The Rock-N-Roll Show Podcast

Send us Fan Mail This week, we are going through a list of our favorite songs to take with you on a Mexican vacation. They're not all ABOUT going on a Mexican vacation, but they're a good mixed tape for you to listen to while on vacation in Mexico. So pour yourself a big Margarita and settle in for our Top 10 Going to Mexico songs, this week on the Rock-N-Roll Show Podcast! =============...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we speak with Nick DeMatteo, the creative force behind the band {REC}. Nick is a lifelong musician and also an actor and film producer. A modern day renaissance man, he shares his creative journey with us, from his earliest musical influences through his first bands, his early stage and film productions, and his current creative outlet, {REC}, who just released their ne...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we've got a review of the  Sturgill Simpson concert at Forest Hills Stadium at the old Tennis Center on October 19th, 2024. Simpson came out fast and just kept going, rolling through a set of excellent songs, including some really excellent cover songs, and we'll tell you all about it. And if you aren't as familiar with Sturgill Simpson, you will be, as t...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we are going through our favorite Halloween-influenced rock songs. From the funny ones to the more disturbing ones, we have a good mix of songs to share with you that move beyond the Monster Mash, that should send a tingle down your spine and get you movin' and groovin' on All Hallow's Eve. So have a safe, happy Halloween rockin' to the Top 10 Hallow...

Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode, I talk with my old friends Sal & Steve Gonza from the powerhouse Connecticut hard rock trio INK. We discuss how they got started playing in a band together, how they met up with their bass player Rich Massella, and how they’ve managed to stay true to their vision of being an all-originals band for more than 25 years! Find out what their original influen...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we’re reviewing the Kings of Leon concert at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, CT on October 5th, 2024. We’ll share our history with the band starting with their first album from 2003 and how their music has progressed over the course of 20 years and 9 studio albums.  And now, as they wrap up their "Can We Pease Have Fun" tour, we’ll get into...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I am addressing a comment made by a few members of the audience who point out that this podcast is focused on older acts and older music. I love new music, so I am taking this week to focus on my favorite acts that only started their careers in this new century. I go through the 9 acts that I like best, and note others that I didn't include but would have liked to....

Send us Fan Mail This week, my old friend Dave Schultz and I reminisce about our early days discovering music and attending concerts together. From Tina Turner, to Springsteen to David Lee Roth to Eric Clapton, we saw great shows in high school. From there, Dave dove into seeing live music at a pace that far outpaces other people, including me! Dave estimates he has seen over 3,000 bands at more t...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we’re reviewing the Jeff Lynne’s ELO concert at Madison Square Garden on September 17th, 2024. We’ll take you on a journey through the Electric Light Orchestra's storied history, from their humble beginnings in Birmingham, England, to their meteoric rise in the late '70s and early '80s, and beyond. You'll learn about the band's break up and subs...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we take a deep dive into the world of the Fictional Bands – musical acts created for TV or Movies that produce real rock-n-roll music. Imagine the effort it takes to create good music for a band that will never tour or play those songs for a concert crowd?! Do you have a favorite? Well, get ready to journey through the fascinating universe of fictional bands, this...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we talk with Nashville-based musician, producer, and studio engineer Scott Greenblatt about his musical evolution, going from the normal piano lessons that so many kids are forced to take to finding his place behind the keyboard. From playing block parties to home recording to playing out with his college band, along with a healthy dose of seeing live music courtesy of...

