The FeedBak Podcast

Henry + The Invisibles is a one man phunk band. We talk about:

• Winning Battle of the Bands at Mohawk sponsored by Mattress Firm
• His love for music and early bands;
• Transitioning from one instrument to the next then to vocals;
• The birth of Henry + The Invisibles and looping;
• The importance of the live performance (visuals, experience, unpredictability);
• The influence of James Brown and 70's music;
• Songwriting process, Stevie Wonder, and Sly and The Family Stone;
• The Austin fanbase and life on the road;
• Words of wisdom for upcoming artists

I wanted to design music that makes me move too. Spiritually, that is what does it. The rhythm of funky music. - Henry Roland

Danny "D-Train" Trevino, Manny Fresco, and Carleen Nicole wrote, produced, and directed 6th Street SINderella, a short film and romantic comedy that flips the script on the Disney and The Brothers Grimm versions:

• Brainstorming at a bar (and after-party)
• Writing, casting, directing, and producing the short film
• How relatable the story is
• Our connection to the world-famous 6th Street
• Why it's called Dirty 6th
• Turning 6th Street to a no-car street
• Lack of diversity in the bars
• Bringing the live music back to 6th Street
• Supporting the Austin art and music scene

Quotes from the show:

"We all wanted to create something fun. Everyone wanted something fun. Everyone stepped up." - Danny "D-Train" Trevino

"This was to get everybody going and start doing things we want and love to do. And not wait for someone to hire us." - Carleen Nicole

"After filming, I went home, so excited. And I mapped the whole film till 5:30am." - Manny Fresco

Fun Fun Fun Fest celebrated its 10 year anniversary. We recap the festival with Micco, Sweet John from RockSauce Studios, and Deborah Sengupta Stith from Austin360 Music and Austin American Statesman:

• Our history with Fun Fun Fun Fest
• What we were excited to see at the festival and how we prepared
• We review shows and recap key moments by day including Peaches and the marriage proposal, FFFNites with GZA, Wu-Tang Clan, Jane's Addiction, Big Freedia, Lauryn Hill, and many more
• The food vendors and drinks
• The issues with the sound
• Fun Fun Fun Fest vs ACL vs SXSW
• The other activities including Slient Disco, games and skateboarding
• Fashion trends at FFF Fest

Quotes from the show:
"My approach was going to be an ACL approach where I camp out at stages but I changed it to just take chunks. So I ended up seeing people I wasn't expecting to see. And I really enjoyed it." - Micco
"I want to thank everybody at Transmission Events. They put on a fantastic event this year." - Sweet John
"I give it all the Funs!" - Deborah

We recorded this show live at the Bak 2 Bak Podcast & Party at Empire Control Room with Jamie Batisteand Adam Mastrelli. We talk about:

• Events that marked the summer: Body Rock’s Michael Jackson Birthday Party
• The songs of the summer according Billboard
• Keeping up with new music as you get older
• Favorite decades in terms of music
• Sexual fantasies
• Summer fashion: Man buns and jean shorts
• Blaming yoga for flat butts

One of memorable moments (this summer) would be watching my friends have sex in a blue lagoon in Iceland – Jamie

I feel like Austin has a little bit more of grunge, a little bit more of a heart than a “Billboard hit” – Adam

This is Part 2 of our conversation about dating and nightlife in Austin. Make sure you listen to Part 1:

• We get feedbak from people on the street about their (online) dating experience,
• Where are the meat markets in Austin? What characterizes each area?
• How to handle a situation where someone hits on your date,
• Maintaining a balance between your single self and your relationship self in terms of privacy and trust,
• Couples fighting at 2am
• When guys invest money and "equity" into a girl and expects more,
• Is chivalry dead?
• Los' 4 rules of attraction including importance of touch,
• How to get someone to say "yes",
• How to improve the dating scene in Austin.

We talk about online dating and the Austin nightlife live at Cotone Italian Clothing with Los Ellis and Alon Bernstein (More Cowbell):

• Los' fail-proof plan to make sure people look like what they portray online,
• The Tinder generation
• Lies and background checks
• Austin as a hook-up city
• Success and horror stories from online dating

No longer do I have to go to a bar and talk to 5 different girls and either get shot down and get my feelings hurt. Now I can look for the type of girl that I really want- Los

The degree of separation is 2 or less. That's why I want to ask a girl out as her moving truck is going around - Alon

Part 2 of our conversation with Riders Against The Storm, Band of The Year 2013 and 2014. Check out Part 1 and their 1st appearance back in January 2014.

• Going back to their home state of Rhode Island,
• Meeting great artists like George Clinton, Scarface, Mos Def and an awkward moment with K-Nine,
• Being professional as an artist and the importance of having a mentor,
• Austin as a Music City,
• Being married and making music together,
• Their plans to experiment with their music in new ways,
• Chaka's trip to the meditation retreat called Vipassana.

I have so much energy and love and support just for myself, in my self that I have enough to pour out and give to you. No matter what you think. Because ALL of this is going to successful. - Qi

People are creating their own lanes in Austin. [...]. At some point, people will look back and go 'Oh that's where Riders Against The Storm was. That's where these cats were'" - Chaka

Qi & Chaka of Riders Against The Storm and Body Rock return to the podcast. (You can check out their 1st appearance right here back in January 2014). We talk about:

• Winning Band of The Year 2013 and 2014 and the opportunities that came afterwards,
• The necessary sacrifices and how to overcome the struggles,
• Building a team and a community around their vision,
• Performing at KGSR's Blues On The Green with Shakey Graves,
• Moving Body Rock from Sahara Lounge to Empire Control Room
• Booty Sweat single
• RAS Day on Saturday August 29 at Kenny Dorham's Backyard.

It's definitely been a lot of work and a lot of focus. Focus through like there's a hole in the boat and you ain't got the oars. But the shore is over there and keeping it moving - Chaka
People are so appreciative of the energy that they're willing to support you if however they can - Qi

Part 2 of our talk with Stephen Sternschein, owner of Empire Control Room. Listen to Part 1 about his journey. We discuss the impact of new development on the Red River Cultural District:

• What the designation Red River Cultural District means?
• The Waller Creek Project and its impact on the Red River area,
• How come Empire Control Room has not been affected as much by these new developments,
• City growth vs Austin as Live Music Capital of the World: noise ordinance, residents' complaints, etc,
• The Soul-y Initiative: Austin Business District Incubator,
• The Austin Music People's Music City Report Card 2015 gives Austin C-,
• The cost of going out in Austin and the willingness to pay a cover charge,
• How Empire markets itself and its acts to the public

My team and I and the folks on Red River are in a position where some of time we ask people to take a leap of faith and come through because they might not know who the band is but if it's on stage at our club, it's going to be something worth checking out - Stephen Sternschein

Stephen Sternschein, owner of Empire Control Room, shares his journey from New Jersey to open one of the most successful venues in Austin:

• Being in a band from New Jersey and almost playing with The Roots and Lauryn Hill,
• Getting into the business side of the music industry,
• Coming to Austin during SXSW and organizing shows,
• How Empire Control Room came about and how it fits in the Red River Cultural District,
• The broken permit system in Austin
• Building a relationship with George Clinton aka P Funk
• Dealing with Fire Marshals

Quote from the show:

"Going back to my roots as an artist, being in a position wanting to work with a venue that cares more about the shows and wants to guide you through it rather than [showing you] tough love." - Stephen Sternschein