Marin County singer-songwriter, community and music collaborator Jon Chi joins “Only In The Green Room” as the first guest under the show’s new banner—recorded in the Sweetwater Music Hall Green Room before Jon played to a packed house for his birthday show at the iconic venue. In a conversation full of gratitude, community love, and live-music philosophy, Jon reflects on how the Terrapin scene helped shape his musical orbit, why vulnerability is where the magic lives, and how live shows remain irreplaceable—no matter what AI does to recorded music. Special guests Stephanie Salva (Tumbleweed Soul) and Elliot Peck (Midnight North, Phil Lesh & Friends) pop in before joining Jon on stage, adding stories about collaborations, harmonies, and the deep relationships built through the Bay Area music community.

Creators & Guests

The “how lucky am I to have stumbled into this community?” moment—and why Jon leads with love

The Terrapin Crossroads/Marin/Bay Area musician ecosystem (and all the overlap that makes it work) - spawning collaborations and lasting friendships

Jon’s musical roots: Massachusetts → Berklee College of Music → Bay Area scene

The JP McClean (Melvin Seals JGB)) origin story: their first day as students at Berklee,  a chart that looked like “hieroglyphics,” and instant respect

Vulnerability on stage: choosing connection over perfection

The “Yoga Mafia” crossover: how Now Yoga in Corte Madera became part of the music ecosystem

Dead nights + mashups: blending Bee Gees, Biggie, Lou Reed, and more into jam sets

Widespread Panic as Jon’s “first jam band show”—and later collaborating with bassist Dave Schools

The passing-down tradition: Jon’s kids performing and singing at shows

 Guest drop-ins:

Stephanie shares what she’s working on (Tumbleweed Soul, new trio, gigs with Dave Nelson Band)

Elliot talks first duo collaboration with Jon, returning from hiatus, and community support

Jon Chi’s Birthday Show All-Star lineup:

Sean Nelson — Drums

Angeline Saris — bass

Jordan Feinstein — keys

Minglewood Lewis Jr. — percussion

Patrick Byers, Natalie John, Andrew Ferren - Horns

Elliott Peck and Stephanie Salva - Vocals

Memorable moments & quotes:

“I mean, I want to talk about how much I love everyone.”

“I’d rather make a bunch of mistakes on stage and stay open to connect with people.”

“If you’re willing to share vulnerabilities, that’s where deeper relationships grow.”

“Even if AI disrupts recorded music—how do you ever replace live music?”

Topics that hit hard:

Why this scene works: It’s collaborative, supportive, and built on people being decent humans and strong musicians.

Why live music wins: Because it’s shared presence, unrepeatable moments, and real connection.

Why mashups matter: They expand the audience and keep traditions alive without turning them into copies.

If you’re new here…

This episode is a love letter to the Bay Area’s live music ecosystem—where jam culture, original music, yoga communities, and deep friendships all collide in the best way.

Tags 

John Chi, Only in the Green Room, Sweetwater Music Hall, Terrapin Crossroads community, Bay Area music scene, jam band culture, live music podcast, Grateful Dead community, improv music, vulnerability on stage, post-COVID live music, Now Yoga Corte Madera, Elliot Peck, Stephanie Tumbleweed Soul, Dave Schools, Widespread Panic

In this episode of Tales From The Green Room, recorded backstage at the 2025 High Sierra Music Festival, the hosts sit down with veteran film producer, director, and music supervisor, Jonathan McHugh. Jonathan shares his experiences growing up in New Orleans, starting in college radio at WTUL, and his journey through the music and film industries leading to his current role as Hilton-Baldridge Eminent Scholar and Chair in Music Industry Studies at Loyola University New Orleans.

The conversation delves into his time working on documentaries and music supervision projects, including his work with the artist Avery Helman (aka “Ismay”) and the film/podcast Finding Lucinda. Reflecting on the intersections of live music, film, and storytelling, Jonathan also addresses the importance of fostering community in music festivals, engaging younger audiences, and supporting emerging artists.

This fun and insightful interview captures Jonathan McHugh’s vibrant personality with rich dialogue highlighting his decades-long career, mentorship, and passion for music, film, and education.

