Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

Dave’s back from NAMM 2026 and has a little something to share about that. Actually three little somethings, so that’s where we start. But there’s more to say about that, and it’s not yet time, so we’ll extend the NAMM discussions into next week (and beyond?).

For today, well, you don’t become the Sauce Boss by chasing a gimmick. You hear how Bill Wharton built a real, working-musician career by leaning hard into what felt natural to him, starting with a Datil pepper, a pot of gumbo, and a simple idea: turn the gig into a gathering. From cooking onstage on New Year’s Eve 1989 to feeding hundreds of people at festivals and never charging a dime for the food, Bill shows how blending music and food transformed shows from transactions into shared experiences. By creating a kitchen onstage, he stopped entertaining people just long enough to take their money and run, and instead built something with a life of its own, something that keeps audiences leaning in and coming back.

As the conversation unfolds, you trace Bill’s path from top-40 bar gigs to one-man-band independence, full-band firepower, and stages as far-flung as Saudi Arabia. You hear why learning your strengths and ruthlessly discarding what doesn’t matter is not selfish, it’s survival. From dynamics, gear choices, and in-ear monitors to the lessons behind Blind Boy Billy, Bill makes the case that longevity comes from clarity, connection, and doing your thing without apology. The message for working musicians is direct and empowering: build the show you want to play, build the life that supports it, and keep showing up ready to give. Always Be Performing.

00:00:00 Gig Gab 518 – Monday, January 26th, 2026

January 26th: National Spouse Day

Guest co-host: Bill Wharton

NAMM Coverage Sponsors

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Rock-n-Roller

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00:16:21 Guest co-host: Bill Wharton

00:18:41 How to become a sauce boss magnate…while also being a musician

Bill found the Datil pepper. Spicy and flavorful.

People would eat all the sauce at his house

So he made Liquid Summer hot sauce

But he wanted to sell hot sauce at gigs.

December 31, 1989 – made a pot of gumbo on stage to demo the hot sauce

No one would ever have to pay for for my gumbo… 240,000 bowls later, here we are!

00:23:26 Blending music and food.

It’s better than entertaining people, taking the money, and run!

00:25:12 Food and music are good together

Every good party has everyone hanging out in the kitchen

Bill creates the kitchen on stage

00:26:33 That first Sauce Boss gig

00:28:16 It has a life of its own and takes care of itself

It took 3.5 hours to know that this was going to work long-term

00:30:38 Bill: “Always looking for something distinctively mine…something unique”

It’s hard to do your own thing.

00:33:15 The typical sauce boss gig means cooking for 100 (or more) people

400 people at a festival (it took TWO pots of gumbo)

00:35:07 From Florida to Saudi Arabia

Sauce Boss plays/cooks at an Air Force base in Saudi Arabia

00:37:09 A soul-shouting picnic of Rock and Roll Brotherhood

One or two 75-minute sets

The show never ends

00:40:16 Learn, and then KNOW your strengths

Started playing top-40 gigs as a kid

…and then realized that’s a rat trap. Bill made a point of putting only the stuff that matters to him in his day…and his show.

Being “greedy” about putting my thing out there.

If I can do this, you can do this

Discard the things you don’t enjoy, embrace the things you do.

Story Time, it turns out!

00:43:23 Jimmy Buffett wrote a song about the Sauce Boss – “I Will Play For Gumbo”

Playing a gig at Jimmy Buffett’s club in New Orleans… and Jimmy was there!

“This is the best (bar) band I’ve seen in a long time.”

00:47:13 Where did “Sauce Boss” come from?

Tobacco Road, in Miami

00:49:47 Bread and Butter is the One Man Band

“But I have a music problem, and I like jammin’ with my buds!”

There’s something that happens when you have a little more firepower of a full band

00:53:13 Bill is his own funky one-man band with a kick drum, hi-hat, and a guitar

00:55:16 Dynamics are everything in terms of keeping a crowd

00:57:09 Bill’s thoughts on in-ear monitors

Future Sonics

01:02:17 Gear Gab: Create a portable screen/keyboard/mouse for your home studio

01:06:24 The Life and Times of Blind Boy Billy

A songbook, a recipe book, and Bill’s memoir.

01:09:29 Gig Gab 519 Outtro

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The post Gumbo, Gigs, and Grit: Bill Wharton’s Sauce Boss Path — Gig Gab 518 appeared first on Gig Gab.

