Episode 38 – Duane Jackson (Electrik Dynamite, The Midnight…

 

Legendary rock-a-fella and all round nice bloke, Duane Jackson is best known for pulling uniquely crafted bass playing shapes on stage with Melbourne band Electrik Dynamite and newer band Midnight Parlour. In addition, Duane is a multi-purpose touring work horse, lending his hands to a multitude of artists doing everything from merchandise, production and driving the trucks!

I spent a bit of time catching up with what is happening in the Electrik Dynamite camp and being introduced to Midnight Parlour, but also picked Duane’s brain on free lancing. He talk about him working a multitude of jobs and how it helps him live the lifestyle that he has. Another great example of someone doing what he loves and making sure he gets paid for it. Definitely some great inspirational candy for those with an appetite for alternative living and sticking it to the man!

Show notes

Check out Electrik Dynamite – Website, Online Store, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube.
Purchase Electrik Dynamite music straight from Amazon! Amazon also supports this podcast!
Check out Midnight Parlour – Bandcamp, Facebook.
Destroy all Lines
Unified

An oldie, but one of my favourite ED songs!

Episode 37 – James Norbert Ivanyi (Instrumental Rock Solo…

 

James is a great example of someone who is living life on his own terms. Already making plenty of noise with his solo career as a guitarist, James has been on a journey to re-balance his life and rediscover his passions, not just in music. Some fantastic lessons to be taken from this, regardless of what your passions may be, and a conversation had me completely inspired to continue to find more harmony in my own life.

Show Notes

Find James Norbert Ivanyi on Facebook, YouTube and Bandcamp.
James’ latest EP ‘The Usurper’ can be heard on YouTube for free HERE.
James is endorsed by Suhr Guitars, Friedman, Fractal Audio and D’addario.
James used to play in the band Paradigm. You can see some of that music on Facebook and YouTube.
Guitar Gods Interview with James here.
What’s NAMM?

 

Episode 36 – Mick Goddard (Mick G Photography)

 

Mick Goddard is best known for Mick G Photography, his photo work in the Sydney music scene, shooting both local and international shows, Mick’s photos are seen all over the internet and are cherished by many bands, including ours!

Mick and I have a great chat about his love of Iron Maiden, his photography and most importantly we talk at length about his son Kai who’s suffered extreme heart issues since birth. This is the second guest in a row on the podcast who has had first hand experience with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (also see episode 35 with Sinclair Newey), which was certainly not planned.

Show Notes

MickG Photography – Main website and Facebook.
Kai’s Heart Facebook Community Page.
Heart Kids NSW.
The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
Miracle Babies Foundation.
Kai’s Story – 4 Part Blog from 2010.

Episode 35 – Sinclair Newey (Double Lung Transplant Recipient)

 

Late 2013 saw Sinclair go through the most challenging part of his life, which began an urgent journey towards becoming a Double Lung Transplant Recipient. After being admitted to hospital for haemoptysis, he was rushed to ICU where he came extremely close to losing his life. In fact, things were so bad that Sinclair was ready to go himself.

Sinclair ended up being the recipient of a double lung transplant and in the process was placed into a coma that lasted for almost a month.

I’ll let Sinclair explain it all as he will do far better justice than me. I was lucky to more or less start my career as a musician with Sinclair in his Progressive/Power metal band Sedition over 10 years ago and it was great to catch up after many years.

If there’s any message I hope you take from this episode is that you help bring further awareness to organ and tissue donation. Check out the links below and discuss this topic with your family and close friends. Your generosity once you go will have a dramatic impact on many people, just like Sinclair.

Show Notes

Charity Ride Link – Cycle of Giving
Donate Life
Sedition Website and Webstore
Check out the Sedition song ‘Do You Believe’ here.
Organ and Tissue Authority – Facts and Statistics
Prince Charles, Princess Alexander and Mater Hospitals in Brisbane
Interesting article – Australian-first double lung transplant using damaged lungs saves Sydney Man’s Life
What is an EMCO? Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Episode 34 – Get Your Lingo On – Part…

 

In this episode we do a bit of a catch up on my journey to Duolingo mastery (not really). I touch on the observations I’ve found to date, the challenges that I have and some further perspectives of learning a foreign language

If you’d like to join me in my Duolingo adventure, we can compete against each other! Download the app and find me (andydowlin1) and we can compare progress.

Show Notes

Duolingo – Get the app for iphone or Android or Windows phone.

Episode 33 – Josh Smith (Northlane)

 

We started off talking shop but it quickly sprawled out into a number of topics including yoga, meditation, mental health and a variety of other social themes. While it might seem off topic, these all branch back into the core of what drives a successful musician in one of Australia’s most popular rock/metal bands. Whether you’re a musician, music fan or just someone always looking to improve, this is another great conversation with many learnings!

