ Harvey / Chokecherry / Holly Hansen / Zoo Animal / David Bowie / Sarina Paris / Britney Spears / Backstreet Boys / Shaun Paul / Kim Petras / Haley / Low / Joe Rainey / Moor Mother / Phil Elverum / Songs: Ohia / Alice Coltrane / Bikini Kill / Dead Kennedys / Crass / B-52s / ESG

ARTIST LINKS

SYM1 website

Nat Harvie Bandcamp

Pamela Laizure Instagram

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

058 / Kim Chin-Gibbons (Sunset Mission) on Yurts, Weirdos, and Cheap Gear

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Taylor Swift karaoke machines, She Shred’s 1 Riff a Day, luthier apprenticeship, and the exact location of women in prog are part of Hilary’s discussion with Kim Chin-Gibbons. Plus, music, rights, representation, and AI.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

Demonic Machines- LGBTQ+ owned, small-batch, handmade pedals in San Diego, CA!

KIM’s BIO

Kim is a Cambodian born, American raised musician and photographer spending her time making art in Western Massachusetts, Boston, MA, and Woonsocket, RI. Leaving high school at age fourteen led her to find her love of music, photography, and marketing for the arts and nonprofits. Kim is an alum of North Star: Self-Directed Learning for Teens, and the Institute for the Musical Arts’ summer programs (performance and recording).

Throughout the beginnings of the pandemic, Kim attended Marlboro College in Marlboro, VT, who merged with Emerson College in Boston, MA. She was amongst the last class in the history of the institution’s Vermont campus.

After attending Marlboro and the Marlboro Institute at Emerson College, she left school to pursue Music with the progressive rock band Sunset Mission. The band has grown into an 8-piece lineup and plans to tour across the country and beyond, as soon COVID circumstances permit.

KIM’s MENTIONS

Fractal Audio / Rivera / Marshall / Canal Side Guitar Works / Healy Guitars / Strymon / Ibanez / D’Angelico / Neural DSP / Orange / Opeth / Yvette Young / Tosin Abasi / Anneke van Giersbergen / The Gathering / Animals as Leaders / Pain of Salvation / Ritual / Gojira / Ann Hackler / June Millington / Fanny / IMA- Institute for the Musical Arts / Downtown Sounds / She Shreds Media

KIM’s LINKS

Kim’s Website

Kim’s Instagram

Sunset Mission’s Website

Sunset Mission Instagram

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Bumper Music: “Kaleidoscope” by Sunset Mission

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

057 / Jennifer Turpin + Adam Brilla (Stompbox Sonic) on Pedal Curation Across the Nation

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Heavy retail armor, being treated as a musician, not a liability, and choosing not to work with gatekeepers are part of Hilary’s conversation with Jennifer Turpin and Adam Brilla from Stompbox Sonic. Plus, preventing tokenism in hiring.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

Demonic Machines- LGBTQ+ owned, small-batch, handmade pedals in San Diego, CA!

STOMPBOX SONIC’s BIO

STOMPBOX SONIC provides musicians with an extensive tonal palette for auditory exploration.

Specializing in effects pedals (aka “stompboxes”) built by companies large and small, some locally crafted, some collected from around the world.

Our goal is to ignite the creative spark and help you navigate all those switches and blinking lights to bring your music to life.

Since 2009 guitarist, songwriter, and noise maker Adam Brilla (he/him) and artist, musician, facilitator Jennifer Turpin (she/her) have been working with sound-based artists and musicians helping them discover their sound.

Jen has been an active member of the GRCB community since 2013, leading effects pedals workshops, teaching guitar and bass, and coaching bands. Most recently she has been drumming in a feminist punk band Pitstain as well as Babes of Mutilation.

Adam began his musical journey in 1988. This expedition brought him opportunities to perform, record and tour with a variety of New England area bands including Lockgroove, Broken River Prophet, Animal Hospital Ensemble, Seana Carmody, Tiny Amps, Bicker, Argo Arkestra, Me Jane, Charlene, Fury Things, and Kansas City based Your Reflection.

Together they have provided Boston area musicians the opportunity to explore new sounds and create new music through 1:1 soundtastings as well as interactive effects exhibits, at the Museum of Science and Microsoft for the New England Synth Fest.

Both Adam and Jen have new, as of yet, unnamed musical projects in the works, each debuting in 2023.

STOMPBOX SONIC’s MENTIONS

Seana Carmody / The Swirlies / Syrup USA / Black Sabbath / Iron Maiden / Low / Pixies / Girls Rock Campaign Boston / NAMM / Barnstorm / TT the Bear’s / Middle East Club / Empire Guitars / Mike Samos / Boston Synth Fest / New England Synth Fest / Beats by Girlz / Hagstrom / Epiphone / EarthQuaker Devices / Hovercraft / C&C Drums / Paiste Cymbals / Dream Cymbals / Montoya / Hondo

STOMPBOX SONIC’s LINKS

Animal Hospital Ensemble

MID-RIFF LINKS

Learn more or read it here

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Bumper Music: “No Excuses” by Pitstain

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

056 / Gender and Music Gear Experiences Report + NAMM!

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary interviews 15 awesome industry folks about NAMM 2022 and their thoughts about the Gender and Music Gear Experiences Report!

What’s the Gender and Music Gear Experiences Report? (LINK HERE!)

I’m glad you asked!

It is a document sharing the results from a survey of 996 musicians from around the world about their experiences related to gender and music gear.

Listen to the episode to hear the results or download the report below!

Thanks to the awesome survey participants and this episode’s interviewees!

INTERVIEWEES:

Philipe (Caroline Guitar Company)

Joel (Chase Bliss Audio)

Julie and Anna (EarthQuaker Devices)

Mitch (Empress Effects)

Tim (Ernie Ball Music Man)

Christian (Eventide Audio)

Emily (Get Offset)

Heather (Heather Brown Electronicals)

Ellis (LEH Guitars)

Aisha (Loe Sounds)

Marissa (Neunaber Audio)

Sylvie (Red Panda)

Carlos (Third Man Hardware)

Jason (Working Class Music)

GENDER and MUSIC GEAR EXPERIENCES REPORT

CREATING INCLUSIVE MUSIC RETAIL SPACES FOR MANAGERS COURSE

Learn more or sign up here

TIMESTAMPS

[0:09] Introduction to Episode and Report

[11:02] NAMM Intro

[13:36] Companies’ New Gear

[24:28] “Were you surprised by this data?”

[40:54] “What barriers might companies have to making change?”

[55:23] “How might companies overcome those barriers?”

[1:27:04] “Why is this data important?”

[1:32:23] What You Can Do Now

MID-RIFF LINKS

Women’s International Music Network

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

055 / Laura B. Whitmore (WiMN, Positive Grid) on Being Passionate AND Proactive

Tue, 31 May 2022 10:00:00 -0500

Robot backing bands, managing retail baggage, talking class A amps at parties, making extra efforts for diversity, and dreaming of open mics are part of Hilary’s conversation with Laura B. Whitmore. Plus, music’s role in preventing mass shootings.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

LAURA’s BIO

Laura B. Whitmore is a music marketer, singer/songwriter, event producer, journalist, and founder of the Women's International Music Network and the She Rocks Awards.

After graduating from Hofstra, Whitmore worked for CBS Records and Korg USA where she handled marketing, PR and artist relations for Korg, Marshall, and VOX. Twenty years after working with Korg, Whitmore founded Mad Sun Marketing, handling marketing, PR, artist relations and additional services for numerous industry leaders.

In 2012 Whitmore founded The Women's International Music Network, an organization dedicated to providing support, information, and community to women in all walks of life within the industry. The WiMN produces the She Rocks Awards, a ceremony that honors trailblazing women from all areas of the industry.

Since 2020 Whitmore has served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Positive Grid, a revolutionary music technology software and hardware company that is changing the way people approach music making.

LAURA’s MENTIONS

Positive Grid / Martin / Ovation / Breedlove / Fender / Fishman / Shure / Zoom / Japanese Breakfast- Michelle Zauner / Dionne Warwick / Yvette Young / Carmen Vandenberg / Lzzy Hale / Katie Daryl / Tenille Arts / NAMM

LAURA’s LINKS

She Rocks Awards

MID-RIFF LINKS

Podcast episode mentioned

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

054 / Sky Deep (Peaches) on Vampires, Spreadsheets, and Laser Harps

Tue, 10 May 2022 11:00:00 -0500

Midi Musical Directing, creating a portable musical lifestyle in Berlin, guitar, grooveboxes, and stepping outside the queer bubble are part of Hilary’s conversation with Sky Deep. Plus, music gear’s connection to reproductive rights.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

SKY’s BIO

Sky Deep is a sound engineer, multi-instrumentalist, filmmaker and label owner. She has toured Europe and the US successfully as a guitarist and vocalist and was midi musical director and multi-instrumentalist for Peaches' touring band. Sky is currently a live performer of electronic music mixed with guitar, vocals, and percussion, a DJ, a designer for indie films, TV, and theater, and a lecturer at BMM Institute Berlin. In addition to her performing career, she has curated festivals and club parties, runs her own clothing line, Sky Deep Threadz, and her award-winning debut film, Enactone, has screened at film festivals worldwide.

SKY’s MENTIONS

Ableton / Akai / Casio / Novation / Elektron / Mesa Boogie / Yamaha / Zoom / Line 6 / Gibson / Tanglewood / Peavey

SKY’s LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

“Fault Line” by RVP video

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

ADDITIONAL LINKS

Bumper Music: “Up in Here” by Sky Deep

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

053 / Rosie Varela (EEP, RVP) on Gaining and Surrendering Control

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Keyboard beatdowns, accessibility guitar inventions, shoegaze vs. avant pop, and a literally smoking recording are part of Hilary’s conversation with Rosie Varela (EEP, The Rosie Varela Project, Hogar Records, Brainville Studio). Plus, The Pedal Lady Problem.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

ROSIE’s BIO

Rosie Varela is a 54-year-old singer/songwriter/guitarist for EEP, an eclectic shoegaze band in El Paso, Texas. She began writing songs in the late 1990s, but did not record any of them until 2019, when she and her bandmates formed EEP. The band has released two critically acclaimed albums - “Death of a Very Good Machine” (2020) and “Winter Skin” (2021).

Rosie created The Rosie Varela Project, an Avant-Pop/Indie Rock band for songs that bend genre and may not always fit into EEP's shoegaze style. The solo project will release its debut album “What Remains,” co-produced by Rosie Varela and Ross Ingram, on June 3, 2022.

Rosie is a co-owner with her husband, Justin Oser, and her collaborator and bandmate, Ross Ingram, of Brainville, a recording studio in Sunland Park, New Mexico, and Hogar Records, an independent music label in El Paso, Texas. The label’s plans for 2022 include releasing The Rosie Varela Project’s debut album, Ross Ingram’s second solo album, and EEP’s third album.

MENTIONS

Roland / Electro-Harmonix / Old Blood Noise Endeavors / Fender / Melodyne / Pro Tools / Danelectro / Boss / Garageband / Focusrite / Sarah Rebecca / My Bloody Valentine / Slowdive / Lush / The Verve / Tori Amos / Laurie Anderson / Fiona Apple / Joni Mitchell / David Bowie / Peter Gabriel / Kate Bush / Javier Martinez / Amphibian Dance / Johnny Greenwood / Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson / The Meters / George Porter, Jr. / James Jamerson / Carole Kaye / Dire Straits / Pull of Autumn

ROSIE's LINKS

EEP Bandcamp

Rosie’s Star Trek and empathy article

MID-RIFF LINKS

ReVoicing the Future Podcast

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Bumper Music: “Fault Line” by The Rosie Varela Project

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

052 / Natalie Morrison and Stephanie Lamond (ReVoicing the Future) on Legitmate Gear

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 10:15:00 -0500

Nebulous business cards, instrument gender stereotypes, “booth girls,” and podcasting are part of Hilary’s conversation with Natalie Morrison (D’Addario) and Stephanie Lamond (Recording Academy) of ReVoicing the Future: A Women of NAMM podcast. Plus, the Diversity in Music Gear Resource List.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

NATALIE’s BIO

Growing up in a family of musicians, Natalie learned the ins and outs of the industry at a young age. Aside from her work as Co-host and Co-Producer of ReVoicing the Future, a Women of NAMM Podcast, she is currently the Brand Communications Strategist at D’Addario, the world’s largest music accessories manufacturer. Over the years, Natalie has worked with organizations across the industry including, Little Kids Rock, Alfred Music, Giles Communications, and The NAMM Show working on their PR Team. When she’s not working, you can find her bustling around New York City at a record store, coffee shop, yoga class, concert or Broadway show.

