Behind The Scene

In this week's episode of Behind the Scene, we go from old-school radio stories and record store nostalgia to the ugly math of concert tickets. Randy Nichols joins us to explain how the ticketing machine actually works, why scalpers win, and what fans can do to push lawmakers toward real fixes.

• defining primary sales versus secondary resale marketplaces
• explaining how bots and “short sellers” game the system
• breaking down who the ticketing company’s real customer is
• outlining state and federal efforts including the Ticket Act
• sharing a practical way to get informed and apply pressure

To learn more go to fixthetic.org.

This week on Behind the Scene with Gunz, Sully and Dicky Barrett, we chat about what touring really costs, from bus life and backstage grind to the split-second joy of a great show. Then Frank Zummo joins to connect performance to wellness and mental strength, sharing how his work with kids and his new book turn hard lessons into something useful. 
• The Defiant lineup and how a “supergroup” actually comes together 
• Tour bus life as survival training, including the unglamorous rules 
• Small clubs versus massive festivals and the challenge of staying connected 
• A Lollapalooza 1994 memory that captures the backstage chaos of the era 
• Breathwork, recovery, and wellness habits that support longevity on stage 
• Sum 41 rebuilding, ending at a peak, and the fear that follows the final show

This week, we pull back the curtain on what actually moves the needle for bands right now, from streaming algorithms to live shows. Vinny Fiorello of Less Than Jake joins us to talk personal brand, label realities, the modern “jetpack” moment, and how the Punk Rock Museum keeps the scene’s history alive without trapping it in the past.

We dive into:
• Touring momentum and why the live show still converts
• Algorithms pay-to-play and the fight for attention
• How labels can help and what they cannot fix
• Social media backlash and the value of authenticity

In this episode, Matt Young of Bravado gets real about why merchandise is the lifeblood of touring and how a t-shirt can matter more than a stream. 

 
• Why modern touring is all about tickets and t-shirts
• Merch creates an emotional connection point

• Merch is the last physical link in a digital music era
• What big-tour merch logistics really look like 

• Practical must-dos for a young band’s first merch drop
• What record merch sales at festivals signal about fan demand
• Unique merch ideas and the value of an iconic logo

Make sure to check out Bravado @BravadoUSA on Instagram, and their website, Bravado.com.

We catch up with Kevin Lyman of Warped Tour as the famous annual punk/ska pilgrimage ramps up for a comeback this year. Kevin reflects on the work that makes live music feel electric and talks about everything from surviving the Altadena wildfires to building festivals where fans discover bands, crowd-surf, and feel genuinely understood.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Kevin Lyman’s Warped Tour return and international expansion
• Altadena wildfire survival and how rebuilding really looks
• Why a new generation is showing up to concerts
• What changed in festival logistics, liability, and paperwork
• Keeping ticket prices affordable and using sponsors for value
• The Warped Tour mix of genres, diversity, and fan discovery
• Backstage chaos stories from human cannonballs to tour bus antics

You do not want to miss it.

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This week we talk with ticketing watchdog Scott Friedman about why concert ticket prices feel out of control and why the DOJ settlement does not change much for fans. We dig into bots, venue control, and the harsh reality that face value seats for the biggest tours are basically gone.

• DOJ settlement fallout and why the monopoly debate continues
• Why regular fans cannot compete with ticket bots
• What the FTC lawsuit could change and why progress feels slow
• How Live Nation venue ownership limits artist leverage
• The Slack leak about gouging and what it signals
• Why some tours show empty seats while “outlier” shows get crushed on resale

Check out TicketTalknetwork.com

We hang with Sitting On Saturn as they go from viral TikTok covers to Joe Jonas sliding into their DMs, then straight into the chaos and joy of sold-out Banana Ball shows. They break down what it feels like to perform under real pressure and why they refuse to stick to one genre.  

Also hear how DIY videography helps them move faster than bands waiting on outside teams, and what they’ve learned from sharing space with names like 311, Fat Mike, and Pierre from Simple Plan. 

We wrap with what’s next, including Warped Tour energy and a batch of newly recorded songs ready to drop. 

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SittingOnSaturn.com 
Sitting On Saturn Band 

AI can write a song on command, streaming pays pennies, and somehow, '90s rock is louder than it’s been in years.

We sit down with Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra and Ajay Popoff from Lit to talk about what’s actually happening behind the curtain: where the money moves, how fans discover music now, and why the old rules still hold up in an algorithm-driven world.

• Studio banter on merch rules and live show culture
• Why a rock resurgence and ska revival are hitting feeds
• What sync licensing means and why it matters now
• Streaming royalties vs real artist income
• How established bands choose openers and build sellout tours
• The case for licensed AI tools that pay creators
• Soundbreak.ai and the idea of fans co-writing ethically
• Ajay’s origin story for “My Own Worst Enemy”
• MTV’s impact on breaking a band then vs now
• How Lit thinks about releasing new music today

If you care about the future of songwriting, the 90s alt-rock resurgence, and how musicians can stay human while using new tools, this episode is for you.

Behind the Scene, with Gunz, Sully, and Dicky Barrett, is your go-to show for all things on stage and off in the music industry