The FeedBak Podcast

Graham Williams, founder of Fun Fun Fun Fest, Transmission Events, Margin Walker stops by the studio to share his story and preview Sound on Sound Fest:

• Working with artists and putting on shows at an early age
• His involvement in the Austin music and how it has grown over the years
• Transitioning from booking shows to forming Transmission Events
• The vision behind Fun Fun Fun Fest and how it carries over to Sound on Sound Fest
• Incorporating podcasts into the festival for the first time
• Additional perks and shows that will be available to those camping at Sound on Sound Fest

“The whole reason I’ve always done this festival.. I really believe these bands and fans have a lot more in common than maybe people from the outside believe.” – Graham Williams

• Popularity of Formula 1 racing worldwide
• Increasing local interest in Formula 1 racing via expos and presentations.
• Elements of the Formula 1 weekend: fashion shows, live music, etc.
• A New York, LA, or Vegas experience that you can have an in Austin
• How this year's venue will add to the Blu Party experience. 
• Collaborating with other company's to put on events

"If you want to go to a cool party, see some faces you recogonize, and mix with an international crowd that you normally wouldn't get to do, this is the way to do it." - Ian Weightman

"Theres something so unique and so special about this space and us doing this beautiful F1 Blu party at that space, in that building [old Antones]." - Ginger Leigh

"They enjoy the experince that we put on and present and produce to everybody, because it is different. It's a once a year type of party that we're putting on." - Jeannine Rock

Mondo's Rob Jones (co-founder/Creative Director) and Mo Shafeek (Record Label Production Manager) stop by the studio to discuss their love of film and music, and MondoCon 2016:

• The history of the gig poster scene in Austin
• Mondo's origins as a small print tee shop and the relationship with the Alamo Drafthouse
• Challenges they face securing licenses to produce the soundtracks and movie posters they're interested in
• Discovering and reaching out to new artists
• The idea behind MondoCon and the experience it aims to provide attendees
• Artists from around the world descending upon Austin for MondoCon
• Their dream projects
• People with the last name Hall

"The biggest challenge for a gig poster artists is getting a tour poster where you have to put 50 dates, 30 dates,  or a festival poster where you have to put 100 bands names.. without having to make a giant block at the bottom." - Rob Jones

"Once you're in there [MondoCon], you have access to this whole entire two venue's worth of artists that are selling things you can't find anywhere else on the planet." - Mo Shafeek

Magna Carda joins us at the Mohawk 10 Year Anniversary to share their story:

• Their musical background as young musicians with DJ parents,
• Meeting in college and performing at talent shows
• Fitting into the music scene as a Hip Hop band
• The production process from the beat-making to song writing
• The omnipresence of trap music in Hip Hop and finding their sound
• Stories from touring: running out of gas
• Coming up with CirQlation album title

"You don't design the message to the crowd. The message attracts the crowd. That's the theory we're based on." - Megz Kelli

"I'm a big Tribe fan. Q-Tip did a show here at St. Edwards my freshman year. I thought I have to do something musically as soon as I leave this place." - Dougie Do

"Our music doesn't fit in a box. We're going to keep doing what we're doing. If it picks up, it picks up." - Brotha Mike

"We always went through a certain cycle. Our old songs have gone through that cycle so we needed to create new ones." - Derek

Can we truly call Austin the Live Music Capital of the World if many music genres are unrepresented? We speak with Chaka Mpeanaji (Riders Against The Storm, Body Rock ATX), Lauren Bruno (Solstice Presents), and Mike Manewitz on genre development in Austin.

• Has the city's involvement and efforts to promote genre development been effective?
• The challenges for hip hop, electronic, and world music artists, etc. face when trying to get venues to book them.
• Austin's perception as a  rock, americana, alternative, folk/acoustic music city, despite the diversity of music being created in the city.
• The role radio and print media plays in crafting the image of what Austin's live music is all about.
• Is there a generational divide between those making decisions/policies affecting live music and those with a pulse on the music scene.
• Supporting the newer generation of artists and becoming a music evangelist.

"If you're not getting your hustle on, it's not hip hop to me." - Chaka Mpeanaji

"A lot of the people I talk to in our generation are so down with the idea of doing things and working together." - Lauren Bruno

"No one is going to give more of shit about your band then you do. So act like it." - Mike Manewitz

Boris Wright stops by the Feedbak studio to preview the upcoming fall festival season:

• ProTips for having a good festival experience;
• Improvements for this year's ACL Fest;
• Statistical breakdown of ACL's performers and music genres;
• Small Font vs Big Font bands;
• US festivals vs European festivals;

"Important part of what music should be...is to uplift you, make everybody feel good" - Boris Wright

Henry + The Invisibles returns on the podcast to celebrate the release of his full-length album Musaic. Podcast was taped live at Empire Control Room and features special guests DJ Chicken George, Trouble In The Streets, Henry's girlfriend and father.

• DJ Chicken George's introduction to Funk music and meeting Henry + The Invisibles
• Trouble In The Streets talk about their musical background, playing together for the 1st time, going on tour, band names, not fitting in a box, and more
• Beth (Henry's girlfriend) and Pops share their thoughts on Henry's music,
• Henry talks about his new album, the production, engineering, the importance of the live performance and connecting with the audience.

Joel and Rakefet Laviolette from Rattletree and Rattletree School of Marimba share their passion for Zimbabwean Marimba music.

• Discovering the mbira in Taos, New Mexico.
• Living in Zimbabwe: learning the Shona language, meeting local musicians, playing at ceremony.
• Moving to Austin in 2006 and introducing Zimbabwean music to the city.
• Opening the Rattletree School of Marimba.
• Composing and improvising Marimba music.
• Glow Party and Grand Opening on September 23-25

Calling all geeks and nerds!We explore alternatives to going out to bar and clubs with John W. Smith from Geeks Who Drink at Highball (GWD) on Wednesdays at 8pm and Alamo Drafthouse:

• Growing up with parents in the TV industry and learning from David Letterman;
• Discovering Geeks Who Drink and auditioning to become a host;
• The origins of GWD and the story of its founder Jon Dicker;
• Coming up with questions, topics, games from writers to editors to quizmasters;
• The story behind the Alamo Drafthouse and Tim and Karrie League;
• Putting together fun experience for the first showing of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Deadpool, Sausage Party;
• The Don't Talk PSA with celebrities;
• Other nerd/geek events around town:
  • Astronomy On Tap: From planets to black holes. 3rd Tuesday of the month at North Door @ 7:30pm
  • Nerd Nite: TED Talks-like 2nd Tuesday of the month at North Door @ 7:30pm
  • Emerald Tavern & Cafe: Board game bar in North Austin
  • Game Over Video Game: old school video game tournaments
  • Thinkery 21: science-related games for 21+ crowd
  
  
• We play trivia:
  • What did the code ARK in NBA Jam on Super Nintendo unlock?
  • What was Christopher Walken's character's alias in Suicide Kings? (Submitted on Twitter by @Its_Calo)
  • Michael Jackson's Thriller music video premiered in front of what animated Disney movie in 1982?
  
  

We pay homage to Nathan Lloyd aka weirdg0nepro who left us in April. He was a full of life, creativity, and inspiration, and an Instagram genius. We celebrated his 25th birthday at Empire Control Room with a great line-up of his favorite bands and shared memories. All the proceeds from this event go to the SIMS Foundation, a non-profit who helps people in the music industry with mental health issues.

Thank you, Nathan.