STEPHANIE’s BIO

Stephanie Lamond is a Creative Producer and Artist based in San Francisco, CA. After starting out on the NAMM Show's seasonal PR Team, she's worked her way through music industry nonprofits, music education programs, and recording studios, and most recently finds herself producing industry-focused events and podcasts, while writing/releasing music as Lucky Lamond (debut album Carry Them All out now!). When she's not doing something music related, you can find her exploring her home state, hiking and camping or on her '83 BMW R65 motorcycle.

MENTIONS

NAMM / D’Addario / Little Kids Rock / Alfred Music / Warm Audio / Yamaha / Kala / Logic / Reaper / Neuman / Harmon / Audio Technica / Kit Culpepper / Julia Olsen

GUEST LINKS

Lucky Lamond Website

Stephanie on Instagram

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Bumper Music: “White Lighters” by Lucky Lamond

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

051 / Donna Diane (Djunah) on Touching Your Gear

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Inventing bass organ techniques, dressing like Steve Albini, mentorship, the impact of trauma therapy on music and beyond are all part of Hilary’s conversation with Donna Diane from the band Djunah. Plus, representation days vs. months vs. years.

*content warning for general discussion of trauma, suicidal ideation, and eating disorders

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

DONNA’s BIO

Multi-instrumentalist Donna Diane pulls triple duty in Chicago noise duo Djunah—simultaneously playing guitar, singing, and pulverizing a Moog bass organ with her feet. Drawing a broad range of comparisons from PJ Harvey to Melvins, Djunah pairs her powerful, unrestrained vocal style with crashing guitar riffs and heavy, punishing drums. She’s been featured on Premier Guitar's Rig Rundown and her own mini-YouTube series called "Can I Touch Your Gear?”

DONNA’s MENTIONS

Moog Synthesizers / God City Instruments / Emperor Cabinets / Sunn Amplifiers / Imelda Marcos (band) / Kurt Ballou

DONNA’s LINKS

Bandcamp

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

YouTube

*SUPPORT

National Alliance on Mental Illness

National Eating Disorder Association

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Bumper Music: “Animal Kingdom” by Djunah

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

050 / Samantha “GhettoSongBird” Hollins on Having a Stage for You

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 11:30:00 -0500

Telling untold stories, the wildest first amp ever, getting bossed around in the studio, and music as a family affair are part of Hilary’s conversation with Samantha “GhettoSongBird” Hollins. Plus, reassessing what we value in hiring.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

SAMANTHA’s BIO

Samantha “GhettoSongBird” Hollins is an independent Culture Rock singer-songwriter-guitarist from North Philadelphia. Since 2001 she has been blazing stages at legendary Rock venues including CBGB’s (NYC), The Bitter End (NYC), The Whisky A Go-Go (L.A.), The Troubadour (London) and The Overthrust Winter Mania Metal Fest in (Botswana). She was also the curator of her own festival Wingdomfest (2005-2008) and presently her digital publication The Culture Rock Griot.

GhettoSongBird recorded her “Alley Of The Earth” EP in Los Angles (2002) with the help of her mentor Rosa Lee Brooks (a recording artist in the 60's, who wrote and recorded with Jimi Hendrix). The first single “landed" the Songbird on the classic B.E.T. show 106 & Park and sharing the stage with many legends.

GhettoSongBird’s message music has made a lingering impact playing throughout the USA, Australia, the U.K., Brazil and Africa, breaking rules along her extraordinary journey.

SAMANTHA’s MENTIONS

Tracy Chapman / 4 Non-Blondes / Sister Rosetta Tharpe / Bo Diddley / Prince / Grace Slick / Rosa Lee Brooks / Jimi Hendrix / Johnny “Guitar” Watson / Santana / Jackie Venson / Crate / Tascam / Roland / Boss / Epiphone / BC Rich / Vintage / Jim Dunlop / Danelectro

SAMANTHA’s LINKS

Samantha’s Instagram

Samantha’s Facebook

Samantha’s Bandcamp

Culture Rock Griot website

Culture Rock Griot Instagram

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Bumper Music: “Alley of the Earth” by Samantha “GhettoSongBird” Hollins

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

049 / Ellis Hahn (LEH Guitars) on No Problem Basses and Spaces

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Preventative mansplaining, empathy-building, and the science of 5 string basses are all part of Hilary’s conversation with Ellis Hahn, founder and luthier at LEH Guitars. Plus, the “right” time for change.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

ELLIS’s BIO

Ellis Hahn, founder of LEH guitars, spends their days designing and building kickass electric basses for kickass musicians.

Ellis’s approach is simple: “I design instruments that are personally exciting to me, that I think are awesome. I design instruments that sit well and feel good in your hands—instruments that I wish existed. My focus is on comfort and playability while creating something that is at once visually familiar and uniquely different.”

Ellis’s career officially began in 2002 with an apprenticeship in Chicago learning guitar repair. Ellis realized that they were more interested in designing and building instruments than repair work. In 2005, Ellis moved to NYC to work for, arguably, the best guitar shop in the city: Sadowsky Guitars. They spent thousands of hours working in all levels of the production process— fretwork, body sanding, final assembly— ultimately taking on shop manager duties in 2013. “That gave some time and experience to find out what works and why, talk to players about their needs, and then after hours: prototype a lot of different designs to see what works.”

As of this summer, LEH has a new shop space in Portland, Oregon. The move out west has opened a new chapter of creativity and prototyping for Ellis. Expanding on the success of LEH’s current offset models — new ones are in the design stage. “We’re always changing, we’re always evolving and improving. Life is an ever shifting tone quest and I’m as much on that journey as my customers are.”

ELLIS’s MENTIONS

EarthQuaker Devices / Ableton / Genzler / Marshall / ProCo / Sadowsky Guitars / How to Make Your Own Electric Guitar by Melvyn Hiscock

ELLIS’s LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Support Mid-Riff by shopping on Reverb!

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

048 / Lisa Machac (Omni Sound Project) on Clear Signals and Parameters

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Creating strong social ties and inclusive virtual classes and spaces in audio and helping venues to diversify their booking are part of Hilary's conversation with Lisa Machac, founder and director of Omni Sound Project. Plus, niceness and discomfort.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

LISA’s BIO

Lisa is a musician based in Austin, Texas. After recording her own album in 2010, she became interested in audio engineering and took courses from Women's Audio Mission in San Francisco. Upon returning to Texas, Lisa started dreaming about creating a community of women+ in audio in Austin. In February of 2020, Omni Sound Project was launched with over 20 local, in-person events scheduled for the year. Just a couple of months later, all of our classes were shifted to an online format to respond to the pandemic. Overnight, Omni became a global community of musicians, producers, and engineers who identify as female, GNC, trans, and allies. Lisa believes that the frequency and quality of Omni's classes taught by welcoming, inclusive teachers makes the organization a genuine community that is steadily increasing gender representation in the audio industry.

LISA’s MENTIONS

Lakland / Gibson / Casio / Yamaha / Buck Meek / Women’s Audio Mission / Focusrite / Logic / Baby Audio / Goodhertz / Art of Gathering by Priya Parker / Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

LISA’s LINKS

Omni Sound Project website

Omni Sound Project Instagram

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

047 / Krystal Flowers on Another Type of Feedback

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 17:00:00 -0500

User experience design in music gear, left-handed guitar options, and John Popper’s harmonica fishing vest are all part of multi-instrumentalist Krystal Flowers' conversation with Hilary. Plus creating community in music retail spaces.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

KRYSTAL’s BIO

Krystal Flowers is a multi-instrumentalist from Chicago, Illinois. She grew up in a household that played a plethora of artists ranging from Smokey Robinson to Led Zeppelin and developed a love for music at a young age.

Krystal made her transition from music lover to musician when she began playing in bands at 18. Since starting her music career, she has been both a session musician and co-collaborator in various ensembles. Krystal finds excitement in diversity and enjoys playing post-punk, metal, funk and neo-soul.

She has played at venues such as Beat Kitchen, House of Blues and has opened for Brown Mark of Prince and the Revolution fame at Martyrs.

KRYSTAL’s MENTIONS

Epiphone / Agile Guitarls / Revelation Guitars / Keeley / Line 6 / Digitech / TC Electronic / Walrus Audio / Orange / Jim Dunlop / Ibanez / Schecter / Paul McCartney / Green Day / Nirvana / Dave Navarro / Fishbone / Bad Brains / John Entwistle / She Shreds

KRYSTAL’s LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

046 / Matt and Carl (Electrofoods) on Putting Your Money Where Your Heart Is

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Living your company values, non-binary presentation and representation, threatening hi-hats, and Peavey Peavey Peavey are all covered by Matt McDonald and Carl Platts (Electrofoods and Booklegger) in their conversation with Hilary. Plus, 7 ways music retailers can support parents.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

MATT and CARL’S BIO

Carl Platts (he/him) is a radiology tech, a player of all drums and stringed instruments, songwriter, and all around gear fixer and cat snuggler. Matt McDonald (he/she/they) is a nonbinary transfem mechanical engineer, guitarist, songwriter, poet, and graphic designer. Together they design and build pedals, and make very loud noises with too many amps and excessively large cymbals.

MENTIONS

Peavey / Electronic Audio Experiments / Gallien-Krueger / Faital Pro / Ludwig / DDrum / Paiste / Amy Mills / Couch Slut / Neurosis / EarthQuaker Devices / Fender

MATT and CARL’S LINKS

Electrofoods website

Electrofoods Instagram

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Bumper song: “Handaxe” by Booklegger

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

045 / That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Why are some jokes funny to some people and offensive to others?

Hilary got sick and used this solo episode as an excuse to research and break down the function of jokes and implications for music gear spaces and workplaces-- and why you should use Venn diagrams rather than walk on eggshells.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

REFERENCES

Benign Violation Theory (BVT) basics

BVT and power

CREDITS

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

044 / JJ Gonson on Photo FOMO and Venues During Covid

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Co-writing a song with Elliott Smith, Nirvana crashing at your house, documenting the early hardcore scene (without getting killed), and running a safer venue during a pandemic are all on the table as Hilary talks with photographer and venue owner, JJ Gonson.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

JJ’s BIO

JJ Gonson began photographing bands in the ‘80s hardcore scene on the East Coast and later in the early ‘90s music scene in the Northwest. She is known especially for her photography of Elliott Smith, including the cover of his self-titled album and "Roman Candle." She has documented bands such as: Nirvana, the Descendants, Jane’s Addiction, Black Flag, Pussy Galore, Motorhead, and 7 Seconds. She managed Elliott Smith’s earlier band, Heatmiser and booked and managed other bands, as well, which, in addition to her time as a chef and experience catering, led her to open the music venue ONCE in Somerville, Massachusetts.

JJ’S LINKS

JJ’s Photography

JJ’s Instagram

ONCE Somerville’s Website

ONCE Somerville’s Instagram

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

043 / Amy Mills (Retrofret, Couch Slut) on Harp Guitars and Accidental Luthiery

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Valuing femininity, Vampower amps, mandolin emergencies, and trans representation are part of Hilary’s conversation with Amy Mills (Retrofret Vintage Guitars, Couch Slut, Epistasis). Plus, the problem with “most guys.”

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

AMY’s BIO

Amy Rose Mills is a queer trans woman, photographer, luthier, and musician (among other things) living and working in NYC.

