Conversations With Calcaterra

“It was just my heart was just going like, like 180 or something. It was just that, yeah, just crazy. But then kind of got used to it. You don't get as nervous anymore. Now it's just second nature.“ -James Brown describing the experience of first playing with Geoff Tate on Conversations with Calcaterra “We're not in it for the glory. We're just in it to make sure everything just sounds perfect. And just so we put on a good show or whatever.” – James Brown describing the role of members of Geoff Tate’s band on Conversations with Calcaterra “It's the power of music, I guess. And for me, just to even be playing in America and just being here, this is just me just living my dream and this is just me just being who I am, and who I think I'm supposed to be. That's cool.” – James Brown on Conversations with Calcaterra Who are the musicians who back a known singer? James Brown is a young gunslinger who plays in Geoff Tate’s (Queensryche) international band and he loves every moment of the journey. Is it the

“Art or humor can both be defined by taking two things that don't seem to be connecting and connecting them and making a third thing. And I thought, Man, that is really cool. That is an awesome quote.“ – Mike Steimel sharing a quote from a successful band manager on Conversations with Calcaterra “So kind of songwriting is and producing music, it's just about choices, choosing from things that already exist and putting them together.” – Mike Steimel sharing a quote from a successful band manager on Conversations with Calcaterra “However, when that happens where I get a weekend and I get to really write a song that I'm super proud of, it definitely helps put my mind at ease and makes me in a better mood when I go back to work and I realize, okay, this is how I make the money to support myself, to give me that studio space and give me the tools that I need to be able to make music.” – Mike Steimel on Conversations with Calcaterra Creative endeavors require time and motivation and with a demanding full-t

“Baseball was boring to me…I wanted to get up and down. I wanted to run and jump so Basketball was perfect for me. Now at 5’ 11” and white probably not the best choice looking back at it. I took my body to the limit.” – Mark Morrison on Conversations with Calcaterra “The odds…crazy! Three to 5 years to survive if you survive the surgery. 50/50 chance to survive the surgery, 98% all these different numbers. I just shut that out. I’m not dying!!! – Mark Morrison on Conversations with Calcaterra “If you want to teach then you gotta reach and that’s what I felt that I was reaching to these kids. Whatever you needed, whatever I had that day. If a kid said he was hungry I’d gave him my lunch, I bought them lunch. That was for me the reality check of how good I had it. - Mark Morrison on teaching in inner city schools on Conversations with Calcaterra When going to high school did you ever wonder who your teacher was away from school? Certain teachers leave a lasting impression on their students and add a mult

“One of my favorites was the metal trivia night. We had tons of people coming in, all cocky with their cool shirts. They left crying because they didn’t know half the answers.” – Rebecca Schaaf on Conversations with Calcaterra “His mad genius drew me to him. Made me fall in love with him a little bit.” – Rebecca Schaaf about Wil Pelly on Conversations with Calcaterra “Cheap Trick was in town and their crew needed to be fed. We shut down the shack early and ran down to Riverport. They were on the bill with ZZ Top. Ted Kornblum of Magnatone Guitars and Amplifies was there. He said hey Wil does Billy (Gibbons) know you’re here? Wil’s like Billy doesn’t know who I am. Billy walks in and see the Rockstar Dust, lifts his mustache and blops some into his mouth. He turns to Wil and says, Boy, are you responsible for this?!” – Rebecca Schaaf on Conversations with Calcaterra The Rock Star life is more of an attitude. It’s loving what you do and being the best at it. Rebecca Schaaf runs Rockstar Tacos at Gaslight on

“There is no time to go over songs because they (Darren Vorel and Tom Higginson) literally drop them on me at the last second. So I gave up on learning the songs and found that just going into the studio is like F you guys. You’re going to get what you get. – Eric Vorel on Conversations with Calcaterra “I find all the things I’m immersed in that I don’t have time to think about anything that troubles me. That’s the addiction behind the art. It’s happiness in the work.” – Darren Vorel on Conversations with Calcaterra “Every single person I believe is an artist. It takes different forms and different shapes…it’s what you find beautiful in the moment of something you’re creating.” – Eric Vorel on Conversations with Calcaterra “I went through such a bad experience with the breakup which caused this band to happen. I almost didn’t want to do this band but Eric was there and said somebody is going to need this record like you needed the records you were listening to.” – Darren Vorel on Conversations with Calcat