You’ve done gigs where nothing goes according to plan, but this episode reminds you that chaos is often the classroom. From sleeping on road cases at the Puerto Rican Day Parade to riding a flatbed packed with servo-driven subs that overwhelmed even earplugs and shooting cans, you hear how real-world pressure forges real skills. Mike deAlmeida walks you through learning to roll with it, figuring out systems on the fly before tools like Smaart were common, and walking into unknown gigs where the unknown singer/songwriter turns out to be Shawn Colvin. The lesson is clear: when you don’t know the band, communication is everything. Ask how they sound, listen closely, and remember that for that moment, you are part of the band. You’re playing the “mixing keyboard” today, so Always Be Performing.

As the night wears on, the room changes and so must you. Heat, humidity, and ear fatigue quietly shift the mix, especially in the highs and high-mids, and Mike explains why gradual adjustments beat drastic moves every time. You’re reminded to watch the show, not just the meters, and to listen first before using tools like Smaart to confirm what your ears already know. From sweating out microphones and treating them like EQ devices to protecting your hearing with custom molds, active earplugs, and smart exposure management, this episode ties craft, tech, and longevity together. Layer in legendary Celebrity Week stories, the Van Halen M&Ms lesson, and Beach Boys theatrics, and you’re left with one guiding principle: mix a good show, every time, because that’s how careers last.

00:00:00 Gig Gab 517 – Monday, January 19th, 2026

January 19th: Tin Can Day

Guest co-host: Mike deAlmeida, Program Director, Audio Engineering at University of Hartford

NAMM coming up!

GG Coverage Sponsor: Ultimate Ears Pro!

00:01:50 Puerto Rican Day Parade

Sleeping on road cases overnight

An insane number of speakers

Earplugs + Shooting cans STILL were too loud

Servo drives – highly efficient, but not fast. They have motors in them.

Security wouldn’t let us off the truck.

00:06:43 Gig learning vs. classroom learning

Learning to roll with it

00:08:52 When you don’t know the band

A little jazz band…as wallpaper

Sussed out the system manually (before the Smaart Live days!)

And a singer/songwriter… who turned out to be Shawn Colvin

00:12:52 Communicating with a band you’ve never seen

Very helpful tips:

“Here’s how our band sounds.”

Guitar players who manage their levels between rhythm and solos

As an engineer, you are a member of the band (for that moment)

“You play mixing keyboard today”

00:20:37 Teaching the foundation in class, students often seek practical experience on their own

Finding practical applications WHILE you’re in class is gold. You learn so much.

It all comes back to communication skills

For FOH engineers, watch the show! Pay attention to the band members

00:24:30 Sound changes throughout the night

Heat and humidity will cause ebbs and flows (especially outdoors, but even inside)

Watch the highs and high-mids

Sound travels faster through a thick medium

Gradual adjustments so it sounds better

Increasing the mains throughout the show to keep the perceived level due to ear fatigue

Smaart Live for tweaking live sound

Listen first, then use the gear to confirm what you’re hearing

00:31:35 When I mix, I want to hear a good show

So I tell the sound guy (me) to mix a good show

00:32:57 Using the tech to isolate live to find (and fix) problems

Beyerdynamic MM1 – a measurement mic AND a podcast mic

00:33:48 Learning the nuances of problems

00:35:24 Hot lights to add to the sun!

Sweating out microphones… heat shrink tubing plus medical tape solves it

Microphones are EQ devices – Matt from Roswell Audio

00:39:38 Mixing with earplugs?

Westone custom mold earplugs with 15dB Etymotic filters

Hearing protection vs. exposure time

US Navy study on hearing health with submarine crew

Huberman Lab episode on hearing health

00:44:39 AirPods Pro “active earplugs” (aka Hearing Protection)

Comply Foam tips for AirPods Pro

DefendEar from Westone

00:52:25 Stories from Celebrity Week at North Shore Music Theatre

Almost got into a rumble with Al Martino

Face the wall when Wynona Judd walks by

Gallagher (or his brother!)

The Beach Boys

Weird Al

00:56:04 The Van Halen M&Ms story

00:57:37 The Beach Boys surfing on the revolving stage

00:59:41 Gig Gab 519 Outtro

Follow Mike deAlmeida

Check the University of Hartford’s BS in Audio Engineering Technology

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The post The Engineer Is in the Band: Instinct, Ears, and Live Sound with Mike deAlmeida — Gig Gab 517 appeared first on Gig Gab.

You jump straight into the deep end with Richie Castellano as you explore what happens when preparation collides with opportunity. You follow his path from mixing weddings to standing behind massive analog rigs, wrangling six guitar channels, chasing down mysterious hums, and learning fast that the gremlins always show up when you least expect them. When the call comes to go from being Blue Oyster Cult’s sub sound engineer to bass player in four days with 21 songs to learn, the lesson is clear: play something you know, rehearse smart, and build a Just In Case bag that saves the gig. Success is not luck. It is preparation meeting the moment, and you are either ready or you are not. In order to Always Be Performing you need to Always Be Preparing!