HIGHLIGHTS

“Younger music has to seep in more — you gotta book more of those acts. They have the disposable income; they’ll camp, they’ll go.”
 – Jonathan McHugh on engaging new festival audiences

“It’s payback time — I owe Dave for every step of the way.”
 – Jonathan McHugh on mentorship and early career guidance by Dave Margulies, (Co-Producer, High Sierra Music)

LINKS

Jonathan McHugh – Faculty Profile at Loyola University New Orleans
 cmm.loyno.edu

Finding Lucinda - Film and Podcast - https://www.findinglucindafilm.com/
 

The Pure Band -Pure Rehearsal-Lucinda Williams- can’t let it go-https://youtu.be/t64_WYZFwt0?si=oiHAJx7kPc3L2Ew-

Crooked-Truckin Kingofthecastle7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIL-E_wCzK8&list=RDtIL-E_wCzK8&start_radio=1

High Sierra Music Festival
 Official Website -https://www.highsierramusic.com/

#JonathanMcHugh #HighSierraMusicFestival #TalesFromTheGreenRoom #MusicIndustry #FilmProducer #MusicSupervisor #FindingLucinda #EmergingArtists #CollegeRadio #FestivalLife #IntergenerationalAudience #LiveMusic #Storytelling #MusicPodcast #BehindTheScenes #LoyolaUniversityNewOrleans #Ismay #LucindaWilliam

In this episode of Tales From The Green Room, recorded backstage at the 2025 High Sierra Music Festival, host Dennis Strazulo sits down with hardcore New Yorker and bad-ass bass player, Karina Rykman. Karina shares her experiences growing up in a highly intellectual family, her early start in punk bands at the age of 12, and her journey through various musical styles - including her experiences in the improvisational jam band scene -  leading to her current solo projects and other collaborations. 

The conversation delves into her time playing with renowned multi-instrumentalists and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s keyboard player, Marco Benevento, the influence of her professional background in the music business, and how that shaped her career as a performer. Reflecting on her influences and the eclectic style defining her performances, Karina also addresses the importance of songwriting -  how she has developed that craft - and her approach to creating music that integrates structured songs with improvisational elements.

This fun and insightful interview captures Karina Rykman’s vibrant personality with rich dialogue highlighting her talent, adaptability, and dedication to her craft.

If you don’t find Karina playing around New York City while rejuvenating from her summer tour, catch her at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya January 20 - 24, 2026 as part of Widespread Panic’s Panic En La Playa

HIGHLIGHTS

 And then for the next seven and a half years, I worked for Rocks Off and ended up as a GM. I made a whole salary. That was my whole life. I was working, working, working…and playing in five bands at the same time, and getting kind of cool illustrious gigs -  I was on the Today Show with Julia Michaels backing her up and played on America's Got Talent in the backing band -  like I was doing shit for sure - but I never ever thought that would parlay itself to where I would play music for a living. There was not a part of me that thought that would be a thing.

-Karina Rykman on the unexpected outcome of her music career.

 It's very intoxicating to have people sing your songs back at you. It is very intoxicating! And to see Joy Ride, my song, being played on NFL football games. It’s being played on the radio. Like all these things where I'm just like, shit…that's crazy.

-Karina Rykman on writing songs.

 I met my band mates, and I asked them to practice improvising with me because I got this crazy gig where it was gonna be an hour of improv. IAnd they were like, yeah. And then all of a sudden we got all these gigs and all this attention. We were just stepping on stage with no roadmap, zero, not an A section, not a B section, not a cover, nothing, and just improvising from the ground up. And people liked it. 

-Karina Rykman on the genesis of her improv band

LINKS

Karina Rykman Website

Music, Videos, Press, Merch, Newsletter

Karina Rykman - “Joyride” (Official Music Video)

Joyride, Karina Rykman

Video by Charlie Caukin

Animated by Charlie Laud

Karina Rykman with Grahame Lesh and Friends at Pier 48 (Heart of Town) SF, CA Set 1, Night 3 - August 2, 2025

Audio recorded by: Cam Keough

Vid Cap by Ted Silverman

AKA TedToob.com

See Karina at Panic en la Playa - Jan. 20-24, Hard Rock Hotel, Riviera Maya, MX

Connect with Karina Rykman

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter/X

Spotify

High Sierra Music Festival

#KarinaRykman #HighSierraMusicFestival #TalesFromTheGreenRoom #JamBandScene #MarcoBenevento #JoeRussosAlmostDead #WomenInMusic #Joyride #BassPlayerLife #NYCMusicScene #ImprovisationalMusic #MusicPodcast #FestivalInterviews #MusiciansOnTour #SongwritingProcess #LiveMusicLovers #WidespreadPanic #PanicEnLaPlaya #BehindTheMusic #RockInterviews

Fresh from bringing the spirit of the Midnight Ramble to the High Sierra Music Festival stage, Amy Helm sits down with the hosts for a moving and unflinching conversation about family, recovery, and carrying forward a legacy. Recorded backstage among the festival magic, this episode blends raw honesty with deep musical history.