“People will give me a recording of a show but I don’t listen. Once I do I’ll realize how bad I am at this.” – Javier Mendoza on Conversations with Calcaterra “Because of Covid I don’t think I’ll ever want to play a show without a drummer anymore…because of playing at home all all the time, playing these live streams.” – Javier Mendoza on Conversations with Calcaterra “There’s never a perfect show. Once it’s perfect it’s over, right?” – Javier Mendoza on Conversations with Calcaterra Javier Mendoza (Hobo Cane) is a prolific singer/songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee. His roots are in Spain and St. Louis, Missouri. Javier’s diverse catalog has grown over the years with nearly one album released every year since his debut Album Tinta y Papel. 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the release of “Step Into My Place.” Javier recently banded together musicians from all over the world to record “Respira” which has raised close to $10,000 dollars to help struggling musicians. Respira - https://youtu.be/hMEQm5_

“There’s an old Disney joke...if you don’t want to work on Saturday, don’t even bother coming in on Sunday.” – Phil Johnston on Conversations with Calcaterra “I suspect Stay Puft (Marshmallow Man) has references back to King Kong also. We’re all fishing in the same pond.” – Phil Johnston on Conversations with Calcaterra “The protagonist is the one who suffers the most. Even though you love the characters you really want to punish them to have a good story.” – Phil Johnston on Conversations with Calcaterra Phil Johnston began his career as a broadcast journalist but couldn’t give up on the idea of creating films which led him to pursue an M.F.A. at Columbia University School of the Arts in New York. His scripts had a unique voice which caught the attention of Disney which teamed him with Rich Moore who crafted many episodes of the Simpsons. Phil has co-created many great films which will one day become classics. Visit Ken @ www.kencalcaterra.com and on various social media outlets and please share and comm

EP68 – Randy Burns (Music Producer, Engineer – Suicidal Tendencies, Megadeth) – Conversations with Calcaterra “It’s the only band I know that had jazz fusion guys come into a metal band and that set them apart.” – Randy Burns about Megadeth on Conversations with Calcaterra “Dave (Mustaine) looked at my credentials and said if he did Suicidal tendencies he’s okay.” – Randy Burns as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “If you’re looking for a career in the music industry, forget about making money. Do what you want to do and pursue it relentlessly and eventually things will come your way, if you don’t quit.” – Randy Burns as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra When punk and heavy metal melded to form thrash Randy Burns was there. Working the soundboard and helping the artists realize their vision. As a producer/engineer Randy has work with countless artists. His break through opportunity came from the self titled Suicidal Tendencies album which led to the gig producing Megadeth’s break through “Peac

“Rock and Roll is not dead it’s just seemingly hard to discover. It’s hard to find now because there is so much else out there. It’s not just RGB anymore.” – Jason McEntire on Conversations with Calcaterra “I personally like being the least talented person in the room or at least feeling that way. I’m holding my own so if I’m the least talented person then the room is doing great.” – Jason McEntire as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “Richard Fortus has a sick collection of equipment, obviously guitars, amps and pedals but plenty of other things as well. It was a little bit like Christmas every day, Fortus would show up with a crate of crazy shit that you’d never see.” – Jason McEntire as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra Jason McEntire is not only the owner of Sawhorse Studios but a Producer and Engineer who will always get up from behind the counsel to make his clients a pot of coffee. The self proclaimed Jack-of-All trades has created some masterful recordings and share stories of being

“Eddie Van Halen…he never did anything that didn’t sound like EVH. His voice was so unique.” – Jimmy Griffin on Conversations with Calcaterra “He’s the Bill Murray of guitar players.” – Eric Grossman about Eddie Van Halen randomly hanging out with fans. (Conversations with Calcaterra) “Dirty faced kid in a garbage can…I was like, Oh. I want to be that.” – Jimmy Griffin on the Van Halen song D.O.A. (Conversations with Calcaterra) “My band like my bass playing but honestly nobody gave a shit about bass players back then (1980s)...I don’t know if anybody gives a shit about bass players now!” – Eric Grossman on Conversations with Calcaterra Not every generation has an icon which drastically changes their chosen field. I am lucky to have experienced the music of Eddie Van Halen from an early age. My guests were moved by Eddie to learn their instruments and to perform at a high level. We are all feeling the loss of one of heroes and it’s therapeutic to talk about it. I am joined by three friends who are musicia