AMY’S LINKS

Amy’s website

Amy’s Instagram

Amy’s TikTok

Amy’s solo work on Bandcamp

Couch Slut on Bandcamp

Epistasis on Bandcamp

Retrofret on Instagram

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Bumper song: “1” by Amy Rose

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

042 / Choose Your Own Adventure, the Mid-Riff Listener Survey

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary calls for help from the bottom of her basement by asking you to complete the Mid-Riff Listener Survey!

—How can Mid-Riff best achieve its goal of making change in the industry?

—What do you want to hear more or less of?

—Should there be a YouTube channel?

—Who do you want to see as a guest?

—Do you even read these show notes? :)

You can answer these questions and more AND get entered to win a $100 Visa gift card. Simply complete the survey and email Hilary with the headline “raffle” and you’re IN!

Thanks so much to you, Mid-Riff listener, for your continued support and input!

MID-RIFF LINKS

Mid-Riff Listener Survey

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

041 / Denise Meza-Reidpath and Rikki Davis (RIOT RI) on Turning Gear Shame into Joy

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Denise Meza-Reidpath and Rikki Davis, Co-Executive Directors of RIOT Rhode Island about gear loan libraries, instrument doulas, Steely Dan, and the stigma of being a vocalist. Plus, why are there no boys rock camps?

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

RIKKI’s BIO

Rikki Davis (they/them) is a vocal instructor, songwriter, arts administrator, and activist from Providence, RI. They started working at RIOT RI in 2018, and currently hold the role of co-executive director at the organization. They are the vocalist and bassist in the gay wedding band Tenderhooks. Rikki is passionate about disrupting hierarchies, promoting community care, demystifying music making, and giving youth the tools they need to thrive. When it's not a literal pandemic, Rikki is a skater with Providence Roller Derby under the alter ego, RetroRocket.

DENISE’s BIO

Denise Meza-Reidpath (she/her/ella) is a self identified bicultural feminist, who was born and raised in Sinaloa, Mexico, but has been rooted in Providence, RI for over 10 years. She has an educational background in sociology, multicultural communication and secondary education.

As one of the Executive Co-Directors at RIOT Rhode Island, the cornerstone of her work is youth development, gender justice and healing. A musician born out of the reciprocity with nature and others, she finds inspiration in a myriad of music genres and likes to approach music with the same embodiment curiosity and exploration as identity, always shifting.

MENTIONS

Tender Hooks / Tall / Michael Kelly / EarthQuaker Devices / Woodrow / Novation / Boss US / Rogue / Dolly Parton / Steely Dan / Blind Faith / Phoebe Bridgers / Kimya Dawson / Ani DiFranco / The Weepies

RIKKI and DENISE’s LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Hilary on The High Gain Podcast

Hilary on Down Time

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

040 / Ciyadh Wells on the Margins of Classical Guitar

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Ciyadh Wells (Musically Cogitating Podcast, Margins Guitar Collective, Duo Charango) about guitar societies, creating community, carbon strings, and musicians’ relationships with the non-profit industrial complex. Plus, a defense of sparkly guitars.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

Holcomb Guitars- custom guitars and mobile guitar repair in RI/MA!

CIYADH’S BIO

Ciyadh Wells is a multifaceted musician who prides herself in not only being an artist but also an activist, and a scholar. As a scholar and educator, Wells believes everyone deserves access to diverse and inclusive art, which she advocates as being essential to society. Ciyadh’s mission is to utilize the impact of music old and new, to manifest moments of meaningful change and to inspire community therein. She is the Artistic & Executive Director of Margins Guitar Collective and she is a former member of the Sphinx LEAD program. Ciyadh is one half of guitar duo, Duo Charango, and lives in Austin, Texas.

MENTIONS

Steven Walter Guitar / Squier / Electro-Harmonix / Line 6 / EBow / Max MSP / Jimi Hendrix

CIYADH’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Ciyadh’s Bumper Track: “Ofrendas” by Ciyadh Wells

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

039 / Alice Bag on Demystifying Gear and Hosting a Dinner Party [REPLAY]

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0500

In this replay episode, Hilary talks with Alice Bag about in-ear monitor envy, GarageBand demoing for her new record, Sister Dynamite, and how being “the first” is like hosting a dinner party.

New Content: Addressing music gear companies’ concerns when beginning to diversify their hiring process.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

DistroKid- simple online music distribution service! (use this link for a 7% discount!)

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

ALICE’S BIO

Alice Bag is a singer/songwriter, musician, author, artist, educator and feminist. Alice was the lead singer and co-founder of the Bags, one of the first bands to form during the initial wave of punk in Los Angeles. The Alice Bag Band was featured in the seminal documentary on punk rock, The Decline of Western Civilization. Alice went on to perform in other groundbreaking bands, including Castration Squad, Cholita, and Las Tres. She is the author of the critically acclaimed books 'Violence Girl' and 'Pipe Bomb For the Soul.' Her self-titled 2016 debut album received critical acclaim and was named one of the best albums of 2016 by AllMusic. Her second album, Blueprint, was named one of the Best Albums of 2018 by NPR and the Los Angeles Times. Bag’s 3rd album, Sister Dynamite, was released in April 2020.

MENTIONS

The Bags / Stay at Home Bomb / Cholita / Fea / Patricia Morrison / Vaginal Cream Davis / Fertile La Toyah Jackson /Allison Wolfe / Lisa Flores / In the Red Records / Amy Taylor - Amyl & the Sniffers / Teri Gender Bender - Le Butcherettes / Amber Fargano - Fattycakes and the Puff Pastries/ GarageBand / Road amps

ALICE’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Alice’s Bumper Track: “77” by Alice Bag

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

038 / LG (Thelma and the Sleaze / Queen of S- Mountain) on Keeping Music Human

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with LG (Thelma and the Sleaze / Queen of S- Mountain) about learning theory in lockdown, Peavey, podcasting, Burger Records, and intentionality around shirtless performances. Plus, teaching kids to recognize representation in media.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

DistroKid- simple online music distribution service! (use this link for a 7% discount!)

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

LG’s BIO

LG is the front-woman for the greatest, all-female, queer, southern rock band of all time, Thelma and the Sleaze and host of Queen of S- Mountain podcast. Season One featured tour storytelling, with an oral history of the band, advice for DIY rockers, and hard truths about the music industry. Season Two showcases the women of rock in this cultural moment, with tales of triumph, highlighting both the current and continuing female dominance in the industry, with interviews from beloved musicians, independent legends, and more.

LG’s LINKS

Thelma and the Sleaze Website

Thelma and the Sleaze Instagram

Thelma and the Sleaze Twitter

Thelma and the Sleaze YouTube

Queen of S- Mountain Instagram

Queen of S- Mountain Spotify

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

LG’s Bumper Track: “High Class Woman” by Thelma and the Sleaze

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

037 / Marci.DH on Holding the Keys and Tonal Opportunity

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Marci.DH about escaping the proving ground, creating tension with sonics, stereotype threat, and representation. Plus, parenting as the ultimate prevention.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

DistroKid- simple online music distribution service! (use this link for a 7% discount!)

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

MARCI’s BIO

Marci.DH is a musician from Arizona. Using synthesizers, sequencers, acoustic percussion, and string instruments, she records (and occasionally performs) ... whatever she feels like making.

MENTIONS

Arturia / Casio / Juno / Protools / Roland / Slammer / Slingerland / Sequential Circuits / Electro-Harmonix / Ash Farrand / The Cure

MARCI’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Big Five Media Literacy Questions

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Marci’s Bumper Track: “Substitute for Self-Esteem” by Marci.DH

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

036 / Rebecca Jasso (Old Town School Music Store) on Anti-Stairway-Denying

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 17:45:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Rebecca Jasso (Old Town School Music Store) about her role as a guitar buyer and music retailer, stage banter, Star Search, and guitar body shapes for everyone. Plus, allyship, accompliceship, and co-conspiratorship.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

DistroKid- simple online music distribution service! (use this link for a 7% discount!)

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

REBECCA’S BIO

Chicago native Rebecca Jasso is a singer/songwriter who playfully writes around the themes of love, loneliness, and fantasy, skillfully weaving her melodies into the harmonic fabric of her fingerstyle guitar playing.

Music has had a strong hold over Rebecca since childhood. At age 10, she took up the guitar, and since the very beginning, sought to write good songs. Despite learning at this young age, it wasn't till after college that she worked up the confidence to take her music to the stage. For years she oscillated between playing solo and in bands, with each wave bringing her closer to chiseling out a style that would be her very own.

A visual artist, Rebecca conjures images with her lyrics to insert you into pictures from her own imagination. From soft, autumnal landscapes, to dark, Narnian scenes, each song is a journey into a new story. Her honest voice and beautiful songs will absolutely charm you.

MENTIONS

Norma / Seagull / Martin / Gold Tone / MXR / Reverb / Gibson / Fender / Yamaha / Evan Holmes

REBECCA’S LINKS

Rebecca’s Website

Rebecca’s Instagram

Old Town School Music Store’s Website

Old Town School Music Store’s Instagram

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Rebecca’s Bumper Track: “Lost and Wandering” by Rebecca Jasso

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

035 / Tia Bailey (Working Class Music) on Gear Never-Ending

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Tia Bailey (Working Class Music) on signature models and identity, giving up on bands, feeling like a unicorn, Ladders 101, and the difference between retail and YouTube. Plus, moving beyond black squares.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

DistroKid- simple online music distribution service! (use this link for a 7% discount!)

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

TIA’S BIO

Tia Bailey is co-host of Working Class Music, a YouTube channel primarily dedicated to gear demos/reviews with the occasional interview from local bands/artists/people involved in the music scene who don’t normally have a voice or an outlet provided to them. Working Class Music’s main goal is to make entertaining videos that are informative and helpful to every musician of every skill set whether you’re playing in a basement or selling out an arena.

MENTIONS

Weezer / Nirvana / Green Day / Ariana Grande / Kali Uchis / Jason Mays / Get Offset / J. Mascis / Troy Van Leeuwen / H.E.R. / Tash Sultana / St. Vincent / Justin Mendel Johnson / Washburn / Fender / Squier / Gibson / Epiphone / Martin / Orange / EarthQuaker Devices / Walrus Audio / Electro-Harmonix / Boss / Guitar Center

TIA’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

034 / Aisha Loe (Loe Sounds) on Finding Your Aural Vision

Thu, 20 May 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Aisha Loe (Loe Sounds) about SVTs as protection against misogyny, being homeful, Nine Inch Nails, and the privilege of learning. Plus, music gear jargon.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

DistroKid- simple online music distribution service! (use this link for a 7% discount!)

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

AISHA’S BIO

Aisha Loe is a musician, sound designer and effects pedal maker based in Southern California. Aisha and her wife Fiona have a tiny guitar pedal company called Loe Sounds, that specializes in making new pedals out of discarded items. They are passionate about environmental issues and animal rescue.

MENTIONS

Metallica / X / Ghoul / Mr. Bungle / Peaches / New Order / Massive Attack / Tricky / Portishead / Vic Thrill / Split Enz / Addicted to Fiction / Rush / Crowns on 45 / Sonic Youth / Soundgarden / Jane’s Addiction / Nine Inch Nails / Knitting Factory / Emily Harris / Get Offset / Peavey / Ampeg / EHX / Korg / Mesa Boogie / Fender / Ableton / Freesound.org / Roland / Crowther Audio / Heather Brown Electronicals / Frantone / The Pedal Movie

AISHA’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Aisha’s Bumper Track: “Drama Shakes” by We Float

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

033 / Rosie Mankato (Mankato Guitars) on Tonewoods and Sanding in Your Sleep

Thu, 06 May 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Rosie Mankato (Mankato Guitars) about building a studio and isolating in the woods, the harsh world of luthier school, trying to make guitar bodies out of trash, and the difference a pleasant guitar store can make. Plus, actual “object”-ification.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

DistroKid- simple online music distribution service! (use this link for a 7% discount!)

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

ROSIE’S BIO

Rosie Mankato is a Brazilian music producer and songwriter (who also makes music for TV, films and even toddler's shows!), which she’s been doing for over 10 years. She is the first woman to graduate from a guitar-making college in Brazil (check them out if you have a translator: http://www.luteria.ufpr.br/portal), and has been making guitars since 2013. She started Mankato Guitars with her partner (who is an awesome artist @desktopgirl) and two colleagues from college (@ateliedeluteria). They hand-make guitars and basses one by one using native woods and trying to use the least machinery possible in the process.