Listen to Amy open up about:

• The Phoenix Rising: How Levon Helm turned personal crisis into renewal with the legendary Midnight Rambles in his Woodstock barn, sparking his recovery and Grammy-winning resurgence.
• The Kitchen Meeting That Changed Everything: An encounter between the Helm and Lesh families that inspired Phil Lesh to build Terrapin Crossroads.
• Holding a Legacy: What it means to carry forward a parent’s vision with authenticity. 
• Bringing the Ramble to High Sierra: The first-ever festival Ramble, with Amy’s son on drums alongside original band members, capturing the tradition’s family spirit.
• Phil Lesh as Mentor: How Phil guided her into the Grateful Dead songbook and gave her permission to reinvent songs in her own voice.
• Writing Silver City: Turning her own stories—and the story of a young fan lost to addiction—into songs of resilience, honesty, and self-discovery.
• Festivals, Family, and Community: Why inclusive, non-pretentious festivals matter more than ever in an industry full of “taste-makers.”

Equal parts storytelling and testimony, Amy Helm’s words remind us that music is more than entertainment — it’s survival, legacy, and the thread that binds communities together.

HIGHLIGHTS

“The whole thing about holding a legacy… it doesn’t matter whether your dad was a carpenter or a drummer. What matters is how other people are remembering it and feeling filled up by it.”
— Amy Helm on carrying forward Levon Helm’s vision

“The Midnight Rambles were about recovery — physically, spiritually, financially. My dad started with 20 people just to pay the electric bill, and from there he got his voice back, his career back, and won three Grammys.”
— Amy Helm on the rebirth of Levon Helm

“Phil showed me that these songs were meant to be rediscovered in every fraction of every moment. That gave me permission to find my own way into the Grateful Dead tradition.”
— Amy Helm on Phil Lesh as mentor

SHOWS

Join Amy Helm w/ The Helm Family Midnight Ramble at the Levon Helm Down Home Jubilee
October 18, 20025 -  Marvell, AR

Catch the remaining 2025  "Midnight Ramble" shows at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY on Nov 1, 28 and New Year's Eve!

Check the calendar of other artists appearing at the venue in 2025 including Tales From The Green Room guests Sam Grisman (Sam Grisman Project) on October 21 and Eric Johnson (Fruit Bats) on Halloween.

MUSIC

Money On 7, Amy Helm – Available on Tidal – High Fidelity Music Streaming                                             
Music and Lyrics by Amy Helm, JT Nero

Cotton And The Cane, Amy Helm – Available on Tidal – High Fidelity  Streaming                                             
Music and Lyrics by Amy Helm, Mary Gauthier     

LINKS                

Amy Helm Official Website

Levon Helm Studios - Home Of The Midnight Ramble

High Sierra Music Festival

THUMBNAIL PHOTO BY GABRIEL DAVID BARKIN

In this episode of Tales From the Green Room, the hosts welcome Chaparelle, the Texas-based pop, folk and classic-country band created by Zella Day, Jesse Woods, and Beau Bedford. The trio discuss their unique musical lane, inspired by a blend of romance, personal experiences, and a mutual affinity for original music, which has earned them a dedicated following. Special guest, Rob Bleetstein (SiriusXM Producer and Host) joins the show, having dubbed the band’s music style as “Eroticana” - while Zella Day describes the essence of her theatrical, sometimes sensual flair blending with the band’s authentic country-influenced performances.
 

Recorded after the band’s second remarkable set in two days at the High Sierra Music Festival - moments before they hit the road to promote their new record, Western Pleasure – Zella, Jesse, and Beau delve into their personal dynamics and the importance of collaboration. This episode encapsulates a blend of humor (touching on the difference between Texas and California hippies!), camaraderie, and heartfelt moments, offering a comprehensive insight into the lives and music of Chaparelle and a peek into their aspirations, surely leading them to a bright future.

HIGHLIGHTS

Zella and I got together romantically, and we wanted to start a band together… and write some songs… but writing songs while you're in a relationship, just two people, can be pretty difficult. It gets very personal, very quick, and we were still in our honeymoon phase, and we were like, why are we doing this to ourselves? Let's stick with the romance. Then we met Beau… that third angle on the triangle… and everything just fit. 