“I was raised with a lot of self doubt, so... I walk out of work everyday and think...how can I get a little better?” – Tom Bober as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “If somebody is always sharing something that you have to question and crowd source for them because they haven’t done it themselves…whenever you see that person share an article they’re probably met by you with a bit of skepticism.” – Tom Bober on Conversations with Calcaterra “It’s not just figuring out what is the news. It’s figuring out how I’m reacting to it as well. Both of those things go together. I’m a player in this as a news consumer whether I’m 10, 14 or whatever age.” – Tom Bober as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “I think everything I write is garbage until I finish with it and then I think, it's ok.” – Tom Bober as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra Check out Tom’s blog @ https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/author/tbober/ Tom’s 1st book is available @ https://products.abc-clio.com/abc-cliocorporate/product.as

“The world gets smaller and smaller the older you get so be careful.” – Steve Berry as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “A little story about being Sting’s…Sun.“– Steve Berry on Conversations with Calcaterra “I remember trying to be so artsy for 12 Angry Jurors…It didn’t work.“– Steve Berry as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra In part two of the conversation we talk about multiple shows, music, the Guns N Roses Riverport Riot and drop a ton of names. Visit Ken @ www.kencalcaterra.com and on various social media outlets and please share and comment on this episode. Sign up to our mailing list to receive updates on Ken’s video and photography work and Conversations with Calcaterra Special Thanks to episode sponsors: The Union of the State – "The Union of The State," by author Corey Stulce, is the untold, uncensored story of the most influential and prolific comedy troupe of the last twenty-five years -- and a unique tale in the history of show business. www.coreystulce.com American Falafel –

“I graduated college in 1988 and put out a half dozen resumes. My parents who had taken care of the education put out hundreds.” – Steve Berry as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “You know the saying. “Once a Hawk always a Hawk.” So in one sense of the world I’m still a lifer.” – Steve Berry on Conversations with Calcaterra “I Got Friends in Low Places was almost the anthem of the theater group at that time.” (Ken) "I think I’m pretty much responsible for Garth’s popularity" – Steve Berry as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra Steve Berry began his career in education in 1988. Straight out of college he received a position at Hazelwood Central High School in North St. Louis County. He taught drama for 19 years directing numerous plays and enriching the lives of thousands of students before moving into administration at Hazelwood and then Lafayette High School. Visit Ken @ www.kencalcaterra.com and on various social media outlets and please share and comment on this episode. Sign up to our mail

Ken talks to the creative team of indie comic classics; The Rough and Tumble, Dead Palace, The Butcher Queen and their upcoming series Butch Queen Planet of the Dead. Jim and Ben begin collaborating about a decade ago and talk about their creative process and influences. Check out their kickstarter and get in on some fun incentives. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/butcherqueenpod/butcher-queen-planet-of-the-dead/?ref=kicktraq Discover new comics and artwork at https://sketchsawyer.com/ Twitter - @JimOusley Visit Ken @ www.kencalcaterra.com and on various social media outlets and please share and comment on this episode. Sign up to our mailing list to receive updates on Ken’s video and photography work and Conversations with Calcaterra Special Thanks to this episodes sponsors: Dr. Mark Holland – http://chiroandrehab.com/ and http://www.mystlouischiropractor.com/

“1986 was when Dark Knight Returns came out. And that is probably the single greatest year in the history of comics. Cause, and if for no other reason than you could say Dark Knight returns and Watchman in the same year.” – Jeremy Bohannon as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “For 9 years I essentially ran a comic bookstore, which is in certain communities, the barbershop is the home for all the town gossip. The comic bookstore is that for pop culture! – Jeremy Bohannon on Conversations with Calcaterra “The Princess Bride, they talked about remaking that on the internet and the internet just collectively took a shit on that idea.” – Jeremy Bohannon as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “Yeah. There's nothing like going to the video store now compared to then because then you had that painted VHS cover art and it's so different than what they do today. I'd go to the movie store without an idea of what I was going to rent just to look at whatever cover popped for me. I mean, it was like choosing

