I've had the opportunity to get to know lots of cool people while touring, and one of them is Amanda Pindus. She is a special effects technician specializing in pyrotechnics for touring bands. At the age of 26 she's become a very experienced touring special effects tech, and is on the road all the time. [...]
We who are grown-ups and are musicians can all remember the thrill and fear of playing with our friends at a very young age. It is SO fun and at the same time a rite of passage and a threshold to cross. We learn to play a few songs, find others to do that with, [...]
As long as I've been playing, I've realized the importance of tuning, maintaining and protecting my instruments. Playing music is the most fun I know how to have, and knowing how to take care of the gear is one of the things that helps me sound my best. As time has gone on, I've learned [...]
I'm sitting in the back of the tour bus writing this as we roll to the hotel. Tomorrow I go home for three days (although two of them are gig days), and it'll be so great to experience the end of summer in my beautiful town, Seattle. This time of year is really special, partly because [...]
In my career as a musician I've been astounded by the many great bands and orchestras I've heard and loved, and by the amazing variety of styles of music with which they shout out their joy to the world! I love all kinds of music, and especially music with live musicians performing. I always smile [...]
This last couple of years have been a blast! I have had the opportunity to make music happen with my friends all over the US, in Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Mexico. With all of the thousands of people who have been to our shows, I want to express my thanks, appreciation and gratitude! Because [...]
Ben Here! I’m in New York City touring with HEART and the Rock Hall Three For All US tour and visiting with my long-time friend, NYC resident - Sue Pelino. She’s fun, talented and hard-working, and a mega-success in the television and film music mixing world. She graciously agreed to chat with us and share [...]
Check out Ben's podcast interview with Those Branding Guys in Santa Fe: http://santafe.com/thevoice/podcasts/ask-those-branding-guys-best-branding-and-marketing-practices-july-18-2016
Continued from July 12th blog: Ben Here! for the Love of Starting a tour part 1 of 2 ...After it's all out on stage, the audio guys go through each microphone and DI input in their separate consoles and make sure it's all working. Then our backline techs test each instrument line, amp and DI [...]
Today I had the opportunity to see lots of old friends from the road. The touring electricians and lighting people, the audio team, our backline techs, production and tour managers, musicians, truck and bus drivers, and local production and stage people here in Detroit. Our Rock Hall Free For All tour with Heart, Joan Jett [...]