As the conversation deepens, you learn how adaptability gets and keeps gigs, from joining the culture of a band to solving problems so painlessly you become indispensable. Richie breaks down the craft of learning, teaching, and arranging vocal harmonies, including Yes music at the highest level, where not nailing the vocals means the whole thing falls apart. You hear why simplifying is sometimes the smart move, how spreadsheets can ease rehearsals, and why blending matters more than showing off. The episode closes with practical wisdom on collaboration with front of house, constant communication inside the band, and surrounding yourself with people on the same mission. This is a masterclass in being prepared, predictable, drama-free, and trusted when it counts.

00:00:00 Gig Gab 516 – Monday, January 12th, 2026

January 12th: National Hot Tea Day

Guest co-host: Richie Castellano

NAMM coming up!

GG Coverage Sponsor: Ultimate Ears Pro!

00:01:40 From mixing weddings to arenas overnight

Called to sub as Blue Oyster Cult’s sound engineer

Steve “Woody” La Cerra

“Make them sound like a big bad rock band”

00:06:53 The differences doing sound in a big room?

Six channels of guitar for 3 guitar players!

Where’s the cowbell?!?

00:10:28 Arriving ten minutes before downbeat with the biggest system of my life

And it’s analog!

What’s that low hum

00:12:49 The Gremlins That Run Around On Stage When You’re Not Looking

Play something you know

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00:19:10 From sound to…playing bass in four days!

Here’s 18 songs… I mean 21 songs. Be ready to play this by Friday

Success is when preparation meets opportunity. Here’s the opportunity. Now you have to prepare for it!

Buck Dharma on Gig Gab

First gig was canceled… But that led to a rehearsal

Time to talk about the JustInCase…aka the Idiot Bag!

Plugged into the TV to rehearse

00:22:39 “If you can do this five times in a row, this will be your gig.”

00:25:02 Do you just want me to join the band?

If you solve a problem for someone painlessly, you’re not likely to be replaced.

Be Prepared and Predictable

And No Drama

00:28:41 Joining the culture of a band

Matt Beck on guitar for the recent Jon Anderson tour fit perfectly

Being adaptable gets and keeps gigs

00:33:22 Learning and teaching harmonies

Learning how to soften and blend

40th Anniversary of Agents of Fortune

A trick: learn how to do impressions. “Sing this like Peter Gabriel”, “Sing this like Michael McDonald”

00:39:51 Arranging Harmonies for Yes music

Don’t be afraid to simplify, folks

Use a spreadsheet!

Get it to “the best WE can do it”

Then ask “how can we make this blend better?”

00:45:13 If we don’t nail the vocals, we suck!

00:48:29 The collaboration between band and front of house

Ask front of house engineer: What do you need from me to sound good?

End sound check with an a capella vocal moment

00:52:24 Talk to your bandmates and continually tweak things

“Why does your snare drum sound different today?”

00:54:11 Surround yourself with bandmates who are on the same mission

00:59:58 When bands write vocal harmonies

01:04:18 Gig Gab 514 Outtro

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The post Be Prepared and Predictable: How Richie Castellano Stays Gig-Ready — Gig Gab 516 appeared first on Gig Gab.

You step into the pressure cooker of elite live sound, where Robert Scovill shows you why chaos is often the best teacher. From mixing Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions with zero margin for error to handling full-band changeovers on the fly, you learn that perfection is worth chasing but dangerous to demand. You hear why live mixing beats the studio for him. It is about capturing ensemble moments, not polishing parts. Even when the doubt creeps in before showtime, the lights come up, the band hits, and the moment reminds you why you do this. This is the mindset of Always Be Performing.

You also get practical, battle-tested tactics for surviving high-stakes gigs. Learn how to study a band fast, who sings, who solos, and when, using recordings and YouTube as prep tools. You hear what it takes to mix legendary harmony vocals, why artists like Def Leppard insist on singing live, and how those expectations shape your approach.

Then it gets nerdy in the best way, with the evolution of De-Feedback, real-world use at the Rock Hall, and how tools like reverse impulse responses can clean up wedges, vocals, and even IEMs. The takeaway is clear. Preparation, adaptability, and relentless curiosity are what keep you in the game.

00:00:00 Gig Gab 515 – Monday, January 5th, 2026

January 12th: National Day of Dialogue

Guest co-host: Robert Scovill

00:01:25 Mixing Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

10+ Acts… with full changeovers

Trial by fire, with no time!