“I’m the writer who likes to show up as close to everyday. A friend in my writers group wrote a book about comedy screenwriting, he had a term called ass in chair which I’m an advocate of. You show up each day even if you don’t see output.” – Craig Nobbs as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “There’s talks about remaking Back to the Future. To me I say no! Do not remake Back to the Future” – Ken to Craig Nobbs on Conversations with Calcaterra “Being an artist is on some level about self-management. Knowing yourself and knowing how to work, who you are to be able to get to the places you need to.” – Craig Nobbs as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “In any work of art, I’d much rather have somebody take a chance and maybe not quite achieve what they want to achieve because sometimes you will and when you do it’s amazing.” – Craig Nobbs as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra Craig Nobbs is an award-winning screenwriter whom Ken met at the Austin Screenwriter’s Conference. He is based in Manha

“I will insist professional wrestling is storytelling!” – Jake Cowan as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “Just because you know how to run a $10 million dollar business in the profit world doesn’t mean you know how to run it in the non-profit world.” – Jake Cowan as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “I think I liked Morrissey less because I liked Morrissey, more because I knew you were giving me the stink eye. I enjoyed that some of the music I listened to had a contrarian view more than I liked the music.” – Jake Cowan as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra Have you ever envisioned taking three months away from your job to travel the world? Jake Cowan and his wife Allison did this recently and shares the adventure on this episode of CWC. Jake works in the world of non-profit and is an avid fan of baseball, professional wrestling, music and is an aficionado of bacon. Check out Jake’s storytelling show at https://www.facebook.com/isthisathing/ Photo by Lyingidle Visit Ken @ www.kencalc

“It’s a weird incestuous relationship with me and The Killers (band).” – Patrick Lawrence as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “I watch the Oscars and I wonder when is that job going to fall into my lap. When am I going to be able to do that?” – Patrick Lawrence as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “Unlike music, where there is almost a time limit of how profitable you can be by age, film doesn’t really have that.” – Patrick Lawrence as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “Stan Lee didn’t create Spiderman until he was 40 years old...that’s something that is really inspiring to me.” – Patrick Lawrence as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra What does a filmmaker do to recharge creative batteries? Patrick Lawrence dusted off his drums and put the band back together. Patrick a music video director and feature film editor who is working towards his first Oscar. His band Nothing Still is currently recording their fourth album after a 7 year hiatus. He has recently edited “The Incredible Life

“All the initial films were lessons in managing disappointment.” – Marlon West as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “I’m just trying to spark conversation. I’m a guy who makes cartoons for a living not a hard core advocate or anything like that. I felt it was something to do to have a conversation for a solid year.” – Marlon West as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra Marlon West is celebrating over 25 years as an animator at Disney working on many popular films including Frozen, Moana, Bolt, Meet the Robinsons, and the Lion King. He started at the company in the early 90’s as a trainee after cutting his teeth on lesser known features as well as commercials and industrials. His current project is the upcoming Frozen 2. 2018 has been the year of the push-up as Marlon has been sparking conversations with his “One for Each” campaign where he performs a push-up for every gun related death in the United States. https://www.thetrace.org/2018/07/marlon-west-push-ups-gun-violence-one-for-each/ Follow Ma

“El Monstero is the monster truck version of Pink Floyd…It’s as if Pink Floyd had seen a KISS concert before becoming Pink Floyd.” – Jimmy Griffin as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra “You’ve got to love to do it (play music) if you want anybody else to be interested in you doing it.” – Jimmy Griffin as stated on Conversations with Calcaterra When Jimmy Griffin departs this life he wants he wants to be known as a good musician and a good guy. He has achieved that and so much more creating music with a diverse group of eclectic musicians in bands including King of the Hill, The Incurables, El Monstero, Nadine, Celebration Day, Neptune Crush and Broken Toys. Take a walk down memory lane with Jimmy and learn a little history of the St. Louis Indie scene. photo by paul addotta / st louis Visit Ken @ www.kencalcaterra.com and on various social media outlets and please share and comment on this episode. Sign up to our mailing list to receive updates on Ken’s work and Conversations with Calcaterra Speci