MENTIONS

Fender / Novation / Universal Audio / Amplitube / Humbuster / Gretsch / Dolly Parton / Monica Agena / Norman’s Rare Guitars / Presonus

ROSIE’S LINKS

Mankato Guitars on Instagram

MID-RIFF LINKS

Interview with Make More Music

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Rosie’s Bumper Track: “Holler” by Rosie Mankato

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

032 / June Millington (Fanny) on Breaking Through Outsider Status and Being a Lick Librarian [REPLAY]

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with June Millington of Fanny (the first “all-female” rock band signed to a major label in 1969) about the Institute for the Musical Arts, how playing guitar is like being a nun, and music as a tool for overcoming shyness. [replay interview]

New content: Hilary covers the problem with “nagging wife” guitar memes.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

DistroKid- simple online music distribution service! (use this link for a 7% discount!)

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

BIO

June Millington “one of the hottest female guitarists in the industry” (Guitar Player Magazine) has been making music since she was a child playing ukulele in her native Philippines. Having moved from Manila to California in the early sixties, she and her sister, bassist, Jean, turned in their folk guitars for electric and formed a succession of all-girl bands. By ’69 they were in Hollywood with their band, Fanny, which was one of the first all women’s rock bands to be signed to a major label (Warner Brothers). As David Bowie said of the group in an interview in Rolling Stone: “They were one of the finest fucking rock bands of their time… They were extraordinary: They wrote everything and they played like motherfuckers… They are as important as anyone who’s ever been, ever.” (January, 2000)

Fanny played with major artists like Chicago, BB King, Dr. John, the Kinks, the Staples Singers, Ike & Tina Turner, & Chuck Berry- and recorded at Apple Studios with Geoff Emerick, the Beatles’ engineer. June left the band in 1973 and continued to record and perform both with her sister and on a number of solo albums. She has also produced many artists including Cris Williamson, Holly Near, Mary Watkins, Melanie DeMore, Bitch and Animal, and Joel Zoss. She is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Institute for the Musical Arts (IMA), a non-profit organization for women and girls which hosts Rock ’n Roll Girls Camps in the summer.

June released her autobiography “Land of a Thousand Bridges: Island Girl in a Rock ’n’ Roll World” in June of 2015 resulting in articles in Pitchfork, MS Magazine, Newsweek, and NPR. She continues to perform, write, and record and teaches at the IMA, as well as colleges and universities in North America.

JUNE’S MENTIONS

Angela Davis / Roma Berin / Laurie Anderson / Leslie Ann Jones / Skywalker Sound / LeeAnne Ungar / Kathryn Willmore / Carol Kaye / The Svelts / Sister / Rosetta Tharpe / Gibson / Fender / Richard Perry / Jeff “Skunk” Baxter / Lowell George / Sneaky Pete Kleinow / Elliott Randall / Steely Dan / Kent Henry / Stepphenwolf / Holly Near / Cris Williamson / Bonnie Raitt / Maria Maldar / Isis / Birtha / May Pang / John Lennon / Pete Seeger

JUNE’S LINKS

June’s IMA Fundraiser

Induct Fanny Into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame FB Group

June’s Podcast

Institute for the Musical Arts

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED

Psychology Today Therapist Finder

Zencare

BetterHelp

CREDITS

June’s Bumper Track: “Play Like a Girl” by June Millington

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

031 / Karen Schierhorn (BIG EAR Pedals) on Deep Voices and Accessibility

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Karen Schierhorn (BIG EAR Pedals) about the tyranny of middle school band teachers, being physically blocked in conversation, the dynamics of working with your partner, and octave pedals for vocal cords. Plus, meritocracy.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

DistroKid- simple online music distribution service! (use this link for a 7% discount!)

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

KAREN’S BIO

I was born in South Korea and was adopted at seven months. I lived in Kent, Ohio until I went to New York City for fashion design at Parsons School of Design. I then started working in the fashion industry, started in bridal… met the brides… then moved to sweaters, then worked for Andy and Tommy Hilfiger’s Rock and Roll-inspired clothing line, Andrew Charles where I met Grant.

A few years after meeting, Grant and I started BIG EAR n.y.c. in the Lower East Side. We realized we didn’t have enough space in a studio apartment so we moved to Greenpoint, Brooklyn into a two-bedroom apartment. That’s where BIG EAR n.y.c. really started expanding. I was still working fulltime in outerwear for Tumi, coming home and working with Grant on BIG EAR at night. It was mildly exhausting! Eventually, we ran out of room and decided to move to Nashville, TN, where we could have more space and both focus on the business. We also dropped the n.y.c. from our name and changed it to BIG EAR pedals at this time.

When we moved to Nashville, we discovered this small oasis of guitar pedal makers! Until recently, Matt from 1981 Inventions lived here, Zach from Mythos Pedals, Bryan Laurenson from Quiet Theory, AWOL Pedals, Jesse from RudeTech, Trey from Retroactive Pedals… even Paul Cochrane lives about 20 minutes away. And I’m probably forgetting someone… There are a lot of us here! Haha It’s awesome because we can share and exchange parts and it’s just fun to hang with people who do the same thing as you do. At any rate, we had moved to Nashville for more space, but I still feel like we have pedals all over the place. We work from our home and basically have guitar pedals on every surface. It’s the same!

We recently released our newest pedal, ALBIE, an ambient modulator, which we named after our cat, Cat Albert, who recently passed. I think it’s the most meaningful product I have ever worked on... but we’re on major backorder right now, so lots of ALBIEs are gradually taking over our house! The way I see it, every day is a new opportunity, and I’m excited to see where it goes.

MENTIONS

Andy Hilfiger / Steven Tyler / SXSW / Dr. Scientist / East Side Music Supply / Mass Street Music

KAREN’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Karen’s Bumper Track: ALBIE song by Grant Wilson

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

030 / Meredith Stern (Alpha Error, Whore Paint, Teenage Waistband) on Really All Ages Spaces

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Meredith Stern, drummer, DJ, and visual artist, about buying snares with the buddy system, gas mask microphones, using repetition to shift narratives, and what may be the wildest tour story you’ve ever heard. Plus, how to apologize.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

Electrofoods, Unlimited- rad boosts, drives, fuzzes, and dirt from Philadelphia, PA!

MEREDITH’S BIO

Meredith Stern (she/her) is a member of the Justseeds Artists' Cooperative. She works as a printmaker and ceramic artist and has been drumming in loud bands for over two decades, including Alpha Error, Whore Paint, and Teenage Waistband. She co-founded the DIY music venue Nowe Miasto in New Orleans and spent several years as Program Director at AS220 Rhode Island's largest non-profit community arts and performance space, booking acts such as: Andrew W.K., Cherie Lily, The Sun Ra Arkestra under Marshall Allen, ESG, Lightning Bolt, and Deer Tick.

In 2016-2017 Meredith created a series of prints on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is featured in the collections of the Library of Congress. She has additional works in collections such as: the Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, London Metropolitan University's Women's Library, and the Center for the Study of Political Graphics.

Meredith resides in Rhode Island, the ancestral territory stewarded by the Narragansett, Nipmuc, Wampanoag, Niantic, and Mashapaug Nahaganset nations, where she collaborates with worms and bees to tend to a small backyard organic garden and fruit orchard.

MENTIONS

Minor Threat / Bikini Kill / Minutemen / Cabbage Collective / Nowe Miasto / AS220 / Ludwig / Armageddon Records / Amebix / Roy Mayorga / Nausea / Sabian / Sonor / Village Drum and Music / Lightning Bolt / Wendy O. Williams / Plasmatics / Equal Justice Initiative / Audre Lorde

MEREDITH’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Meredith’s Bumper Track: “I’d Eat My Bones” by Whore Paint

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

029 / Mallory Nees (Reverb) on Dad Jokes and Moderation

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Mallory Nees, Social Media Strategist at Reverb, about sea shanties, the similarities between theater and social media, and tips for companies to make an impact through social media and marketing.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

Electrofoods, Unlimited- rad boosts, drives, fuzzes, and dirt from Philadelphia, PA!

MALLORY’S BIO

Mallory Nees is the Social Media Strategist at Reverb, the largest online marketplace dedicated to buying and selling new, used, and vintage musical instruments. In her role, Mallory is the voice of Reverb, posting and engaging daily with Reverb’s over 2.4M combined social media followers. Since transitioning from Reverb’s customer engagement team to head of social media in 2017, Mallory has been committed to using Reverb’s wide-reaching platform to create an online community that is inclusive to all types of music makers. Mallory has been around the arts her entire life—she composes music, plays several instruments, has a degree in acting, and memorably played the titular role in her first grade class musical, The Sneaky Adventures of Peter Rabbit.

MENTIONS

Little Richard / Jeff Tweedy / Big Freedia / Yvette Young / Mike Dean / Jacob Collier / Jimi Hendrix / She Shreds / Fender

MALLORY’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

028 / Rachel Rosenkrantz on Mushroom Guitars and the Passerelle

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with luthier, musician, and professor, Rachel Rosenkrantz, (Atelier Rosenkrantz) about sustainability and wood politics, DJing as a luthierial gateway, and va-va-vooming your guitars. Plus tips for making change for independent luthiers and small shops.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats, and more in Providence, RI!

Electrofoods, Unlimited- rad boosts, drives, fuzzes, and dirt from Philadelphia, PA!

RACHEL’S BIO

Rachel Rosenkrantz is a French luthier based in Providence, Rhode Island, who spent a number of years playing music and developing architectural-design products, starting her own company in 2012.

Born and raised in Montfermeil, France, Rachel studied Design at l’ESAG, in Paris as well as at RISD in Providence, where she was exposed to both fine arts and applied arts. Her understanding of construction through her industrial design years as well as her knowledge of music are two strong assets forming a stable backbone to her actual art-making of string instruments.

Some of her previous artwork was shown in the Société des Artistes Décorateurs exhibits at Le Carrousel du Louvre and at the Hangaram Museum of Modern Art, Seoul, Korea. Rachel is also an educator, teaching Spatial Dynamics at RISD in the Experimental and Foundation Studies Division, she gives lectures and workshops in other Universities and museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Just like her music and her designs, Rachel works her luthiery by exploring the combination of both traditional and new styles and techniques and tries to bring a unique perspective to her work with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation.

Rachel is locally involved with the Rhode Island music community and is an active beekeeper.

MENTIONS

Technics 1200 / Union Street Collective / Matt Everett / Joe Auger / Daniel Collins / Shady Lea Guitars / Otto D’Ambrosio / Eastman Guitars / RISD / Edna Lawrence / Kaki King / Beth Wexler / Sonic Youth / Linda Manzer / International Luthier Showcase / Brooklyn Lutherie / She Shreds / Heidi Litke / St. Vincent / Ernie Ball

RACHEL’S LINKS

on Raw Craft with Anthony Bourdain

Passerelle

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Rachel’s Bumper Track: “Run” by BebeRequin

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

027 / Asha Tamirisa on Chronic Dabbling and the ARP 2500

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Asha Tamirisa (multimedia artist and professor of music) about being an expert on your own experience, access through open source software, self-preservation, and coming full circle on piano. Plus, sexual harassment.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats, and more in Providence, RI!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

ASHA’S BIO

Asha Tamirisa [she/her/hers] works with sound, video, film, and researches media histories. Asha has performed at venues such as the ICA Boston and Bitforms Gallery (NYC), has given talks at institutions such as the University of Michigan, Mount Holyoke College, and Oberlin College, and has held residencies at The Media Archeology Lab (Boulder, CO), Perte de Signal (Montreal, CA) and I-Park Foundation (East Haddam, CT). Asha’s work has been mentioned in the Oxford Handbook of New Audiovisual Aesthetics and the 5th Edition of Electronic and Experimental Music: Technology, Music, and Culture. Along with many colleagues, Asha co-founded OPENSIGNAL, a collective of artists concerned with the state of gender and race in electronic music and art practice. She now works with the organization TECHNE. Asha has taught sound and media art at Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design, Girls Rock! Rhode Island, and Street Level Youth Media in Chicago. Asha holds a Ph.D. in Computer Music and Multimedia and an M.A. in Modern Culture and Media from Brown University, and is currently an Assistant Professor at Bates College in Maine, USA.