00:07:27 The enjoyment of the pressure of mixing live

Perfection is a great thing to strive for, a terrible thing to achieve

00:09:00 Giving up on the studio in favor of live

Way more interested in recording ensemble moments

00:10:10 Started in live sound in the 1970s

Started with Shooting Star

00:12:04 Full circle moments at Rock Hall

Mixing the Joe Cocker induction with Tedeschi Trucks

Mixing Peter Frampton…a throwback moment

00:17:34 That thought creeps in: “I don’t know if I can keep doing this”

And then the show happens…with all of its moments!

00:22:34 Learning a band quickly

Who’s singing? When?

Who plays the guitar solos (and when)?

Give them a recording in advance

Find them on YouTube

00:25:53 Dolly Parton and Rob Halford sing Jolene

00:28:23 Mixing Def Leppard harmony vocals

Def Leppard is a great example: they wanted to sing live

They worked hard to deliver what they expected (and what people expected)

00:34:50 Mixing Prince at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

00:38:20 Always Be Recording…and here’s why: Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks

And a new ProTools feature was born: VENUE Link

00:43:04 Alpha Labs De-Feedback

Started as an aside in Scovill’s Back Lounge

Neve 5045 Primary Source Expander

Waves PSE Plugin

De-Feedback does reverse impulse responses

00:48:42 De-Feedback started to “make churches sound better”

00:57:28 De-Feedback at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Elton John (because of his loud monitor wedges)

Cyndi Lauper

01:02:02 Comparing De-Feedback to a Neve 5045

Waves NS1

01:10:19 A live De-Feedback demo and some nerdy details!

01:26:24 Fixing IEMs with De-Feedback

Think about eliminating drum bleed from vocal mics, for one.

01:28:47 Gig Gab 515 Outtro

Follow Robert Scovill

On Facebook

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On LinkedIn

RobertScovill.com (where you’ll find The Back Lounge)

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The post Mixing Legends Live: Robert Scovill at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — Gig Gab 515 appeared first on Gig Gab.

You love the music, but being a working musician comes with friction, and this episode tackles it head-on. You dig into the real difference between tribute bands and celebration projects, how to prep when multiple gigs stack up fast, and why anxiety creeps in when preparation gets sloppy. You explore how much rehearsal is enough, when studio versions help versus live recordings, and why fun disappears when expectations are unclear. The big takeaway is simple: intention matters. When you walk into rehearsal with a plan, a personal worklist, and shared expectations, you protect your energy and stay focused on what matters most. That focus is how you keep growing while Always Be Performing.

From rehearsals to gig day, you learn how systems save your sanity. You hear why rehearsal recordings only work if someone is actually assigned to listen, how shared calendars prevent chaos, and why group texts quietly sabotage bands. You break down practical tools for managing gigs, promotion, and communication, from punchlist spreadsheets to task masters who own the details. You even get into tech expectations for bandmates and why alignment matters more than gear. The message is clear: externalize the details, reduce decision fatigue, and free your head to show up present, prepared, and confident on stage.

00:00:00 Gig Gab 514 – Monday, December 29th, 2025

December 29th: Tick Tock Day

Guest co-host: Richard Page

00:02:03 Richard’s got some tribute shows happening

The difference between a tribute band and a celebration project

Pure Petty, Hot Atlanta, Remedy at Ardmore Music Hall

Rocks This Way

00:06:07 Dave’s got three different shows to learn and play in 2 weeks

The anxiety of preparing for too many gigs at once

When prepping celebration shows, do you do all studio? Some live?

00:24:33 SPONSOR: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at rula.com/giggab #rulapod

00:26:19 NAMM coming up!

GG Coverage Sponsor: Ultimate Ears Pro!

00:26:55 Being a working musician comes with a lot of friction to have fun

00:28:48 Setting rehearsal intention

Have a plan!

Be careful of repeating songs and consuming time

Set expectations. Ensure everyone arrives on the same page.

Keep a “personal worklist” note going on your phone during rehearsals

00:33:41 Maximizing rehearsal recordings

Rotate between band-members for listening to rehearsal recordings

You inspect what you expect!

00:38:49 Scheduling rehearsals

Use a Google Calendar

00:42:36 Inter-band communication

Group Messages…SUCK (especially now with RCS, that was supposed to fix it)

You’ve gotta have a task-master!

WheresTheGig.com

BandHelper

00:50:46 Creating a Spreadsheet punchlist for gigs

Keeps you from forgetting the Facebook event, the mailer, etc

Using BandsInTown for Artists

00:55:55 Tech requirements for new band members

Green Bubble Prejudice!

01:02:12 Three iPads

Stage Ninja Clamp for iPad

forScore

01:10:17 Gig Gab 514 Outtro

Follow Richard Page on Facebook

Remedy

Dead Band

Rocks This Way

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The post The Hidden Work of Fun: Systems for Working Musicians — Gig Gab 514 with Richard Page appeared first on Gig Gab.