Description

Check out Northlane at the following sites – Merch store, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bandsintown.
Buy Northlane music straight from Amazon! Amazon also supports this podcast!
What’s Bikram Yoga? Check it out.
Are things a little tough? In Australia, check out  Beyond Blue for support. International listeners, hit me up and I’ll help you find the right people!
Article – 50 guerrilla marketing tactics you should be using.
Need an introduction to meditation? Get the free headspace app!

Episode 32 – Jordan McDonald (Frankie’s Pizza by the…

 

It’s safe to say that Frankie’s Pizza by the Slice is Sydney’s hot spot for live music. Attracting the best live acts in the country, Frankie’s is also a hub for many celebrity drop in’s from Priscilla Presley to Slipknot. Jordan is the man who runs the entertainment and makes sure those beer kegs are kept full. We have a great chat about what makes Frankie’s tick, why the venue is successful in a widely publicised ‘weak’ Sydney music scene, his love of beer and how Frankie’s have been able to embrace the craft beer revolution.

This episode is highly recommended to anyone who appreciates or is involved in live music/entertainment. A lot of great perspectives to take away and hopefully people will be able to apply these in their own areas. This is also a great listen for anyone running their own business as there are some great points raised around creating experiences and ambience to ensure the success of an establishment.

I’ll leave you with these final words from Jordan – “We always stay to true to the original recipe of free entry, Rock & Roll music and no guestlists or VIP treatment. Everyone is priority. Losers like Jennifer Lopez will see the appeal and try to rent the joint for exclusive parties and shit like that but no matter what the dough, we never take the bait and so punter loyalty stays strong.”

Show Notes

Check out Frankie’s Pizza by the Slice via their website and Facebook.
Check out this live clip from Frankie’s second birthday which features their ‘World Famous House Band’ and also The Art, Dead City Ruins and Cosmic Psychos. A great insight as to what happens every Monday at the venue.
Community Run Petition – Keep Sydney Open
Check out Jordan’s band ‘The Art‘ and on Facebook.
Arlene’s Grocery in New York

 

 

Episode 31 – Mick Jeffery (Aversions Crown, Widow the…

 

Video store clerk and male model by day, metal road warrior by night. Mick Jeffery is best know for his dashing good looks and riffing abilities in both Aversions Crown and Widow the Sea. We speak about the crap load of touring that he’s been doing over the last 12 months, and the professional approach taken towards it in comparison with some other bands who do the same thing. Lots of great discussions around being in a band with plenty of insightful observations.

Dig this chat? Reach out to Mick and say hello!

Show Notes

Aversions Crown – Official webstore, Facebook
Buy Aversions Crown music from Amazon. Amazon also supports this podcast!
Widow the Sea – Official webstore , Facebook
Purchase Widow the Sea ‘Aphelion’ via JB Hi Fi, Google Play, Spotify and iTunes.
Link up with Mick on Instagram and Facebook.

 

 

Episode 30 – Month to Month with Milton Mendonça…

 

Part 2 of Month to Month with Milton is now up! Lot’s of chatter around the Avantasia tour that Milton is involved with. We touch on our soon to be regular crazy people and band recommendation segments, reflect on some brief thoughts on the 70,000 tons festival and also paying our respects to Piotr Grundzinski of Riverside who shockingly passed away several days earlier.

Show Notes

The unfortunate passing of Piotr Grudzinski of Riverside. Watch the tribute video from the band here.
Milton’s recommendation’s of Riverside – Found (The Unexpected Flaw of Searching) and Discard Your Fear.
70,000 tons metal cruise. Check it all out here.
Milton’s favourites from the cruise – Katatonia, Rhapsody of Fire, Firewind, Children of Bodom, Tsjuder, Fallujah, Squealer, and Dragonforce.
Avantasia – Heard of them? Check out Dying for an Angel, and Scarecrow.
You like? Well, Avantasia are playing Friday April 15th at the Playstation Theatre in New York City. Tickets available HERE. You know you want to!
Milton’s band recommendations are both Riverside and Avantasia (he broke the rules, but for good reason!).
My band recommendation is Ragdoll from Perth! Great melodic rock. Hear their song Break You.

Episode 29 – February Alone

 

Thirty days hath September,
April, June and November.
All the rest have 31,
except for February,
which has 28 days clear
and 29 in each leap year.

It only happens every four years, so to celebrate February 29th, I’ve put together a bunch of ramblings about this special date and some background behind the leap year. Oh, and it’s episode 29! It was just meant to be.

Show Notes

30 variations of the ’30 days has September’ rhyme.
Why do we have a leap day?
Article: Leap Year Proposal: What’s the Story Behind it?
Heaps of fun facts about February 29th via Wikipedia.
The February 26 incident (that ended February 29). Read all about it here.
Did you know that Rare Disease Day exists?
Turner Syndrome – Not nice!

I suck at drawing…