MENTIONS

Pro Tools / GarageBand / MaxMSP / ARP / Jim Moses / Pure Data / The Cranberries

ASHA’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Asha’s Bumper Track: “Accidental Jazz” by Asha Tamirisa

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

026 / Barb Morrison (Producer) on Being a Music Doula

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Barb Morrison about touring with the Ramones, music mentorship, mic recommendations, and why Debbie Harry doesn’t care. Plus, an application of the Music Gear Bechdel Test.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

BARB’S BIO

Barb Morrison (they/them) is a non binary gold and platinum record producer best known as producer for Blondie, Rufus Wainwright, LP, Franz Ferdinand and Asia Kate Dillon. They are also an ASCAP featured film score composer, top 5 billboard songwriter and one on one music mentor.

Barb began making music at a very young age but their career was born as a teenager in NYC when punk legends such as Johnny Thunders, Cherry Vanilla and the Runaways brought Barb onstage to perform. From there Barb went on to share the stage with the Ramones, the Jesus & Mary Chain, Green Day, the Stray Cats, Patti Smith, Sonic Youth, Sinead O’Connor as well as touring with Lollapalooza in 1995.

Barb’s film scoring career began in 2000 when they scored “The Safety of Objects” starring Glen Close and Kristin Stewart. From there they have composed for multitudes of films including the winner of the Berlin Film Festival’s Best Film “Concussion” starring Maggie Siff.

In order to help songwriters stay creative during the 2020 lockdown, Barb launched their “Music Mentor Program” - weekly one on one coaching sessions focusing on songwriting, arranging and musicianship through video meetings.

Barb is 31 years clean and sober and has been volunteering to help seniors for over a decade. They live between Frenchtown, NJ and Los Angeles with their wife Jaime Karpovich.

BARB’S MENTIONS

The Pretenders / New York Dolls / Cherry Vanilla / Andy Warhol / Holly Woodlawn / Ornette Coleman / John Lurie / Lounge Lizards / Eric Dolphy / Gutterboy / Ramones / The Stray Cats / Bruce Webber / Alan Ginsberg / Asia Kate Dillon / Debbie Harry / Joni Mitchell / Billie Eilish / Steve Lillywhite / Antony and the Johnsons / Gina Volpe / EarthQuaker Devices / Electro-Voice / AKG / Logic / Ableton / Pro Tools / Novation / Focusrite / Yamaha / Auratone / Korg / D’Angelico / Neve / Tube Tech / DBX / UREI / Avatar / Bearsville / Neumann / Shure / Blue / Lawson / Fostex / Meris / Gender Amplified / Super Buddha

BARB’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Blog (including the Music Gear Bechdel Test)

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Barb’s Bumper Track: “Make it Good” by Gina Volpe (produced by Barb Morrison)

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

025 / Emile Milgrim (Las Nubes / Sweat Records) on Embracing all the Weirdos

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Emile Milgrim (Las Nubes / Sweat Records) about being in Iggy Pop’s band, musical chivalry, playing the trash can, and creating safer spaces in record stores.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

Stompbox Sonic- personalized pedal curation and sales in Somerville, MA!

EMILE’S BIO

Emile Blair Milgrim grew up in Miami, FL immersing herself in whatever music she could find, and spent the early 00s in Portland, OR - area codes 305 and 503, respectively. In Portland she played drums in basement bands and co-founded the record label, Other Electricities. In 2011 she returned to Miami where she still plays drums in bands (no basements), still runs Other Electricities, is Co-Owner and Music Buyer at Sweat Records, Co-Founder and former Co-Director of Miami Girls Rock Camp, and a long-standing curator at the International Noise Conference with the Apostrophe’s stage. Performance/soundmaking-wise she is currently one-sixth of Mr. Entertainment & The Pookiesmackers, one-fourth of Las Nubes, one-half of Archival Feedback, and one-whole of Brom Lee.

EMILE’S MENTIONS

Yamaha / Lyon / Gretsch / Sabian / Zildjian / Roland / Ableton / Novation / Technics / Shure / Zoom / Audacity / Audition / Guitar Center / Promark / Aquarian / Ed’s Guitars / Indie Rocks Magazine / Janet Jackson / Wilson Phillips / Portishead / Pig Destroyer / Jud Jud / Girls Rock Camp Alliance / Sasha Wortzel / MOCA North Miami / Moonlight Arts

EMILE’S LINKS

Sweat Records Website

Sweat Records Instagram

Las Nubes Bandcamp

Las Nubes Instagram

Other Electricities Bandcamp

Other Electricities Instagram

Archival Feedback Bandcamp

Archival Feedback Instagram

Mr. Entertainment & The Pookiesmackers Bandcamp

MID-RIFF LINKS

Blog (including Community Agreements and Covid-19)

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Emile's Bumper Track: “Tararear” by Las Nubes

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

024 / Sara Landeau (The Julie Ruin) on Gear Tips for Beginners and Pro Tools Tears

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Sara Landeau (The Julie Ruin) about pedalboards as art, the gendering of technology, breaking things to learn, and etudes for dive-bombing. Plus, gear and class privilege.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

SARA’S BIO

Sara Landeau is a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, educator, producer, composer, and artist based in NYC. In 2004, she started Brooklyn Music School for Women and Girls which offers music lessons in electric guitar, bass, rock drums, and electronics. She is a proponent of equality for women and believes in the ideology of self-improvement and empowerment through education.

She is a founding member, co-songwriter, and lead guitarist of The Julie Ruin with Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill/Le Tigre) and has released acclaimed albums on Hardly Art Records (SubPop), achieved top 10 chart hits, radio and television appearances, a number 1 on CMJ charts, and music in films and commercials.

She has performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Seth Meyers Show, and Carson Daly Show and reviews and interviews include New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Magazine, Paper Magazine, Billboard, Los Angeles Times, Timeout, Esquire, Big Takeover, NME, Pitchfork, Fader, Consequence of Sound, Flaunt, Bust, and more. College Music Journal (CMJ) listed song “I Decide” #1 in 2017. Rolling Stone listed album ‘Run Fast” 2015 as #3 in their top ten albums of the year.

The recipient of 2019 Max Matthews Sound Artist Artist award from Brooklyn College, the 2019 Cycling 74 Max Expo Grant, Women in Computer Music Scholarship Stanford, 2019, and an award-winning educator with the Girls Rock Camp Alliance, she has also performed as a solo electro-acoustic composer and guitarist. Her performances often include custom instruments and sonic sculptures utilizing electro-conductive materials such as paint and threads with sounds and compositions created in Max MSP. She has studied with Morton Subotnick, Marina Rosenfeld, and David Grubbs while receiving an MFA in Sonic Arts at Brooklyn College.

MENTIONS

John Cage / Lee Ranaldo / The Trash Women / The 5. 6. 7. 8’s / Jack White / Nick Cave / The Birthday Party / Rowland Howard / Kenny Mellman / Kathleen Hanna / Clara Shuman / Tara Rodgers / Delia Derbyshire / Suzanne Ciani / Mary Ford / Pink Noises / Max MSP / Fender / Gretsch / Ludwig / Silvertone / Gibson / Reuss / Digitech / She Shreds / Tom Tom / Fanny’s / Guitar Center / Sam Ash / Moog / Buchla / Sisters with Transistors

SARA’S LINKS

Sara’s Instagram

Sara’s Website

The Julie Ruin Website

The Julie Ruin Instagram

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Sara’s Bumper Track: “I Decide” by The Julie Ruin

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

023 / Datachoir Sounds on Art Crushes and Gear Sleepovers

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 09:30:00 -0500

Hilary talks with the duo Cathy Begien and Summer Mastous (who make sounds and pedal demos as Datachoir Sounds) about shoegaze as a pedal gateway drug, creating music for Miranda July’s Kajillionaire, their hot pedal collab with Old Blood Noise Endeavors, and why social media is the new van. Plus, objectification and change through three stories.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

Bookworm Effects- novel pedals with art designed by regional WV artists!

CATHY’S BIO

Cathy Begien is a self-professed dilettante with a love for electric guitar and effect pedals - which she inherited from her gothic clad college roommate in Santa Cruz, CA. Said roommate formulated her education around shoegaze and the quiet murmurings of slow core. Years later she learned how to pick up a camera while tagging along with a band of San Francisco film students. Those adventures and a move to New York have molded into the current body of work before you.

SUMMER’S BIO

Summer Mastous is a classically trained pianist who grew up listening to shoegaze by the Pacific Ocean. Then she came to the East Coast and learned how to face north and have the water to the right of her instead of the left. Textures became a little different and different sound waves abounded. Now, Brooklyn begot Datachoir, and it feels quite like a watershed poured over a cornerstone.

DATACHOIR SOUND’S MENTIONS

Ensoniq / Korg / Alesis / Boss / Fender / Pedalgeek / Marshall / Jim Dunlop / Electro-Harmonix / ZVex / Walrus Audio / Caroline Guitar Company / Knobs / Death By Audio / Nord / Ernie Ball / Moog / Benson / Chase Bliss / Dwarfcraft / Red Panda / Old Blood Noise Endeavors / Tomkat / Tame Impala / Radiohead / Fisticuffs Bluff / Nuzzle / Love is Laughter / Slowdive / Ride / Swervedriver / Bowery Electric / Flying Saucer Attack / Low / John Fox / Andy Othling / Miranda July / Zeke Howard / St. Vincent / My Bloody Valentine

DATACHOIR SOUND’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Datachoir Sound’s Bumper Track: “Melusine II” by Summer Mastous

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

022 / Anjimile on Gear Flexibility and Guitar Mysteries

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Anjimile about getting famous during a pandemic (my words, not his!), the sweet, sweet Ableton grid, his songwriting order of operations, having a Google Doc for that, and the Bob’s Burgers Concentration Challenge (tm). Plus, empathy and longing for live music.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

Bookworm Effects- novel pedals with art designed by regional WV artists!

ANJIMILE’S BIO

Anjimile Chithambo, known mononymously as Anjimile, is a queer and trans songmaker based in Boston, MA. When it comes to composition, Anjimile draws upon everything he’s learned, from the African pop beloved by his parents to his time in youth choir to later influences from Iron & Wine and ‘80s music. Inspired by faith, addiction, and Anjimile’s own transition, his debut album Giver Taker tells a small story in each song that encompasses a larger voyage of self-discovery.

ANJIMILE’S MENTIONS

Fender / Walrus Audio / TC Electronic / Boss / Wampler / Ableton / Audacity / Isotope / Martin / Taylor / Electro-Voice / Rode / Vox / L.R. Baggs / Focusrite / Golden Age / Teenage Engineering / Korg / Tune-Yards / Franz Ferdinand / Jimi Hendrix / Gabe Goodman / Justine Bowe / Doug Beilmeier / Photocomfort / Magic Man / Future Teens

ANJIMILE’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Anjimile’s Bumper Track: “Maker” by Anjimile

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

021 / Katy Otto on Copper Snares and Drumming While Pregnant

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Katy Otto (Rainbow Crimes, Trophy Wife, Exotic Fever Records) about growing up in the punk/activist DC scene, starting and running a record label, raising a white boy, and drums as DIY EMDR.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

Bookworm Effects- novel pedals with art designed by regional WV artists!

KATY’S BIO

Katy Otto has been playing drums in DIY punk bands for twenty-five years. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, five year old, and newborn. For the past twenty years she has run the DIY record label Exotic Fever Records. She works at a nonprofit public interest law firm in communications. She's freelanced for a number of publications over the years. Check out her current Philly band Rainbow Crimes and a few of her past bands: Trophy Wife, Callowhill, and Del Cielo.

