Sullivan's Backstage Pass

In this episode of  Sullivan’s Backstage Pass , Shawn sits down with guitarist  Bruce MacKay  to talk about a lifetime in music and the realities of playing in working bands. The conversation explores what makes live performance exciting, how musicians communicate on stage without words, and why no two shows ever feel exactly the same. A major theme of the episode is McKay’s advice about balancing...

Join us on Sullivan’s Backstage Pass for a rich and thoughtful conversation with Big Mike Perez of Big Mike & the R&B Kings, a Chicago-born blues artist whose music carries the grit, soul, and drive of two legendary music cities. In this interview, Big Mike reflects on the journey that took him from Chicago to New Orleans and how those places helped shape not only his sound, but also his a...

In this episode of Sullivan’s Backstage Pass, Shawn sits down with Scot O’Neil—owner of The Windsock Lounge in Prescott, Arizona, and frontman of the Scott O’Neil Band—for a deep dive into the heart of live music, performance, and community. Drawing from his dual perspective as both a venue owner and working musician, Scot shares valuable insights into what makes a show truly connect. The conversa...

In this episode, we sit down with Portland youth blues band Sleeper Wave—Cameron Kirkman (guitar, vocals), Jonah Bradbury (keyboards), Juliette Bull (bass), and Evan Shumate (drums)—to talk about where their story started and how they found their voice in the city’s vibrant music scene. We dive into the band’s origins, the passion that first drew them to the blues, and the influences that continue...