-Jesse Woods on writing songs while in a romantic relationship with Zella Day and Beau Bedford saving the day.                                                              

If you look at the packaging of the vinyl…every last lyric, everything really is within the world we’ve created. And we're getting better and better at being able to decipher what that world is. Somebody recently said to me, which I really liked, that was good advice, and I think it's what we're doing here, is to find a lane and take that lane completely over.. And so that's what we're doing. We're the only ones doing it like we are right now.

-Zella Day on Chaparelle’s mission to dominate their lane.

Seeing you at clubs is one thing…but when you're on these bigger stages with bigger PAs, even though the music is totally country and it's put together, there's so much space in between everything, the way the songs are constructed, the way you guys play…there's just plenty of room for everything. But the rock element really comes through on so many of the songs… I have so many friends who saw you for the first time, and especially some younger ones who maybe are not big country lovers and they were just like freaking out.

-Rob Bleetstein praising Chaparelle's performance on the big stage at High Sierra Music Festival.

I think we want to just be surrounded with people that we really love and to make music that we love. I think we're talented enough for good things to happen, but the rest of the world's in control of that. We only in control of putting out songs that we love and that we believe in… and trying to hang out with people that we love.

-Beau Bedford on the band’s aspirations.

MUSIC

2025 Album – “Western Pleasure” - Chaparelle

UPCOMING SHOWS (as of day of episode drop) - TICKET LINKS 
 

Sep 20, 2025 - The Chapel -San Francisco, CA

Tickets

Sep 21, 2025 - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA

Tickets

Sep 23, 2025 - Moe's Alley Santa Cruz, CA

Tickets

Sep 24, 2025 - SLO Brew Rock - San Luis Obispo, CA

Tickets

Sep 26, 2025 - Pappy + Harriet's - Pioneertown, CA

Tickets

Sep 27, 2025 - Ohana Fest - Dana Point, CA

Tickets

Oct 11, 2025 - Gruene Hall - New Braunfels, TX

Tickets

Oct 16, 2025 - Fine Line - Minneapolis, MN

Tickets

Oct 17, 2025 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI

Tickets

Oct 18, 2025 - The Stache - Grand Rapids, MI

Tickets

Oct 20, 2025

Turntable - Indianapolis, IN

Tickets

Oct 21, 2025 - Thunderbird Café & Music Hall - Pittsburgh, PA

with Esther Rose

Tickets

Oct 22, 2025 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA

Tickets

Oct 24, 2025 - The Sinclair - Cambridge, MA

Tickets

Oct 25, 2025 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY

Tickets

Oct 28, 2025 - The Atlantis - Washington, DC

Tickets

Oct 30, 2025 - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC

Tickets

Oct 31, 2025 - Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC

Tickets

Nov 1, 2025 - The Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC

Tickets

Nov 5, 2025 - Terminal West - Atlanta, GA

Tickets

Nov 6, 2025 – Saturn - Birmingham, AL

Fresh off a wild set at the legendary High Sierra Music Festival, Andy Frasco - bandleader, podcaster, and all-around force of nature - kicks back with the hosts for a candid, hilarious, and heartfelt conversation recorded right on the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds.

Andy opens up about:

• The magic of High Sierra and why community and family matter at festivals
• His leap into music (inspired by piano teacher Holly Bowling) and how he built a career from scratch
• Lessons learned from overcoming excess and finding purpose in writing songs that matter
• Mentorship from legends like Dave Schools, Vince Herman, and George Porter Jr.
• His podcast, where raw conversations with seasoned musicians fuel inspiration for the next generation

Equal parts levity and real talk, this episode is a love letter to live music culture and a reminder of why it’s worth preserving.

Long live High Sierra!

HIGHLIGHTS

“ Long live High Sierra.!” This is bigger than us. This festival, the idea of this festival is important…. families come together, music is being made, kids laughing, smiling, families laughing and smiling. You don't see that anymore. People camping. That's why we gotta keep these things sacred …that's my goal.
-Andy Frasco on the greatness of High Sierra Music Festival.

I stopped writing songs to make everyone happy. And I started writing songs to make me happy. You can't preach happiness unless you're happy with yourself. And I'm finally in a spot where I'm good with myself.
-Andy Frasco on his approach to writing songs and the good place he is in.

It doesn't matter, when you start loving yourself, you just gotta love yourself. Even if you're 60, even if you're 70. Even if you're 10,. We gotta remember when we were seven years old. on the fucking swings, eating some ice cream, laughing by yourself, you know? That's it. We gotta get back to that. You have to get that feeling.
-Andy Frasco on the importance of loving yourself.