MENTIONS

Patty Schemel- Hole / Fugazi / Bonnie Schlegel- Bald Rapunsel / Sara Clem / Kim Coletta- Jawbox, DeSoto Records / Jenny Toomey & Kristen Thomspon- Simple Machines Records / War on Women / Black and Brown Workers’ Cooperative / Diane Foglizzo / Alex Smith / Leah Basarab / Resistor / Madeline Campbell- Women in Sound Zine / Hum / 120 Minutes / She Shreds Magazine / Tom Tom Magazine / Girls Rock Camp Alliance / Save Our Stages / United Musicians and Allied Workers Union / “When The Drummers Were Women”- Layne Redmond / Pearl / Ludwig / Tama / Vic Firth / Atomic Music

KATY’S LINKS

Exotic Fever Records Website

Rainbow Crimes Bandcamp

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Katy’s Bumper Track: “Into Sunburst Sand We Disappear” by Rainbow Crimes

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

020 / Ice on Quiet Shredding and Getting Beyond Black T-Shirts

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Ice about becoming a fan of fanned fret guitars, freezing epic metal beach videos, snow leopards, and song-writing. Plus, precarious manhood.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

ICE’S BIO

Guitarist and songwriter, Issielle Johnson, aka Ice, started her musical journey by jamming in local bars and bands in the Bay Area. She later displayed her songwriting abilities by posting them online on YouTube. She caught the attention of guitar and gear companies such as Ormsby Guitars, Stringjoy, and EarthQuaker Devices to name a few. Ice released her EP, "SOLITARY" on September 20th, 2020.

ICE’S MENTIONS

Reaper / Neural DSP / Yamaha / Ibanez / Jackson / Legator / Ormsby / EarthQuaker Devices / Peavey / Fret Wrap / Black Dahlia Murder / Killswitch Engage / Doro / Lita Ford / Guitar Gabby / Ghetto Songbird / Sarah JoAnne Draper

ICE’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

MID-RIFF NOTES

Rhode Island History in Slave Trade

CREDITS

Ice’s Bumper Track: “We Kill at Dawn” by Ice

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

019 / Pamela Cole and Ellen Angelico (Fanny’s House of Music) on the Tornadovirus and Catalogue Guitars

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Pamela Cole and Ellen Angelico (Fanny’s House of Music) about creating “Nashville’s Most Comfortable Music Store,” the specificity of oppression, and treating everyone like Joe Bonamassa. Plus, Music Store Salesperson Tropes.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

PAMELA’S BIO

Pamela Cole (she/her) is a co-owner of Fanny's House of Music in Nashville, TN. Cole is a bass player and music industry veteran. Driven by the mission that music stores should be comfortable for everyone, including women and young girls, Cole and co-owner Leigh Maples founded Fanny's in 2009. Since then, Fanny's has become a cornerstone of its East Nashville neighborhood. Never straying too far from the mission, in 2020 Cole and Maples announced the creation of Fanny's School of Music, a nonprofit that will greatly increase Fanny's ability to serve the neighborhood with lessons, workshops, performances, and music therapy.

ELLEN’S BIO

Ellen Angelico (she/her) is a musician and employee at Fanny's House of Music. Known for her professionalism, style, and bright personality, Angelico has been featured on numerous records and played just about everywhere from the Grand Ole Opry to Križanke. When she is not backing up a variety of talented acts (Cam, Uncle Kracker, Delta Rae, and many more) you can find her behind the front counter at Fanny's House of Music. In 2015, Angelico began producing light-hearted YouTube videos for Fanny's in a series called Ellen's Favorite Thing at Fanny's of the Week. Now closing in on its 200th episode, Angelico committed to providing earnest, medium-quality gear reviews for folks who are bored.

MENTIONS

Libby Callaway / Leigh Maples / Brittany Howard / Musicman / Fender / Harmony / Kay / Gretsch / Rickenbacker / Dismal Ax / Goya / 3rd Power / She Rocks Awards / Bonnie Raitt / Joan Jett / Elizabeth Cotten / Third Wave Music / Silvertone / Mesa Boogie / Joe Bonamasa / Robert Plant

FANNY’S LINKS

Fanny’s House of Music

Fanny’s School of Music

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Fanny’s Bumper Track: “Hawaii” by Ellen Angelico

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

018 / Ash Farrand (hissquiet) on Falling in Love with Turning Knobs

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Ash Farrand about the potential of genderlessness on the internet, the gear tinkerer community, and the importance of just starting. Plus, the patriarchy’s negative impact on men.

Huge thanks to this episode’s sponsors!

EarthQuaker Devices- extra special effects pedals made by hand in Akron, OH!

Studio 121- recording, production, beats and more in Providence, RI!

ASH’S BIO

hissquiet uses glistening tones and dark ambience to blur the lines between comfort and chaos. With a refined minimalism and lightning focus on sound design the one person music project displays an ability to create scenes and emotions through vast evolving soundscapes. hissquiet, aka Ash Farrand, is also an experienced graphic designer, fine artist, and web developer.

ASH’S MENTIONS

Elektron / Chase Bliss / Tomkat / Dwarfcraft / Ableton / Roland / Moog / Adobe / Jamuary / True Cuckoo / Anne Sulikowski / Black Moth / EarthQuaker Devices / Fender Squier / Korg / Black Circuits / Otto Klammer / Anne Sulikowski / Krost / Marci.DH / Yonat Hafftka / Illixie / Moxy Martinez / Helene Vogelsinger

ASH’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Ash’s Bumper Track: “Murmur” by hissquiet

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

017 / Roz Raskin (NOVA ONE) on Comfort and Custom Guitars

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Roz Raskin (NOVA ONE) about emotional labor, safer spaces, and entering the pedal universe.

ROZ’S BIO

Roz Raskin is a writer, musician, community organizer, and teacher based in their hometown of Providence, Rhode Island. They currently serve as a board member and keyboard instructor for RIOT, a non-profit organization that empowers youth through music and creativity. Roz toured for over ten years with their critically acclaimed art rock band, Roz and the Rice Cakes (Team Love Records), and can more recently be seen touring in their cosmic pop project, NOVA ONE (Community Records). Roz also curates safer musicians show spaces under the name SELF LUV and teaches songwriting and piano locally.

ROZ’S MENTIONS

Nord / Holcomb Guitars / Korg / MXR / Boss / Fender / Empire Guitars / Mike Samos / Billie Eilish / Big Nice Studio / Bradford Krieger / Chaimes Parker / RIOT RI / Self-Luv Booking / Rhode Island College / Better Help

ROZ’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Blog (Music Gear Bechdel Test, What Men Can Do, etc.)

Scene on Radio

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Roz’s Bumper Track: “Lovable” by NOVA ONE

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

016 / Seana Carmody & Joyce Raskin (Swirlies, Scarce) on the Power & Pain of Heavy Gear

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Seana Carmody (The Swirlies) & Joyce Raskin (Scarce) of the Red Jumpsuit Podcast about moving in with your podcast-mate / bandmate, getting kicked out of Nation of Ulysses, a green room visit from Drew Barrymore, and the joys of playing a Gumby guitar. Plus, tips for men in the industry to make change.

RED JUMPSUIT BIO

Staring into the sea, Seana and Joyce toyed with the idea of making a podcast. Why not contribute to the already flooded podcast market? So it began experimentally into the phone. Joyce bought a red jumpsuit and Seana said, "There you have it." They delved hard into the murky past of music adoration and the joys of indie rock freedom. Thankfully, their badass lady friends also signed up to converse about such topics. We hope you love our rock talk. Seana and Joyce have been playing music collectively in bands for a long time including The Swirlies, SyrupUSA, Scarce and Reindeer among others. During the pandemic they formed a new band called Nightspell and they will be recording in the fall.

MENTIONS

Karen Orsi / Nation of Ulysses / For Heaven’s Sake / Thee Hydrogen Terrors / Girls in Vinyl / Nada Surf / Kim Coletta / All Your Things Are Gone / Roger Lavalle / Aching to Be / Michael Barbiero / Guns ’n’ Roses / Hole / Courtney Love / Superdrag / Nada Surf / Drew Barrymore / Mr. Music Peavey / Electro-Harmonix / ProCo / Boss / Fender / Guild / Ludwig / DW

SEANA & JOYCE’S LINKS

Red Jumpsuit Website

Red Jumpsuit Instagram

Red Jumpsuit Facebook

Scarce Bandcamp

Scarce Facebook

Scarce Instagram

Seana’s solo Bandcamp

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Seana & Joyce’s Bumper Track: “All Day Long” by The Shop Assistants

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

015 / Mona Tavakoli (Jason Mraz, Raining Jane) on Being Present with Drums

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Mona Tavakoli (Raining Jane, Jason Mraz, Ebi) about playing Sesame Street, crushed NBA dreams, and reintroducing herself to her culture. Plus, tips for companies to make change when they don’t know where to start.

MONA’S BIO

Mona Tavakoli is a Los Angeles-based drummer, singer and performer who believes in making music that unites, elevates and connects.

While Mona is equally comfortable performing as a drummer and a percussionist, she is especially known for adapting the cajón to unexpected genres such as rock and pop. She began playing the Peruvian percussion instrument as a college student taking a flamenco dance class. She’s since designed a signature instrument called The MT Box.

Mona started playing drums at age 11 and blossomed into a tenor drum star in her High School marching band. She began her professional musical career in 1999 at UCLA as a founding member of Raining Jane, an all-female rock band. More recently, Raining Jane co-wrote and recorded YES! (Atlantic Records) with Jason Mraz. In support of the album they toured internationally for two years. As a solo percussionist, Mona has collaborated with Pat Benatar, Colbie Caillat, Sara Bareilles, and many more.

She is a co-founder and co-director of the Rock n’ Roll Camp For Girls Los Angeles, a nonprofit that encourages girls to find their voices through music during an intensive, weeklong summer day camp. Mona also promotes music education by hosting rhythm workshops at elementary schools and colleges around the country.

Mona is endorsed by: DW Drums and Hardware, Gibralter Hardware, Latin Percussion, Remo Percussion, Roland Electronic Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Sennheiser Microphones and Vater Percussion.

MENTIONS

Raining Jane / Sara Bareilles / Jason Mraz / Christine Stevens / Ebi / Pema Chodron / Kelly Clarkson / Guitar Center / Daisy Rock / Latin Percussion / Shure / Pearl / DW / Band Lab

MONA’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Mona’s Bumper Track: “IWF Mother’s Day V2” by Mona Tavakoli, Shiva, Becky Gebhardt & Houda Zakeri

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

014 / Penny Haas (Reverend Guitars) on Calculating the Jerk Ratio

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 14:15:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Penny Haas (Reverend Guitars) about short scale basses and accessibility, working with Meshell Ndegeocello, Jen Wasner, and Mike Watt, and a pandemic escape to Brian May’s butt muscles (you’ll see!).

PENNY’S BIO

Penny Haas is the COO of Reverend Guitars, in charge of all social media and outside marketing, as well as the day-to-day operations at Reverend. She brings a civilized charm to the booth in contrast to the sometimes unruly behavior of Ken and Joe, and “makes the trains run on time”. Penny holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History & Film, has been a pianist since 1981 and a guitarist since 1999. She’s also a proud mom/step-mom of four.

MENTIONS

Polka Floyd Show / Korg SV1-73 / Reverend Hellhound / Meshell Ndegeocello / Jen Wasner (Wye Oak) / Mike Watt / Ron Ashton (The Stooges) / Brad Howser (Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians) / Reverend Sentinel / Brian May / Joe Naylor

PENNY / REVEREND LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

013 / Mindy Abovitz Monk (Tom Tom Magazine) on Doing Things in Beta

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks to Mindy Abovitz Monk (Tom Tom Magazine) about alien bat mitzvahs, Tom Tom’s dreams for the future, and thanking Ira Glass. Plus, The Music Gear Bechdel Test.

*Content warning for discussions of sexual violence (not detailed)- 5:55 to 54:10 is free from this content

MINDY’S BIO

Mindy Abovitz Monk is an award-winning entrepreneur and social activist, committed to diversifying the music industry. Through her media company Tom Tom Magazine and the contest she co-founded, Hit Like a Girl, Mindy has inspired a global audience of musicians to play with power and pride. In 2018, she was recognized by the Grammys as a Change Agent and she is a recipient of the She Rocks Award.

