s1e27 Still Plugged In - Keeping the Guitar Alive When Life Gets Loud with Dave McCarty

🎙️ Episode Summary

🎸  Guest:  Dave McCarty, guitarist
🎙️  Hosts:  Brian "Pops" and Steele
🎧  Show:  The Wired Garage with Pops

In this follow-up conversation with guitarist Dave McCarty, *The Wired Garage with Pops* shifts from gear talk to the deeper story — what it really means to keep music alive across decades of real life. Dave opens up about balancing gigging with family, how his relationship with the guitar has matured emotionally, and why playing in a band at 55 is less about ego and more about belonging. From going on the road at 18 to nearly quitting and buying all his gear back two weeks later, Dave's story is a relatable, honest look at music as a lifelong identity — not just a hobby.

✅ Key Takeaways

• Music doesn't retire — you adapt it.  Dave has been playing since 13, and rather than quitting, he's continuously adjusted how music fits into his life around work and family.
• A supportive partner makes all the difference.  Dave credits his wife of 31 years as the reason he's still playing — her patience and understanding gave him the freedom to continue.
• The people you play with shape who you become.  Older bandmates on the road at 18 kept Dave grounded and away from bad decisions — a lesson in the power of musical mentorship.
• Ego fades, band chemistry grows.  In your 20s it's about standing out; in your 50s it's about how well the whole band sounds together.
• Just do it — life's too short.  Dave's direct advice to anyone thinking about dusting off their instrument: if it brings you joy without wrecking your life, plug back in.
• The younger generation of live musicians is disappearing.  Both Dave and Brian observe that the local music scene is aging out, with fewer young players stepping up to fill venues — a broader cultural concern.
• Music as a mental anchor.  Whether it's gigging twice a month or jamming in a home studio, music keeps you moving forward — especially important heading into retirement years.

📝 Show Notes

Dave McCarty returns to *The Wired Garage with Pops* for part two of his conversation with hosts Brian ("Pops") and Steele. This episode goes beyond the gear and into the heart of what keeps a musician playing through the seasons of life.

Dave shares stories from his earliest days — hitting the road at 18 with older bandmates who became mentors — to the present, where he's still gigging a couple times a month at 55 with bandmates in their 60s. He talks candidly about nearly quitting, selling all his gear, and buying it all back within weeks.

The conversation also touches on passing music down to the next generation, the challenge of getting kids interested in live music today, the shift from 80s shredding to 90s groove-based playing, and why Iron Maiden fans will absolutely call you out if you improvise a solo.

Whether you're a weekend warrior musician, a lapsed player, or just someone who loves honest conversation about life and identity — this one's for you.

🔑 Keywords guitarist lifestyle, adult musician, keeping music alive, hobby musician, band life, music and family, aging musician, Dayton Ohio music scene, cover bands, Iron Maiden tribute, local live music, music mentorship, balancing music and work, returning to music, music identity, gigging at 50, home studio, 90s music, 80s guitar, in-ear monitors, wired garage podcast 

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