MUSIC

2025  Album - "Growing Pains" - Andy Frasco & The U.N.
Andy Frasco & The U.N. - "Life is Easy" ft. Billy Strings, Steve Poltz, Daniel Donato & Mike Gordon
Andy Frasco & The U.N. (feat Little Stranger) - Oh, What A Life (Official Video)

UPCOMING SHOWS/"GROWING PAINS" TOUR (as of day of episode drop) TICKET LINKS

SEP 9, 2025 - "Hot Summer Nights" – Vail, CO (Free Show)

SEP 10, 2025 - “The Gaslight Social” – Casper, WY

SEP 11, 2025 -  The Commonwealth Room – Salt Lake City, UT

SEP 12 – 14, 2025 – Telluride Blues & Brews Festival – Telluride, CO

SEP 18, 2025 – “Healing Appalachia” – Ashland, KY

SEP 26 – 27, 2025 – Holy Smokes Festival – Garrettsville, OH

OCT 2, 2025 – The Livery – Benton Harbor, MI

OCT 3, 2025 – Moontown Brewery – Whitestown, IN

OCT 4, 2025 – Kenny’s Westside Pub – Peoria, IL

OCT 8 – 12, 2025 – Hillberry Harvest Moon Festival – Eureka Spring, AR w/ Greensky Bluegrass

OCT 17 – 19, 2025 – Roots Music Festival – Boulder, CO

OCT 19, 2025 – Halfway to 420 Music Festival – St. Augustine, FL

OCT 24, 2025 – The Barrelhouse Ballroom – Chattanooga, TN

OCT 25, 2025 – MegaCorp Pavillion (w/ Gov’t Mule) – Newport, KY

OCT 26, 2025 – Ting Pavillion (w/ Gov’t Mule) – Charlottesville, VA

JAN 14 – 18, 2026 – Tropic of Cancer Festival (w/ Lettuce, Mother Hips) - Todos Santos, Baja California Sur

 
LINKS

ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. MERCH

ANDY FRASCO’S WORLD SAVING PODCAST

In this episode, Tales From The Green Room presents their conversations with Joe Marcinek and Jeremy Hoenig recorded before their respective performances during Jazz Fest 2025 in New Orleans – featuring two  musicians swimming in the same music circles in the San Francisco Bay Area and nationally - and both connected with Melvin Seals!   Marcinek joins the show before his stellar appearance leading Dead Funk Summit during the Crawfish Festival at The Broadside, and is joined by soulful percussionist, drummer, vocalist, Rick King – a member of the Summit on this day.  King talks about getting drawn into the Grateful Dead vibe, including with his own band, Rick King's Royal Hustle, elaborating on how magic happens on stage with Marcinek.
 

Hoenig sits down with the hosts before holding down the beat on drums at his gig with Melvin Seals & JGB at Café Istanbul -  made possible by venue host Mitch Stein, responsible for curating a stellar lineup of musicians at the venue during Jazz Fest.

The Marcinek segment – recorded the very day his new album, The Groove Sessions, was released -  delves into Joe’s late entry into music, his love for New Orleans sounds, the evolution of his Dead Funk Summit project now taking on a life of its own, and the special energy created by different musicians joining the venture around the country - including the likes of George Porter, Jr. and the aforementioned, Melvin Seals. The Crawfish King, Shaggy Davis, even makes a cameo during the interview! 

Hoenig talks about his own musical journey  from being inspired by his father's record collection to his current gig with the iconic Seals, playing with Camille Boudin of The Radiators, and reflects on “falling into the groove” playing beats the first time he entered the New Orleans music scene. Jeremy identifies a cadre of his favorite New Orleans drummers and how playing with Melvin Seals & JGB is the perfect fit for him.
 

Joe Marcinek, Rick King, and Jeremy Hoenig go in depth sharing their experiences in the music scene, their love for improvisation, and the collaborative spirit they embody, providing for a heartwarming and informative episode.

HIGHLIGHTS

When you have a band that plays all the time, it's easy to kind of go through the motions…where if you've never played together or it's something new, everyone's really locked in. Are we hitting the changes? Are we going to the move? Any little change that a musician does, that's when the magic happens.
-Joe Marcinek on brining in different musicians to his "Dead Funk Summit"

I read something about Miles Davis saying, “ I don’t talk to my musicians about music, because if I would have to talk to 'em about it, I hired the wrong people in the first place. And I always think about that.
-Rick King on the possibility of creating situations where magic can happen on stage among musicians, if you talk too much about it.
 
