Shows
Hat City StoriesImages - Jeff McKaySamantha Levin is an archivist documenting the teen nightclub, Images that was located in Brewster, NY in the late 80s. It was the place to hear new wave, goth and industrial music. It wasn’t uncommon for a New Order song to play followed by Ministry where the crowd cleared and a pit was formed. Temporarily of course until a danceable Blondie track come on. That was a generation before my time when it was turned into Boardwalk. I’ll be sharing Samantha’s interviews from time to time in the feed. They’re a great fit and furth...2023-03-291h 14
Hat City StoriesMike Weiland - Dr. JavasIn high school we spent our evenings and late nights drinking coffee at diners because there was no where else to go and we thought it made us look cool. How hilarious that is when I think about it now. Early on in my Junior year at Bethel High School a new business popped up in Downtown Bethel. We always noticed when something new opened. Change was rare and slow in Bethel.I believe it was Mike Dobsevage and I who walked into Dr Java’s together for the first time. Maybe Mark Straiton was there too. My...2023-02-2256 min
Hat City Stories24 Buttonball DrThis episode is about 24 Buttonball drive in Newtown CT, The home of Jim and Joe Roberto back in the day. It’s in that basement where amps were blown, distortion pedals were engaged and many bands were formed. I chatted with Ernest Latanzio and Joe Roberto as they reminisced and shared that deep history and all the music and collaborations that came out of it.One quick note. As you’ve probably noticed, these episodes come out pretty sporadically. Life gets in the way life and there’s too many projects to keep up on. I’ll continue...2022-11-171h 26
Hat City StoriesLitmusLitmus is an ever expanding and contracting improv band who started in 1996. There’s a core group of 6 musicians but they’ve had as many as 12 musicians on stage at one time. Each show is a totally unique experience. There’s no songs, no plan and no one knows what to expect. Neither the musicians or the audience. I got to chat with 4 of the members.Justin Emerson - Keys, Samples, EffectsEdward Murphy - Drums, PercussionAndrew Kraemer - Guitar, EffectsJared Koehl - Visual ManipulationsTwo other members who couldn't make i...2022-09-281h 20
Hat City StoriesMorgan WilliamsMorgan Williams was a DJ in the early days of WXCI. It was a platform for him to play alternative and new music that wasn't being played on commercial stations. He worked with Darryl Ort during WXCI's transition into a platform for new music. He went on to host New Music Wednesday at City Limits in Danbury. He also mentored Jeff McKay and Anne who DJ'ed at Images, the all ages club in Brewster, NY that attracted the freaks, geeks, goth, punk and new wave crowd. A place for kids coming from troubled families to be themselves and let...2022-08-2348 min
Hat City StoriesSteve Lonergan - Sgt. ScagnettiI didn’t get to attend as many ska shows as would have liked, but the one band I would try to catch was Sgt. Scagnetti. Front man Steve Lonergan and I got to connect recently as he shared his own Danbury stories. A hip hop kid out of Seymour, CT who somehow found his way to WXCI one night long before Google maps were a thing as his parents were suddenly cool about a 2am curfew to hang out at a college radio station at the age of 16. Steve realized early on that he wanted to be involved in...2022-07-061h 09
Hat City StoriesGreg Vegas - MonsterlandIn this episode I had the honor of speaking with Greg Vegas. A pioneer in the early days of WXCI with his show Large With Everything where he played pretty much anything as long as it was new and cool. Greg was also singer, songwriter and guitarist for local legends Monsterland. The only band at the time who got signed and even had a music video on MTV, which at that point was a huge deal.This ones packed with tons of history and stories so let’s jump right in. Enjoy this conversation with Greg Vegas.2022-04-271h 22
Hat City StoriesCraig ColorussoThis is episode 5 where I talked with Craig Colorusso from the band China Pig that performed in Danbury in the mid 90’s and toured throughout the country. He ran the indie label Mudd Industries and produced albums for G’nu Fuz, Hed and Monsterland. After catching a live show from G’nu Fuz he wanted to find a way to contribute to the band but wasn’t sure how. He decided he’d help them put out a record. He didn’t know where to start though. While working at Trash American Style, Malcolm Tent encouraged Craig to give it a...2022-04-1359 min