MENTIONS

RIPT (The Lydia Pinkum Experience) / DW / Boss / Chops TV / Percussion Plus / Zildjian / Laura Taylor / Guitar Center / Tipping Point / Hot Water Music / Less Than Jake / Bitchin’ / Civic Media Center / Wayward Council / Against Me! / The Woodser / Natalja Kent / Todd P / TV on the Radio / White Magic / Matt & Kim / Promark / Evans / D’Addario / Latin Percussion / Gretsch / Gibraltar / Reverb / Roland / TRX / Modern Drummer

MINDY/TOM TOM’s LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Mindy’s Bumper Track: “Now Now” by The Good Good

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

012 / Jacqueline James (So Over It) on Metal Zone Stigma and the Gear Panopticon

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Jacqueline (Jacqui) James (So Over It), about creating inclusive spaces, confrontation through lyrics, and the differences (and similarities) between punk and opera.

JACQUI’S BIO

Jacqueline James is a musician and private music instructor from Providence, RI. She manages, fronts, and is the guitarist, singer, and lyricist of the queer punk rock band So Over It. So Over It is influenced by personal experiences with coming out, being trans, identity, trauma, mental health, and self acceptance.

JACQUI’S MENTIONS

Vox / RIOT RI / Fender / MXR / Earthquaker Devices / Mammouth / Empire Guitars / Boss

JAQUI’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Jacqui’s Bumper Track: “Reflection” by So Over It

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

011 / June Millington (Fanny) on Breaking Through Outsider Status and Being a Lick Librarian

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with June Millington of Fanny (the first all-female rock band signed to a major label in 1969) about the Institute for the Musical Arts, how playing guitar is like being a nun, and music as a tool for overcoming shyness. Plus, the socioecological model for making change.

BIO

June Millington “one of the hottest female guitarists in the industry” (Guitar Player Magazine) has been making music since she was a child playing ukulele in her native Philippines. Having moved from Manila to California in the early sixties, she and her sister, bassist, Jean, turned in their folk guitars for electric and formed a succession of all-girl bands. By ’69 they were in Hollywood with their band, Fanny, which was one of the first all women’s rock bands to be signed to a major label (Warner Brothers*). As David Bowie said of the group in an interview in Rolling Stone: “They were one of the finest fucking rock bands of their time… They were extraordinary: They wrote everything and they played like motherfuckers… They are as important as anyone who’s ever been, ever.” (January, 2000)

JUNE’S MENTIONS

IMA / Angela Davis / Roma Berin / Laurie Anderson / Leslie Ann Jones / Skywalker Sound / LeeAnne Ungar / Kathryn Willmore / The Svelts / Fanny / Sister Rosetta Tharpe / Gibson / Fender / Richard Perry / Jeff “Skunk” Baxter / Lowell George / Sneaky Pete Kleinow / Elliott Randall / Steely Dan / Kent Henry / Stepphenwolf / Holly Near / Cris Williamson / Bonnie Raitt / Maria Maldar / Isis / Birtha / May Pang / John Lennon / Pete Seeger

JUNE’S LINKS

Jean Millington Go Fund Me

June’s Podcast

Institute for the Musical Arts

MID-RIFF LINKS

Changing Our Tune Workshop Registration

Socioecological Model

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

June’s Bumper Track: “Play Like a Girl” by June Millington

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

010 / G.I.R.L. on Accidental Prog Rock, the Ghost of Travis Barker, and Craigslist Creeps

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Lucy Coykendall (drums, vocals) and Mariana Cuellar (bass, vocals) of G.I.R.L. and assorted other projects (What Cheer? Brigade, etc.) about crushing pre-conceived notions, playing Rush when you aren’t even 20 yet, and being uke-curious. Plus, racism is a cancer.

G.I.R.L. BIO

G.I.R.L. (Get It Right Loser) are a drums and bass duo based in Providence, RI that has been together for over a year and writes about teenage female angst. Their music is a combination of rock, punk, pop, funk and jazz.

G.I.R.L. MENTIONS

Wavelength / Rachel Blumberg / Rush / Wood and Weather / Gretsch / Dean / RIOT RI / fine. / Top Sugar / Meansiders / Truth Bypass

G.I.R.L.’s LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Changing Our Tune Workshops

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

SOME ANTI-RACIST RESOURCES

13th

The New Jim Crow

Code Switch

How to Survive the End of the World

White Fragility

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Seeing White

Talking About Racism With Your Parents

Move to Defund Police Gains Support Nationwide

White Racial Identity Model

Transtheoretical Model

PLACES TO DONATE

Equal Justice Initiative

The Okra Project

National Bail Fund Network

CREDITS

G.I.R.L.’s Bumper Track: “Lunatic Monkey” by G.I.R.L.

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

009 / Militia Vox (Judas Priestess) on Tuning Heavy, Tokenism, and Sounding Supernatural

Wed, 20 May 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Militia Vox about going to NAMM with Dee Snider, trying out for the Ronettes, and how representation helps kids feel normal. Plus, ageism.

MILITIA’S BIO

Militia Vox has no regard for genre, gender roles or stereotypes. As a truly modern multi-hyphenate artist and leader with a DIY ethos, she has recorded, toured and performed with some of the best in the business, including: Twisted Sister, Living Colour, Cyndi Lauper, L7, Nancy Sinatra, and many more.

Her mesmerizing presence, raw power, musical versatility and 4 octave range have captured the hearts of icons and outsiders alike. An award-winning solo artist, frontwoman of all-girl heavy metal sensation Judas Priestess and touring artist with Black Women Rock!, she is always a crowd favorite at international festivals and events- everything from biker rallies to prestigious museums.

Militia was the 1st Host/VJ of color on Fuse/Much Music USA and Hosted Fuse’s 1st reality tv show “Heavy Metal Makeover.” She has also hosted/appeared on MTV2, Vh1, Global TV, Afropunk Festival, NY Comic Con, Black Rock Coalition events and Phil Anselmo's Housecore Horror Festival.

Militia has starred in movies, TV shows as well as Off-Broadway, European Tours and National touring rock musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Sandra Bernhard’s “Everything Bad is Beautiful”.

Militia directs and produces music videos, visual art, as well as music and film events with her company, Militious Productions, including works via her ongoing project, "The VillIainess".

MENTIONS

Pantera / Judas Priest- Rob Halford / The Ronettes / Nirvana / Nine Inch Nails / Twisted Sister- Dee Snider / Patti Smith / PJ Harvey / Tina Turner / Joan Baez / Joni Mitchell / Bob Dylan / Living Colour / Candlebox / Sonic Youth- Kim Gordon / Sate / Michael Jackson / Judith Hill / Elton John / Tata Vega / Prince / Daisy Rock Guitars (DRG) / Ibanez

MILITIA’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!

CREDITS

Militia’s Bumper Track: “Vow” by Militia Vox

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

008 / Julie Robbins (EarthQuaker Devices) on Presenting the Gear World You Want to See

Wed, 06 May 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Julie Robbins, CEO of EarthQuaker Devices, one of the biggest little pedal companies in the business. They discuss shutting down “the swimsuit edition”, what it’s REALLY like to be a CEO, and tips for music gear diversity and inclusion at NAMM and beyond! Plus, sexual harassment training.

JULIE’S BIO

Julie Robbins is an American business woman, entrepreneur, and chief executive officer of effects pedal manufacturer EarthQuaker Devices, top-six in the U.S. and one of the top-10 in the world, which she owns with her husband EarthQuaker Devices President Jamie Stillman. Robbins is responsible for stewardship of the production, management, marketing and international sales for the company. She is also a champion of female and LGBTQ musicians and entrepreneurs. EarthQuaker Devices are available in over 865 retail locations in approximately 50 countries and its key retailers include Guitar Center, Sam Ash, Sweetwater and Thomann. The company has sold approximately 250,000 units.

At age 18, Robbins became the mother to a son; one month before her high school graduation. She enrolled in Baldwin Wallace's Single Parents Reaching Out for Unassisted Tomorrows, or SPROUT program in 1997, which allowed her to live on campus year-round for the price of room and board. While at the school, Robbins earned a Bachelor's Degree in economics and a minor in political science.

Robbins also created and managed an artist management and booking company called Musical Adventures from 2000 until 2003 providing booking services for 50 bands, including Liars, Xiu Xiu, Flying Luttenbachers, and Stillman's The Party of Helicopters. After a serious health scare in 2003, she took a job at a local bank as a branch banker, eventually working her way up to a position as a financial planner (2008). She was halfway through certification as a certified public accountant when in 2012, and as EarthQuaker Devices occupied every inch of space in her family's basement, she left her day job to join EarthQuaker Devices as it's full-time business manager.

The company's current workforce currently reaches over 50 individuals, and has been praised for its commitment to inclusion, diversity and cooperation with other pedal manufacturers by Best Guitar Effects.

BRANDS / SHOPS / BANDS / OTHER MENTIONS

EarthQuaker Devices / Ibanez / Strymon / Eventide / JHS / Fender / Guitar Center / Reverb / Heather Bickford - Death By Audio / Cathy Begien - Datachoir Sounds / St. Vincent / LG (Lauren Gilbert) - Thelma & the Sleaze - Queen of Shit Mountain / Dolly Parton / Refinery29

JULIE’S / EARTHQUAKER DEVICES’ LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Sexual harassment video from the ‘90s (you’re welcome!)

CREDITS

Julie’s Bumper Track: “Westwood Overdrive and Levitation Reverb” pedal demo by Jamie Stillman - EarthQuaker Devices

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

007 / Reba Mitchell on Singing Through Pedals, Fashion as Gear, and Boys Rock Camp

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Reba Mitchell of House Red and Whore Paint about her new project, L’Ashes, Craigslist nom de plumes, and being “someone else’s man”. Plus, racism in the workplace.

BRANDS / SHOPS MENTIONED

Epiphone / Danelectro / Jim Dunlop / Electro-Harmonix / TC Electronic / Boss / Empire Guitars

BANDS / OTHER MENTIONS

House Red / Whore Paint / L’Ashes / Sonic Youth / Pavement / That Dog / Maria Chavez / Lingua Ignota / Heba Kadry / Fiona Campbell / Dirt Palace

REBA’S LINKS

Reba’s Personal Instagram

MID-RIFF LINKS

MID-RIFF MENTIONS

White Fragility

Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture

CREDITS

Reba’s Bumper Track: “Reserve Live" by House Red

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

006 / Emily Harris (Get Offset) on Gear Demoing, Podcasting, and Allies

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 12:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Emily Harris of the Get Offset podcast about impact vs. intent, whether or not Steve Vai is delicious, and getting trolled with words you have to Google. Plus, microaggressions.

EMILY’S BIO

Emily Harris is co-host of the Get Offset Podcast and YouTube demo channel. She got her first guitar at the age of eight, and it hasn't left her side since. Other than her podcast and demo channel, you can see her play live with Sundae Crush (Seattle) and Michelle Sullivan and the All Night Boys (Nashville).

BRANDS / SHOPS MENTIONED

Gibson / Epiphone / Fender / Squier / Tunatone / Deucemberg / Strymon / Roland / Milkman / Deering / Old Blood Noise Endeavors / Dwarfcraft Devices / Boss / Thomann / Harley Benton / Spruce Effects / Hologram Electronics / Earthquaker Devices / Marshall

BANDS MENTIONED

Sundae Crush / Michelle Sullivan and the All Night Boys / Charley Bliss / La Neve / Speedy Ortiz / Sad13 / Prince / The Donnas

OTHER MENTIONS

Reverb / She Shreds / Fretboard Journal / Joey DeFrancesco / Sadie Dupuis / No Music For ICE / Anne Sulokowski / Megan Lippi / 60 Cycle Hum

EMILY’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

CREDITS

Emiy’s Bumper Track: “Little Pink Room” by Michelle Sullivan and the All Night Boys

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

005 / Alice Bag on Demystifying Gear and Hosting a Dinner Party

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Alice Bag about in-ear monitor envy, GarageBand demoing for her upcoming record, Sister Dynamite, and how being “the first” is like hosting a dinner party. Plus, community agreements in the time of COVID-19.