You can imagine how proud I am  to be playing this music, which for me has all the styles that I love, and  the music I gravitate towards. It's blues, it's funk, it's reggae, it's jazz, it's country. It's all these rhythms. And Jerry knew, when he had his own band, he wanted to explore all those different things. So that's why I feel it’s a very good fit for me… and personally, I just, I enjoy it. It lets me have everything that I love in one band.
-Jeremy Hoenig on being a member of "Melvin Seals & JGB"

PHOTOS

Backstage Photos at NOLA Crawfish Fest – 4.29.25 – by Appelbaum Images

SPONSOR SHOUT OUTS

Special Thanks to Son Vo  (Jerry’s Middle Finger) for his expert audio engineering skills editing the interview with Joe Marcinek and Rick King- recorded in a very noisy, outdoor backstage area at the Broadside in New Orleans during the Crawfish Festival - making this episode possible! 

Son Vo is also a talented writer! Check out his compelling story, now available as an audiobook: Tales of the Mekong Delta Bluesman - Autobiography of Son Vo

@sonvosongs

Special thanks also to Mitch Stein - producer of JazzFest after shows at Café Istanbul - for welcoming us to the venue and accommodating our interview with Jeremy Hoenig! 

Checkout and download Mitch’s DEADSHOWZ App – The most powerful mobile Grateful Dead search engine on the planet! 

LINKS

JOE MARCINEK

https://www.joemarcinekband.com/

The Groove Session – Album – Joe Marcinek Band

https://www.jesusmolina.org/

https://www.groovesessionmusic.com/

Upcoming Shows

• Joe Marcinek's Dead Funk Summit w/ Melvin Seals, Tony Hall, Cliff Porter, and Rick King 

22 Aug  -Good People Good Times Music Festival 2025 – Nashville, IN

23 Aug - Rockopelli Music Fest 2025 -  Crown Point, IN

24 Aug – Park Theater - Holland, MI

• Joe Marcinek Band

31 Aug – Sunday Is Dead – Harlan Records, Outside Show,  San Francisco, CA 4pm – 7:15pm    
w/ Angeline Saris, Dylan Teifer, Jerry Saracini, Jeff Hobbs, Jen Freebairn)

Event Organized by Mr. Hat Presents

27 Sep  - Michigan City's Last Splash Fest 2025 - Michigan City, IN

RICK KING

Rick King’s Royal Hustle

https://www.honeyislandswampband.com/

Upcoming Shows

In this episode, hosts Dennis Strazulo and Tami Larson explore the journey of Sunshine Garcia Becker (Furthur, Sunshine Garcia Band) on her mission to curate an all-female Grateful Dead tribute band, with the purpose of expanding the involvement of women as key players in the live music scene. Sunshine is joined on the show by drummer Anna Elva (Smokedaddies, Mark Karan’s Buds, West Grand Boulevard, Stu Allen & Mars Hotel), bass player Jen Rund (Jenerator, Talley Up, Mangobu, Lumanation),  keyboardist Richelle Scales (The Richelle Scales Project)  and rising star, guitarist Bella Rayne – all successful musicians playing with other bands. The ladies are joined by honorary male, Zach Nugent (Dead Set, Melvin Seals JGB), thrilled to be supporting the group and recalling his wonderful experiences playing alongside women with Melvin Seals JGB. Together they form the newly named band, American Beauties (formerly China Dolls), visiting with Tales From The Green Room before their debut performance at Ashkenaz in Berkeley, CA during International Women’s Month.

Band members share their personal journeys, the importance of  female representation, and the struggles and progress of women in live performances. The conversation is interspersed with humorous and heartfelt moments, ultimately emphasizing the ongoing efforts to foster a supportive environment for female musicians and lauding Sunshine’s tireless efforts creating American Beauties.

Check out  members of American Beauties during GD60 weekend (8/1-3) and during The Daze Between (8/1 - 8/9) in SF & Sonoma County &  Zach Nugent during The Daze Between in Concord, NH, Killington, VT, Middlebury, VT, Newton, NY, and Middletown Springs, VT

Upcoming Shows

Jerry Day After Party - August 2, 2025 - Norton & Harrington (Jerry Garcia St.), San Francisco, CA - 6pm
w/ Sunshine Becker, Jon Chi, Anna  Elva, Angeline Saris, Jordan Feinstein

Sunshine Garcia Band, HopMonk – August 7, 2025, Sebastopol, CA - 8pm

w/ Sunshine Becker, Jon Chi, Scott Guberman, Angeline Saris, Jerry Saracini, Bella Rayne

See Bella Rayne with  Shakedown Citi, August 9, 2025 at The Hamilton Live, Washington, D.C.