Hat City StoriesMalcolm Tent - Trash American StyleThis is episode four where I talked with Malcolm Tent to learn about the history of Trash American Style, an indie record shop and used clothing store, or a psycho thrift shop as he describes it. Trash had a physical location in Danbury from 1986-2007 and now continues it’s legacy online. Trash was all things punk rock, goth and new wave. A place to dig through cassettes, CDs and vinyl from only indie labels while shopping used clothing long before thrift shops were cool. It was the local source for DIY body piercing, Manic Panic, used Doc...2022-03-301h 09
Hat City StoriesWendy Cahill - Sans CherubsThis is episode three where I talked with Wendy Cahill. A singer from the band Sans Cherubs that was around in the mid 90s and the owner of Molten Java, a small coffee shop in Bethel, CT.Wendy talked about the importance of coffee shops, specifically Seattle Espresso and the role they played at the time. There was always support for local artists and musicians as well as being a place for community to gather and just hang out. An experience that in many ways led her to where she is today.We touched on...2022-03-161h 19
Hat City StoriesDan Bishop - Journey to Gasball Part 2This is episode two, part two of my conversation with Dan Bishop about his journey to Gasball. A free outdoor music and art festival that went on for about 10 years.In this second half of the conversation Dan talks about meeting Chris Durante and the inception of Gallery 13 as well as the importance of Seattle Espresso and the role it played in bringing the community together. There was a sense that Danbury would be the next Seattle and it started to attract outside musicians to see what the scene was all about. That didn’t quite work ou...2022-03-021h 11
Hat City StoriesDan Bishop - Journey to Gasball Part 1This is episode 1 of Hat City Stories where I had the chance to talk with with Dan Bishop about his journey to Gasball. A free outdoor music and art festival that went on for about 10 years.From building forts in the woods as a kid to his first show at the Danbury Music Center and Gallery 13. It was huge pleasure to catch up with Dan and learn how it all went down. We talked for almost 2 hours so this is part one. Enjoy this first part of the conversation and be sure to come back f...2022-02-2735 min
Waiting For ReviewS2E3 - Ben Guerrette, PixiteI'm joined in this episode by Ben Guerrette.
Ben is the Creative Director of Pixite, at Pixite, a small company that’s been flying high in the App Store for many years. Pixite have many apps in the store, ranging from creative journalling, graphic design, through to their colourful drawing and relaxation app, Pigment.
Pixite have gone from strength to strength, with app revenue bootstrapping the business into life, and consistent App Store features for their products. As dynamics have changed with the App Store and revenue, Pixite have had to adapt their approach and bu...2020-12-1150 min
Wabi SabiBen GuerretteMy guest today is Ben Guerrette -- creative technologist, designer, dad, husband, and friend He's the creative director at www.pixiteapps.comThey make award-winning creative apps for iOS.We spoke at length around tech, creativity, society, work/life balance, and fatherhood.www.luminul.comwww.instagram.com/benguerrettewww.wabisabipodcast.xyzwww.patreon.com/wabisabipodcast Get full access to Adam Yasmin at adamyasmin.substack.com/subscribe2019-09-141h 45
The Maine ShowEpisode 094 - Tracy GuerretteSt. Agatha native, former UMaine Women's Basketball Player, and standout Maine runner Tracy Guerrette stops by the studio. In this conversation, Tracy talks about her background as an athlete as well as her Catholic faith including a period of time she explored joining a convent. She also talks about plans for running the Maine Marathon, which was run after this recording but before the posting of this podcast. So stay tuned to the podcast conclusion to hear the results of Tracy's effort in this race! Photo credit: Bangor Daily News 2017-10-0346 min