ALICE’S BIO

BANDS / ARTISTS / BRANDS / OTHER MENTIONS

ALICE’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

Community Agreements and COVID-19

CREDITS

Alice’s Bumper Track: “77” by Alice Bag

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

004 / Marissa Paternoster on Bikini Kill, Pantera, and Gear Minimalism

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Hilary talks with Marissa Paternoster about paring down gear and the cognitive dissonance of growing up with Bikini Kill AND Pantera. Plus, five hiring tips!

MARISSA'S BIO

Marissa Paternoster is an artist, singer, and guitarist originally from New Brunswick, New Jersey. She is the lead singer and guitarist in the bands Screaming Females and Noun. Screaming Females is a 3-piece DIY, punk rock ’n’ roll band signed to Don Giovanni Records. The band has been featured on NPR, Last Call with Carson Daly, and MTV. They have played with bands such as Garbage, Throwing Muses, Dinosaur Jr., The Dead Weather, Arctic Monkeys, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists and The Breeders. The band has 7 full-length albums: Baby Teeth, What If Someone Is Watching their T.V.?, Power Move, Castle Talk, Ugly, Rose Mountain and All At Once. Paternoster was listed the 77th greatest guitarist of all time by Spin magazine.

BRANDS/SHOPS MENTIONED

Boss / Electro-Harmonix / Jim Dunlop / Digitech / Sunn / Slinger Straps

BANDS/ARTISTS MENTIONED

Angie Boylan / Sleater-Kinney / Huggybear / Bikini Kill / Bratmobile / Pantera / Team Dresch / Thursday / Thou / Hirs Collective / Garbage / Patti Smith

OTHER MENTIONS

Lakehouse Studios / Don Giovanni Records / Joe Steinhardt / Salinas Records / Stupid Bad Records / NAMM / She Shreds

MARISSA’S LINKS

Screaming Females Website

Screaming Females Instagram

Screaming Females Facebook

Screaming Females Twitter

Noun Bandcamp

Merriment Kickstarter

MID-RIFF LINKS

CREDITS

Marissa’s Bumper Track: “I’ll Make You Sorry” by Screaming Females

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

003 / Talking Gender and Gear at NAMM

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Mid-Riff went to NAMM and Hilary came home with about 30 interviews to show for it! Listen in for crucial conversations with companies and attendees about gender and diversity in the music gear industry. Who's doing a good job? How can we do better? Why are my feet so tired? Oh yeah, and there's new gear, too!

TIME STAMPS

/ 00:00 / Hilary's NAMM breakdown- gear and gender

/ 18:20 / Interviews: Companies’ new gear at NAMM

/ 28:11 / Interviews: Which cis women, trans, or non-binary folks would you like to see playing your gear?

/ 37:09 / Interviews: Who is doing gender and diversity well in the music gear industry?

/ 55:25 / Interviews: What changes would you recommend to improve gender and diversity in the music gear industry?

COMPANY INTERVIEWS

Mitch— Empress / Ryan— Fuzzrocious / Mike, Zack, Joel— Chase Bliss / Silvie, Randy, Andy— Red Panda / Lynsey and Ted— Surfy Industries / Mallory— Reverb / Zach— SJC Drums / Emily— Outlaw Drums artist rep / Cort— Walrus Audio / Corey— Earthquaker Devices / Mike— Alexander Pedals / Heather— Death By Audio / Dwayne and Kendra— Revelation Cables / Audrey— Ernie Ball Stingray / Penny— Reverend / Liz— D’Addario / Patrick Hunter-- Bass Demoer

ATTENDEE INTERVIEWS

Alexa and Jayda / Erika / Sunshine and Nirvana / Yohanna / Dena / Sara, John, Raj, and Shilpa

MENTIONS: CIS WOMEN, TRANS, and NON-BINARY MUSICIANS

Octo Octa / Susan Alcorn / Caterina Barbieri / Suzanne Ciani / Matmos/Bjork / Mary Halvorson / Brandi Carlisle / Valerie June / The Centellas / Huma Guma / The Surfer Jets / The Neptunas / Anika Nilles / Bonnie Raitt / St. Vincent / Lady Gaga / Lana Del Rey / Carol Kaye / Lisa Bella Donna / Kate Eldridge / Eryka Badu / Bat for Lashes / Sarah Lipstate / Casey Musgraves / Reba Meyers / Sarah Longfield / Melanie Faye / RealBeal

MENTIONS: COMPANIES and ORGS DOING A GOOD JOB

4ms / Earthquaker Devices / Old Blood Noise / Moog / Make Noise / Benson / She Shreds / Tom Tom / Soundgirls /Fender / Zildjian / Vater / Sabian / SJC Drums / Los Cabos drumsticks / Women’s Audio Mission / Taylor / Death By Audio / Bullet Cables / Chase Bliss / Levy’s / 64 Audio / Strandberg Guitars / Seymour Duncan / Darkglass Electronics / Railhammer Pickups / Spotify / Smart Women in Music (SWIM) / Pearl / Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls / Gator Cases / Hyde Music / West Music Co. / KHS Music

MID-RIFF LINKS

CREDITS

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

002 / Ava Mendoza on EBows, 12AX7s, and Flipping Tables

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 12:15:00 -0500

Hilary talks to Ava Mendoza about sedans, music store paranoia, and the nuances of being “you go girl”-ed.

AVA’S BIO

AVA MENDOZA is a Brooklyn-based guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. Born in 1983, she started performing her own music, and as a sidewoman and collaborator in many different projects, as soon as she was legally allowed into clubs. As a guitarist, Mendoza has received acclaim for her technique and viscerality. Her most ongoing work is as leader of experimental rock band Unnatural Ways, and as a solo performer on guitar/voice. In any context she is committed to bringing expressivity, energy and a wide sonic range to the music. Mendoza has toured throughout the U.S. and Europe and recorded/performed with musicians including Carla Bozulich, Fred Frith, Adele Bertei, Malcolm Mooney, Steve Shelley, Mike Watt, Ikue Mori, Mick Barr, William Hooker, Nels Cline, John Zorn, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, William Parker, Hamid Drake, Matt Mitchell, Jon Irabagon, Matana Roberts, members of Caroliner, ROVA, Negativland, the Violent Femmes, and more. Recordings are available on labels Tzadik, Astral Spirits, Weird Forest, Clean Feed, Resipiscent, and New Atlantis.

Friendly critics have quoted: “It’s… Ava Mendoza’s deconstructing of blues and punk into brutal shredfests that’s causing a ruckus in NYC’s DIY hubs” (Brad Cohan, Noisey.Vice). “A wizard on a semi-circle of effects pedals, but… equally adept with FX-less technique," (Lars Gotrich, NPR). "Mendoza plays these songs. She makes them sing. Her technique is impeccable, but her playing is astonishingly expressive. She doesn't just bend blue notes; she wads them up into a ball and throws them up against a wall... Mendoza knows what she does better than almost anyone else on the planet, which is tell stories with her guitar." (Aiding & Abetting). She was featured as one of Guitar World‘s “10 Female Guitarists You Should Know”.

BRANDS/SHOPS MENTIONED

Peavey / Fender / Radack Guitars / Seymour Duncan / Brooklyn Lutherie / Line 6 / Boss / Boomerang

BANDS/ARTISTS AVA’S PLAYED WITH or COLLABORATED WITH/MENTIONED

Devin Hoff / Trevor Dunn / Malcolm Mooney / Steve Shelley / Devin Brahja Waldman / Peter Conheim / Alex Marcelo / Unnatural Ways / Tatsuyo Yoshido / Daniel Moreno

OTHER BANDS/ARTISTS MENTIONED

Minutemen / Mike Watt / Nels Cline / Carla Bozulich / Mr. Bungle / Fantomas / CAN / Negativland / Ruins / Violent Femmes / Echo & the Bunnymen / Fred Frith / Shellshag / Jennifer Shagawat / Jessica Pavone / Jessica Ackerley / Sally Gates

OTHER MENTIONS

Astral Spirits Records / Relative Pitch Records / RIOT RI / Seizure’s Palace Studio / Gowanus Sound / Monheim Triennale

AVA’S HOT TIPS

-Make sure to test everything the repair person does before you leave the shop

-To prevent string breakage, wind your strings around the peg as much as possible

-Graphite on nut and saddles keeps your guitar in tune with heavy tremolo use

AVA’S LINKS

MID-RIFF LINKS

CREDITS

Ava’s Bumper Track: “Dogbodies" by Unnatural Ways

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

001 / Rachel Blumberg on Drums, Armor, and Butter

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 14:30:00 -0500

Hilary talks to Rachel Blumberg about the *ahem* unique aesthetic of her first drum kit, transitioning from gear head denial to loving gear, band gender breakdowns, the woes and whoas of gear-carrying, and why buying gear should be like butter.

RACHEL'S BIO

Rachel Blumberg has been bringing her musical feel to bands and solo artists for a good part of the last two decades through her primary instrument, THE DRUMS, as well as percussion, keyboards, voice, and the occasional stringed instrument. She has recorded, toured and performed with many widely acclaimed artists such as Mirah, Tara Jane O’Neil, Laura Gibson, M.Ward, The Decemberists, Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), Michael Hurley, and Bright Eyes. Rachel also composes and performs her own music under her name and her moniker Arch Cape.

In addition to being a musician, Rachel is a prolific visual artist and animator, and has produced stop motion music videos for folks like Gillian Welch, Iron & Wine, and Nada Surf, among others. Her paintings and other work have been shown in galleries and other arts spaces around the US.

Her current projects includes an interactive audio - visual installation entitled Space Is the Place where drawings turn into sound and then into projections, which she first premiered at the RISD Museum in 2018 and the bands Death Vessel, The Huntress and Holder of Hands, and Califone. Rachel is also a well regarded teacher of percussion and the creative arts, and runs her own music school and volunteers regularly for Girls Rock! Rhode Island. Originally from Portland, Oregon, she now resides in coastal Rhode Island.

BRANDS/SHOPS MENTIONED

Revival Drum Shop / Village Drum & Music / Ludwig / Rogers / Leedy / Gretsch / Roland / Korg / Teenage Engineering / Electro-Harmonix / Line 6 / DigiTech / Boss / TC Electronic / Atelier Rosenkrantz

BANDS RACHEL HAS PLAYED WITH/MENTIONED

Califone / The Decemberists / M. Ward / Mirah / Tara Jane O’Neil / The Huntress & the Holder of Hands / Death Vessel / Iron & Wine / Bright Eyes / Arch Cape / Laura Gibson / Sissyface

OTHER BANDS MENTIONED

Magnetic Fields / The Crabs / Messthetics / Fugazi / Velvet Crush / Eyelids / Retrix / Sun Ra / Juana Molina

OTHER MENTIONS

Columbus Theater / Jodi & Ted Leo / What Cheer? Brigade / RISD Museum / New Bedford Art Museum / RIOT RI (formerly Girls Rock! RI) / Janet Weiss / Tom Tom magazine / She Shreds magazine

RACHEL'S LINKS

The Huntress & Holder of Hands

MID-RIFF LINKS

CREDITS

Rachel's Bumper Track: "Red & Gold" by Arch Cape

Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda

Artwork by Julia Gualtieri

000 / Welcome to the... Jingle?

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 12:00:00 -0500

Welcome to Mid-Riff! In this intro episode, I'll tell you about the podcast and what to expect. There will be laughs, there will be tears... maybe there will be riffs? We’ll answer questions like: Why is it important to talk about gender, music, and music gear? Why am I running out of breath already? Who the heck am I and why am I here? Wow, that got existential fast!

Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming episodes featuring interviews with folks including, but not limited to: Alice Bag (the Bags), Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females), Ava Mendoza (Unnatural Ways), Rachel Blumberg (Decemberists, M. Ward, Iron & Wine, etc.), Audrey Zee Whitesides (Speedy Ortiz, Worriers), and Reba Mitchell (House Red)… just to start!

BOOM!

Links!