Zach Nugent Tour

Highlights

 Spreading love and kindness and joy and being silly with each other. That's really what's gonna get us through. So, when you are lost or distraught or in the darkness for a little too long, just ask yourself, what can I do? What am I good at? What do I love doing.. and do that.

~Sunshine Garcia Becker

I spent a lot of time in Melvin Seals and JGB. And a third of that band is women.  I had the most spiritual and wonderful and warm and special experiences of my life on stage, off stage with the women in JGB.

~Zach Nugent

Everybody here knows exactly how it started for me. And I would say that being thrown into that is such a big part of my story and being literally thrown in headfirst. I learn so much still every day from everybody that I play with. And I say that I'm still pretty malleable and just pick up on a little bit of whatever I can.

~Bella Rayne

The last maybe six months, I've had at least two people tell me they've never seen a woman play drums. We play for these kids and those are some of my favorite ones because there's so many little girls there and they don't get to see bands often…for them, the one or two times they ever see a band, to see at least one woman on stage…I love that.

~Anna Elva

Links

Sunshine (Garcia) Becker

Anna Elva

Bella Rayne

Jen Rund

Richelle Scales

Zach Nugent

Music

Foolish Heart – Sunshine Garcia Band Live at Sweetwater Music Hall – 2016-08-09
Jessica Fierro, Amy Berry, Ezra Lipp, Peter Lavezzoli, Matt Hartle, Mark Karan, David Gans, Robin Sylvester, John Paul Mc Lean, Danny Eisenberg, Sam Johnston, Jordan Feinstein, Mitch Stein

Midnight Moonlight - Sunshine Garcia Band - Daze Between Festival - 2022-07-09
Sunshine Becker, Halina Janusz, Lisa Marlsberger, Stephanie Salva, Corrinne West, Zach Nugent, Jon Gold, Justin Purtill, Rodney Newman.

Thank you, Sarah Travis and Ashkenaz!

In this episode of Tales From The Green Room -  mixed with joyous reflection, levity, and emotion - drummer extraordinaire Danny Luehring discusses the origins and evolution of Danny's Live Dead, a weekly Grateful Dead show hosted by him every Wednesday at Peri’s Tavern in Fairfax, California. Danny shares insights into how the show started after the closure of  Phil Lesh's beloved Terrapin Crossroads, the challenges and rewards of curating a rotating lineup of musicians, and the significance of community and chemistry in live music. 

The hosts delve into Danny's musical background, memorable moments from his performances at Terrapin with his band, San Geronimo, and his first time playing with Phil Lesh, as he lauds the lasting impact of the Terrapin era. The conversation highlights the magic of live music, the depth of the Grateful Dead's influence, and Danny's future aspirations for his musical endeavors.

HIGHLIGHTS

You see all the people that you know are ready for it and that trust you. That’s the chemistry, too. I mean, chemistry, community…all those things. You can just line it up just right. And every night's different, but, my thing is I want it to be fucking amazing every night!

I think music is a dimension. I don't know how else to explain it. Music is such a unit, like a dimension…the way it affects people, in general, like a blanket, on people, it just makes me feel like it's gotta be bigger than we think. And the Dead is probably one of the things that really got me thinking about that.

My dad played guitar and I wanted to be a guitar player. So, for my fifth birthday he bought me an electric guitar and I remember it was at a costume party and I was dressed as a Denver Bronco and I put this thing on, and I broke the high string and it snapped back and hit me. And I thought it shocked me. 'cause it was an electric guitar. I mean, I was five. I was just like, oh my God. Drumsticks, please!

Terrapin for me was something that a hundred percent changed my direction in life. I wasn't a Deadhead.I literally knew like two Dead songs. The first time I played at Terrapin I just kind of had to learn under fire. It is not like I didn't know who the Dead were, and they were obviously on my radar, I just wasn't, I wasn't ready until I I was in those circumstances. And then just in that… I don't know, it's hard to explain what happened. 

