Category Archives: Music

Music, podcast

Tom Stephen

Tom Stephen spent the better part of two decades playing drums in and co-managing one of Canada’s top musical trios, The Jeff Healey Band. Tom recently wrote the book, “Best Seat In The House. My Life In The Jeff Healey Band” published by ECW Press.

I sat down with Tom Stephen for almost 90 minutes in a downtown Toronto lobby to talk about his life as a musician and to find out more about one of Canada’s, if not the world’s, best guitarists, Jeff Healey.

This is Episode #153 of the Welcome! podcast. Tom Stephen and I discussed:

  • How Tom was introduced to drums and the first time he met Jeff Healey
  • The reasons Tom effectively became the lead business negotiator for The Jeff Healey Band
  • Tom shared some stories of Jeff Healey with people such as Keith Richards, President Bill Clinton, Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits, George Harrison from The Beatles and BB King
  • Tom described going to New York City to get Paul Shaffer’s (David Letterman’s long time band leader) help in breaking The Jeff Healey Band stateside
  • The Jeff Healey Band’s hit songs as well as Tom’s favourite songs
  • Working with the band and Patrick Swayze on the movie, Roadhouse.
  • Why Jeff Healey always stuck up for Jeff and Joe (bass guitarist) as the band’s rhythm section
  • The straw that finally broke the camel’s back and saw The Jeff Healey Band break up for good
  • Why Tom was told to not show up to Jeff Healey’s funeral
  • Tom’s current health
  • And do much more!

Listen below:

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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you so desire.

If you liked this episode with Tom Stephen you may also like these:

Music, podcast

Bree Taylor

Bree Taylor is a singer-songwriter based out of Streetsville, Mississauga.

This is Episode #149 of the Welcome! podcast.

  • Bree Taylor started singing at the age of 6 in a choir
  • Bree attended the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music and then went to the Oakville Academy for the Arts
  • Her first single was called “Broken Dreams”
  • Bree Taylor and I also spoke about how the #MeToo movement impacted her life and work as a singer-songwriter
  • Her latest single is called “You Played It All” and is from the EP, “Unbreakable” which was released on October 19, 2018

Listen below:

SPOTIFY
Girth Radio
MixCloud 
Apple Podcasts
Google Play Music
Stitcher 
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you so desire.

This episode was taped at Girth Radio studios inside the Pacific Junction Hotel bar in Toronto.

Please listen to Bree’s newest single, You Played It All, at the end of this episode!

If you liked this conversation with Bree Taylor you may also like these talks:
Music, podcast

Sam Reid of Glass Tiger

Sam Reid is a founding member, songwriter and keyboardist with the award-winning band, Glass Tiger. Founded in Newmarket, Ontario Sam and the rest of the members of Glass Tiger have been making music and touring the world for the past 30+ years.

Listen to this exclusive Girth Radio podcast as Sam Reid and the band get ready to play the historic Massey Hall in Toronto.

This is episode #131 of the Welcome! podcast.

Here are some of the things we talked about:

  • How Sam Reid’s parents enrolled him in piano lessons in order for him to open up and develop his growing interest in music.
  • Why Sam Reid had to play “hidden” in his first bands.
  • Why the band’s first name was Tokyo and the circumstances that “forced” them to change it to Glass Tiger.
  • How Sam Reid and Glass Tiger came to open for Culture Club in the iconic Maple Leaf Gardens.
  • How Glass Tiger got hooked up with Jim Vallance during the recording of their first album.
  • How their first hits and success of their debut album changed Sam Reid and the band.
  • The value of a song.
  • Sam Reid’s relationship with the Snowbirds.
  • The importance of not sucking!
  • What is Willow Music and who are the indie band, Alpacas.
  • Why Glass Tiger is still playing music and recording after 30+ years.
  • The importance of playing at Toronto’s Massey Hall.

Listen below:

Girth Radio
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Google Play Music
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.

Recorded live at Girth Radio.

Music by Glass Tiger.

If you liked this episode you will also like the following conversations:

 

Music, podcast

Bif Naked: Canada’s queen of punk rock

Bif Naked joined Karim Kanji inside the studio to chat about her music, her life, why she’s always so positive, if it’s true that she moved to Toronto to be close to Drake, and so much more!

This is Episode #129.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

  • Bif Naked was born to a Canadian teenage mom in India.
  • She was adopted by American parents who were in India doing Christian missionary work.
  • As a young adult, Bif Naked visited her mom (who was then living in Barrie, Ontario) and discovered that many of the character traits she had came from her birth mom!
  • Bif Naked’s real name is Beth Torbert. She explains how she got the name Bif and what she thinks of it.
  • Bif Naked is the most positive person I’ve ever met. She is most likely the most positive person you’ve ever met. She explains how she got this way.
  • Her battle with cancer and why she enjoyed it so much!
  • How a hole in Bif Naked’s heart most likely saved her life but gave her kidney failure.
  • How her dad’s dentistry profession and time in med school piqued her interest in all things health and medicine.
  • Why she doesn’t drink anymore.
  • Why a lot of punk rockers are also “straight-edge’d”.
  • Why she believes in God.
  • Why Bif Naked got into music and why she enjoys touring more than recording new material and putting out albums.
  • The circumstances that forced her to start her own record label and own her own music since the beginning.

Listen below:

Girth Radio
MixCloud 
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Google Play Music
Stitcher 
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.

Recorded live at Girth Radio.

Music by Afraaz Mulji and Bif Naked. 

If you liked this episode you will also like:

Episode #100: Maestro Fresh Wes

Episode #51: Barenaked Ladies’ Jim Creeggan

Music, podcast

Episode #123: John Barnard

John Barnard is the director of the new documentary, Bachman. Bachman is a biographical look at the life and influence of one of rock and roll’s living legends, Randy Bachman.

Randy Bachman arguably led two of the most influential bands of the classic rock era: The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO).

Listen below:

Girth Radio
MixCloud 
Apple Podcasts
Google Play Music
Stitcher 
TuneIn
Pocket Casts
You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.

Recorded live at Girth Radio.

Music, podcast

Episode #114: Our Lady Peace

For upwards of 25 years, Our Lady Peace has been one of Canada’s pre-eminent rock bands. Fronted by lead singer and main songwriter, Raine Maida, OLP has sold millions of albums worldwide. They’re still touring and making new music after all these years.

Our Lady Peace is currently on a cross-Canada tour with Matthew Good. I sat down with lead guitarist Steve Mazur and drummer Jason Pierce in between Toronto shows to talk about recording new music and their current tour.

Listen below:

Girth Radio
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.

our lady peace

Recorded live at Girth Radio.
Sound Engineer: Adam Zizzo of Blue Moth Creative
Music by Afraaz Mulji and Our Lady Peace

If you enjoyed this episode you’ll also like:

Episode #51: Jim Creeggan of the Barenaked Ladies.

Listen to other Girth Radio podcasts like The Creative Imbalance with Sean Sirianni.

Music, podcast

Episode #102: David Gray

David Gray has worked with Rick Rubin (yes, that Rick Rubin) and Daniel Lanois (yes, that Daniel Lanois). David has played music all over the United states with musicians such as Bob Egan, Loretta Lynn, Father Damien, and so many others. David is now using his vast experience in the music industry to teach students about sound and music. He is also an executive with Toronto-based agency, EthnoDialogue.

Recorded live at Girth Radio.
Music by Afraaz Mulji and Gord Downie

Listen below:

Girth Radio
MixCloud 
Apple Podcasts
Google Play Music
Stitcher 
TuneIn
Pocket Casts
You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.