Gig Nightmares

Michael “Beenz” Boyles is a rock guitarist from the Northeast Pennsylvania area. From 2020 to 2023, he and I played together in the hard rock cover band Livin’ the Dream. During this formative time in my musical upbringing, we played all around the tristate area and opened for respected acts including Steven Adler of Guns N’ Roses, The Four Horsemen, Bark at the Moon, Sapphire, and Roughhouse. In...

Richie Ranno is an American rock guitarist best known for his work in the 70’s bands Starz and Stories. He’s toured and performed alongside other legendary acts of the era such as Kiss, Pat Travers, ZZ Top, Peter Frampton, Ted Nugent, Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult, Bob Seger, Aerosmith, REO Speedwagon, Styx, Black Oak Arkansas, Johnny Winter, The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Angel, Jeff Beck & Jan Hamme...

Micke Mansfield is a bassist from Connecticut. In the 80’s & 90’s, he held down the low-end for the New England-based hardcore bands Chronic Disorder and Big Gulp. From 1996-2020, he led the cover band Kick everywhere from the Atlantic City boardwalk to Madison Square Garden to the Las Vegas Strip. He’s played alongside acts like Duran Duran, Green Day, Reel Big Fish, Filter, Staind, Moby, All...

John Gallagher is the vocalist/bassist of the legendary heavy metal band Raven. Throughout his career, he has toured the world alongside acts such as Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Whitesnake, Twisted Sister, Testament, Kreator, The Stranglers, Hammerfall, Diamond Head, Girlschool, Riot, Accept, Saxon, and many more. In today’s episode of GIG NIGHTMARES, John reflects on pyrotec...

Tony Daniels is a Canadian actor, Grammy-nominated musician, writer, producer, and audition coach. He has done ADR work for 680+ celebrity voices and has voiced iconic characters such as Tony the Tiger, Gambit & Wolverine from the X-Men series and countless more. In today’s episode, Tony recalls experiences working with hot-headed directors, a mixing board suddenly catching fire during a recor...

Joshua Engle is the owner/engineer of Native Studios in Liverpool, Pennsylvania. He’s been part of the central PA music scene as the guitarist and producer for else//where (melodic hardcore) and Soulview (metalcore).  In today’s episode, Josh talks about selling tickets to a show that had been cancelled without his knowledge, gigs getting cut short by angry soundmen, bands coming unprepared t...

Kitchen Teeth is an original hard rock/alternative rock band based out of Bloomsburg, PA. Since their formation in 2023, they have had appearances on PA Live, The Popko Project, Pennsylvania Pipeline Music, and have been CPMA nominees. Oh, and their cat helps them write songs. They have also encountered their fair share of Gig Nightmares in the short time they’ve been together, including food pois...

Tommy Dorfman is the CEO of Juice Entertainment and Founder/Owner of RD Enterprises. He spent 15 years as a promoter in the NJ/NY club scene, building up his reputation and fending off organized crime from the mafia. In 2011, he set out to organize what would be the largest EDM festival on the East Coast before it was shut down by Live Nation and he became blacklisted from the industry. In today’s...

Joe Deninzon is a violinist from the NJ/NY area. He’s been the violinist for legendary rock outfit Kansas since 2023 and the co-founder/violinist/lead vocalist for the prog rock act Stratospheerius since 2001. Throughout his career, he has also worked with icons like Sheryl Crow, Bruce Springsteen, Phoebe Snow, Everclear, Ritchie Blackmore, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Robert Bonfiglio, Les P...

Justin Adams is a vocalist/guitarist based in Lebanon, PA. He’s been the leader of the metalcore outfit Oshian since 2011 and has recently joined the group Waiting for Eden. In today’s episode, Justin recounts a gig in 30 degree weather where the absence of mic stands led to audience members holding all of the band’s microphones for 3 hours. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

Tom Theurer is a drummer from Southeastern Pennsylvania. Since first taking up drums in the 80’s, Tom has played with numerous musical outfits including Brass Pocket, I Of Amenti, Sylvia Platypus, Outlaw Pandas, Brian Filone’s Bowie Experience, and Green Cathedral, to name just a few. In this week’s episode, Tom and I revisit the disastrous fill-in gig we met at and offer advice on what musicians...

Mark Burkert is a guitarist based in southeastern Pennsylvania. He’s currently playing in the 80’s arena rock cover band Old School, but years ago he played guitar for Tapping the Vein and performed with an eclectic mix of bands including Depeche Mode, the Sisters of Mercy, Alanis Morrissette, King’s X, The Damned, Type O Negative, Paradise Lost, Within Temptation, Electric Hellfire Club, and Opet...