Send us Fan Mail We’re trying something new on the show this week – a Top 10 List! Our first Top 10 list counts down the best first songs from an act’s debut album. We find it really interesting to see how new bands present themselves to the public right from the start. And what’s the best way for a new band or artist to make a good first impression? Put out a great first song, and put that song a...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m reviewing the Joe Bonamassa concert at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY on the August 24th, 2024.  Smokin’ Joe is an artist I’ve been waiting to see since the mid-90’s, and it was worth the wait. Wait – you don’t know who Joe Bonamassa is? If that’s the case, you'll learn about his remarkable rise, the bands that shaped him, and the unparalleled guitar s...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I speak with my old friend Mike Thomas about his lifelong love of music and specifically live music. Mike was into all kinds of music as a kid, before taking a deep dive into the New York City hardcore music scene in the early ‘90’s. His insights and experiences, along with some incredible photos, help bring this underground scene into the light, and alone make this epi...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m reviewing the Black Pumas show at The Capitol Theater on August 1st, 2024. The show delivered some moments I’ve honestly never seen before, and they revolved around the singer’s interactions with the audience. A good show musically was elevated by Eric Burton’s drive to connect with all of us in new and creative ways, as well as an amazing light show.  Whether you&a...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we talk with Vanessa Cardenas, a Betrayal Recovery Specialist and an avid music fan. She’ll take us on an exhilarating ride through her formative years in New York City's iconic music scene during the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. Her love of music grew in the ‘90’s, and served as a catalyst for great concert experiences, from a marathon Pearl Jam set at Randall's Island t...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, our guest is Tom Williams, the founder and managing director of Edge Partner Consulting. Tom shares his compelling journey through the world of live music that began in the least likely of places—a "music desert" in Northern California. From the moment his mother brought home a console stereo, Tom's world was transformed, thanks to his brother-in-la...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I'm reviewing the Foo Fighters concert at Citi Field on July 17th, an event that tested the resilience of fans and performers alike. It started out strong, with electrifying supporting performances by The Pretenders and Mammoth WVH, before the Foos came out of the gates strong.  But the night wasn't without its hiccups—an abrupt end due to lightning threats le...

Send us Fan Mail This week, join me as I walk through the albums that shaped my musical tastes over the years. These aren’t my favorite albums, or my favorite bands, but the 12 albums that found me at just the right times in my life and helped me develop and evolve my interest in rock-n-roll music, in all it’s forms. I share stories about how I came upon each of these albums, and how seeing bands...

Send us Fan Mail This week, our guest is Carl King, a change consultant and executive coach from the Chicago area who has a fascinating life story that intersects with live music at multiple points. Raised to be a preacher from his youth, he found live music as a teen and felt himself pulled between his life in the pulpit and on the stage. Join us as we hear how Carl navigated the complexities of...

Send us Fan Mail What if a simple Musical Aptitude Test could alter the course of your life forever? Charlie Trantanella’s story is a testament to the transformative power of music. Charlie's musical journey began with a fateful school test that led him to join his elementary school band. From his early love for Led Zeppelin to mastering the trumpet in a jazz band, Charlie’s dedication to his...

Send us Fan Mail Join us on this week's episode  as we sit down with Jeff Greenblatt, who takes us through his early musical experiences shaped by his parents' love for oldies, doo-wop, and Broadway show tunes. Jeff also shares how his initial interests in video games and sports eventually gave way to a burgeoning passion for music, thanks to his older brother and the iconic New York roc...

Send us Fan Mail Our guest this week is my college roommate, Dr. Stephen Berkwitz. We reminisce about our college days and Steve's influence on my musical tastes. Steve shares great stories about the shows he's seen throughout his life, spanning a wide variety of musical genres and acts from Prince and Soul Asylum to Alice Cooper and The Lunachicks.  Additionally, he lifts the curtain be...

Send us Fan Mail This week's guest is Jason Rushforth, who shares his journey through the world of live music. From the magnetic pull of The Beatles, courtesy of his British father, to the electrifying vibes of his first Motley Crue concert, Jason's stories are a testament to the lifelong magic of music. As he takes us through his early days of musical discovery, prepare to be transporte...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when an Aussie music enthusiast falls for the American live music scene? Join us on this episode as Soph Stafford, our first international guest, shares her fascinating musical journey. Soph's story is fueled by a deep love for live shows, which for her means coming to the United States with her husband at least once a year to see concerts. From bucket list dream...