Part 1 of 2. On this episode of Rock & Roast, Ben and Caleb speak to Jeremiah Pierson. They talk about his intro to the industry with a house gig, his first tour with a regional rock band, what he's learned on tour, how being thrown into the fire on a gig can make you stronger, and working with a magician on who's tour he and Ben met. 

Jeremiah is an audio engineer, production coordinator, and sound designer who got his start in the small rock club scene back in 2009. 

On this episode of Rock & Roast, Caleb and Ben talk to audio tech/engineer, Calvin Welshans. They talk gear, Calvin’s experience being homeschooled, his love for music resulting in his love for tech, first house gig, first tour, his transition into the company he currently works for, and what he’s doing now. Then they transition to coffee and discuss how favorites of brew method, grind, and origin, the different espresso drinks, and the ratios of milk that structure them. He then teaches Ben and Caleb a few things about the specifics of brew methods and the balances that go along with them.

Calvin is a touring Monitor Systems/RF Tech and occasional monitor mixer. His hobbies include coffee, whiskey, tobacco, and being a professional. He loves to learn, read, and talk about work in any capacity. When he grows up he wants to be a barista...but seriously his retirement plan is to open a cafe serving pour over/espresso and whiskey pairings.

Calvin’s Instagram - @calvinbwelshans

Clair Global’s Instagram - @clairglobal

On this episode of Rock & Roast, Caleb and Ben continue their talk to producer, tech, and musician, and coffee lover, Justin Glasco. They talk about Justin’s move to L.A, then to Brooklyn, then to Nashville, and then back to L.A.! Justin tells them about his time with The Lone Bellow, his love for and his life in the studio, microphones, what he’s been working on during the pandemic, travel coffee setups, coffee first thing in the morning on tour, and their favorites of coffee.

A self-proclaimed quality control freak splitting time between Los Angeles and Nashville.

Credits include session work with artists such as Andrew Bird, Christina Perri, Avril Lavigne, Blake Mills, Matt Berninger (the National), Tristan Prettyman, Bo Burhnam, Dan Wilson and writing collaborations with Cary Brothers, Wild Rivers, Emerson Hart, Serena Ryder, Anderson East and Meiko.

Justin was most recently a creative contributor and drummer for Nashville-based Americana band, The Lone Bellow. The band released their third album in September 2017. Produced alongside Dave Cobb, with additional production by Glasco at his personal studio. The album includes songs written while touring internationally with the band for three years.

He is currently busy working on upcoming releases from Meiko, David Redd, Amie Miriello, Madison Malone, Lucy Clearwater, Hugh Masterson and Brian Elmquist (The Lone Bellow) and a slew of incredible talent with a new live project called Stories. 

This is a very special bonus episode where Caleb and Ben are joined by industry veteran Kyle Jones, Vice President of Account Development for Special Event Transportation.  Kyle has over 30 years in the live entertainment business, has served some of the top names in the industry and has grown major global companies such as Stage Call Transportation and recently launched the US division of Truck’N Roll.

This episode is a call to action to help pass the RESTART bill (S. 3814) in order to help those unemployed by extending PUA and FPUC and our industry’s critical situation.

Please visit: www.usa.gov/elected-officials to easily find your elected official and message them about why this is so important.

Also visit www.wemakeevents.org for more information and ways to take action.

On this episode of Rock & Roast, Caleb and Ben bring you part 2 of their conversation with Will Whitaker! The coffee half! They discuss the origins of coffee, brew methods, the world of competition coffee, the history of the coffee bean, and how coffee houses came to be in the United States. Will also talks about the business he & his wife started, and what it looks like during and after Covid.

-Sayso Coffee’s Instagram - @saysocoffee

-Will Whitaker’s Instagram - @will.w2189

-La Marzocco Espresso Machine - www.lamarzoccousa.com

-Kalita Wave Pour Over System - http://kalita.ae/products/waveseries

-December Dripper Pour Over System - https://www.decembercoffee.com/product-page/december-dripper-grip

-Specialty Coffee Association - https://sca.coffee/

On the inaugural episode of Rock & Roast, Caleb and Ben interview Audio Systems Engineer, Will Whitaker.  Will has worked for, and toured with, many big name artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Foo Fighters.  In part one of this two part episode, they discuss the details of the Foo Fighters tour on which Dave Grohl broke his leg, how Will got the opportunity to work with Lynyrd Skynyrd, along with a few ridiculous jokes, and a little bit of tech talk for the nerds out there like us!  So join us, and we hope you enjoy!