Jenny Grace is a singer/songwriter based in Nashville, TN. Since 2021, she has been releasing music and performing all around the world with both her namesake country band and her original metal project Aaetheria. In today’s episode, Jenny and I revisit memories from our European tour with Aaetheria opening for Tarja Turnunen and Marko Hietala from Nightwish, including multiple run-ins with the po...

Bob “Angelo” Sawyer is a British guitarist most known for his time playing in legendary heavy metal bands Iron Maiden and Praying Mantis. He’s performed alongside other classic acts such as Motörhead, Saxon, Samson, and Hawkwind. In today’s episode of GIG NIGHTMARES, Bob tells some stories from his book “Iron Maiden and Praying Mantis: The Early Days”, including tour bus breakdowns on the 1980 Met...

Rosie Thorn is a singer from Southeastern Pennsylvania most notable for singing with groups like The Discoteks, Shameless, and Gilligan, a new tribute to yacht rock.  In today’s episode, Rosie talks about how she started singing professionally and what she’s seen during her time, such as nasty bar fights, shady band members, audience fatalities, and more on GIG NIGHTMARES. You can catch Rosie...

Mark Newman is a guitarist and singer/songwriter from New York. Throughout his lifelong career, he’s been a sideman for music icons like John Oates (Hall & Oates), Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), Jim McCarty (Yardbirds, Renaissance), Willy DeVille (Mink DeVille), Bobby Whitlock (Derek & the Dominoes), and Sam the Sham, as well as his own original music projects. On today’s episode, Mark tells...

Matti Frost is a multi-instrumentalist based in Pennsylvania. Since 2013, he’s been the singer/rhythm guitarist/main songwriter of Philadelphia-based metal outfit Frost Giant. He’s also notable for having drummed with bands like Live Fast Die, The Commercials, and many more. On today’s episode of GIG NIGHTMARES, Matti reflects on an ill-fated DIY tour he embarked on 25 years ago with The Commercia...

Gary Shea is an American rock bassist best known for his work with Alcatrazz and New England. Since the late 60’s, Gary’s been performing all over the world on some of the most iconic stages alongside bands like KISS, Rush, Kansas, Styx, AC/DC, Journey, and more. In today’s episode, Gary tells a few stories from his new book “ No Bass, No Party: Sketches of My Life in Music ”, including turning do...

Rich Goldberg is the president and founder of NJ-based booking agency Ultra Artists. In the 80’s and 90’s, he booked many iconic acts including Greg Allman, The B-52’s, Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, Thomas Dolby, The Romantics, The Ramones, The Nerds, and many more. In today’s episode, Rich details some of the issues he’s dealt with as a booking agent, such as “intimidation” from rival booking agents,...

Mark Briody is the rhythm guitarist & co-founder of American heavy metal band Jag Panzer . Since the release of their debut “Ample Destruction” in 1984, the band has left their mark on heavy metal history. They’ve toured the world many times over, making numerous appearances at international festivals like Wacken and Sweden Rock, and released their 12th studio album “The Hallowed” in 2023.&nbs...

Carlos Drouet is a singer from New Jersey. Having taught himself how to sing working for tips on public transit buses as a kid in Ecuador, he has been singing and playing guitar in a handful of local cover bands for the past few years, most notably Faith in Chaos . In today’s episode, Carlos tells nightmare stories from working with a former guitarist who would curse band members out onstage, stop...

Brian Silver is a bassist from New Jersey known as the bandleader of NJ-based tribute act 80’s Revolution . Throughout the 70’s and 80’s, Brian rocked the East Coast as bassist for The Flossie Band and played many shows alongside iconic acts of the day. Today’s episode of GIG NIGHTMARES has Brian telling the bizarre story of how he was scouted for The Flossie Band, the many drunken antics of band...

Michael Brown is a heavy metal guitarist/vocalist from Baltimore, MD. Since 2011, he has been the frontman for the technical thrash/death metal outfit Nuclear Tomb , as well as playing guitar and touring with bands like Ixias and Total Maniac . In today’s episode, Michael gives insight into the realities of European DIY touring, dealing with drunks at gigs, having to borrow other bands’ gear when...

Nathaniel Kinsey is a multi-instrumentalist and life-long fan of hard rock + heavy metal music. He’s been playing in bands his whole life and over the years has opened for notable 80’s rock acts like L.A. Guns, Stephen Pearcy (Ratt), and Faster Pussycat.  Like many youths growing up in the 80's and 90’s, Nathaniel had dreams of someday being on MTV and, as fate would have it, he ended up gett...

Jimmy Waldo is an American keyboard player, songwriter, and producer. He has recorded and performed with several notable rock and metal bands, including New England, Alcatrazz, Quiet Riot, Warlord, and Blackthorne. Over his 45+ year career, he’s traveled the world playing some of the biggest arenas opening for bands like KISS and worked with some of the biggest names in rock music. In today’s epis...