~Danny Luehring

LINKS

Danny’s Live Dead

San Geronimo Band

Peri’s Tavern

Danny’s Live Dead Presents GD60! After Parties 

The Balboa - August 1, 2, 3, 2025

https://www.terrapincrossroads.net/

SHOWS

Danny’s Live Dead Presents GD60! After Parties - Balboa Theater

3630 Balboa St., San Francisco

August 1, 2, 3, 2025 - 10:30PM

Terrapin Road Shows 

Forest Meadows Amphitheatre - San Rafael, CA - July 18 (w/San Geronimo), 19, 20, (w/ Danny Luehring) 2025 SOLD OUT

Truckee Amphitheater - Truckee, CA August 17, 2025 - TICKETS

MUSIC

Tiny Television (band) - "Carolina"

MoniterLizard YouTube Channel

https://youtu.be/_hOXYKLpXIg?si=ETYYfw_0HJ9pytlo

San Geronimo @ Terrapin Crossroads on 10/9/14 ~ "Hear the Sound"

Eric Finkelman YouTube Channel

https://youtu.be/9JmG2vyzNJE?si=IOLjqKvmZ1I8YbJY

Danny’s Live Dead” - Garrett Deloian, Grahame Lesh, Brian Rashap & Danny Luehring "Bird Song," Papermill Creek Saloon, 4/10/24

Dreamlion YouTube Channel

https://youtu.be/fgT17eMOkSs?si=BnFWE9-L0lUYn9Hg

Grahame Lesh and Alex Koford

Jupiter and Mercury

Jan. 20, 2024 HopMonk Tavern Novato

https://youtu.be/ddSVxM9O8G0?si=GEJmVG-J2stAfJW1

In this episode of 'Tales from the Green Room,' the hosts engage in an enlightening conversation - and history lesson -  with singer-songwriter, Cajun culture activists, and International recording artist, Zachary Richard. Richard first reflects on his deep ties with Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, CA  - playing and hanging with Huey Lewis and Bob Weir - before musing on his touring experiences and unique cross-cultural identity as both an American and  French Canadian artist. The interview was recorded in the green room at Chickie Wah Wah, a premier New Orleans music venue, just after Richards's set on the last day of JazzFest 2025, moments before his after-show at the club that evening.

The discussion delves into the historical and cultural impacts of the Acadian deportation and the preservation of French culture in Louisiana; while Richard recounts his career in music, his prolific work in both French and English, and his passion for children's literature and poetry. The episode offers a heartwarming look at Richard’s collaboration with his neuro-motor handicapped grandson on a musical project - his latest album Handicap Bonheur - and his hopes for cultural and linguistic preservation through nonprofit endeavors. Richard’s reflection on his  performance at Jazz Fest and his thoughts on American and French cultural intersections add depth to this rich dialogue on music, heritage, and identity.

Highlights

I'm the most American of the French Canadians and the most French of the Americans because I've been going across the border of Quebec, singing in French for 50 years. So, it's a little disheartening to see the tension between the United States and our friends to the north,  especially since I've spent most of my professional career singing in French and working in Quebec. But so goes it, and I’m still part of that culture…I'll be playing in Quebec this summer, which, which I really enjoy doing,  'cause it gets so hot in Louisiana.

-Zachary Richard on being part of both American and French-Canadian Cultures

To become a Canadian citizen, I have to swear an oath of allegiance to the king now. It  just struck me as something that I couldn't possibly imagine doing. Swearing an oath of allegiance to a British monarch when my ancestors had suffered so terribly from the fact that they had refused to sign such an allegiance.

-Zachary Richard on loyalty to his ancestors.

I was torn the United States, back in the nineties and  Sweetwater was our home, away from home, in the Bay Area. Sweetwater was so cool! Jeanie Patterson…. she was a real firecracker and we had a lot of fun with Jeanie and she was so welcoming. And the club was really a lot of fun to play because it was easy to pack. And Huey Lewis would come out, Bob Weir came out, and then we'd go and party at Bob's place. I can't remember too much about that, but I know it was good.

-Zachary Richard on his memories playing at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, CA

Links

https://www.zacharyrichard.com/en

Zachary’s Richard 2025 Album - Handicap Bonheur

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHlc29obilCk2CUD4n6Vs0w
https://chickiewahwah.com/\

https://sweetwatermusichall.org/

“Against The Tide” - Cajun People of Louisianaa Documentary

Contre vents, contre marees - by Zachary Richard

https://www.deezer.com/fr/artist/5977

Music In Episode

Zachary Richard - Who Stole My Monkey (Live on Letterman 1990)/Rare Tracks II - YouTube
Crawfish by Zachary Richard