Tales from the Green Room cover art

Tales from the Green Room

Tales from the Green Room

By: Mount Tam Media
Listen for free

About this listen

 Welcome to Tales from the Green Room - Backstage conversations from popular music venues around the country curated by Mount Tam Media. Buckle up and listen in, as host Dennis Strazulo and Mount Tam Media founder, Tami Larson, dig up conversations with artists - before and after shows - in the exclusive confines of the green room. Barriers are down with stories abound! Tales from the Greenroom Special Edition (Sweetwater Music Hall's 50th Anniversary Series) Mount Tam Media is thrilled to launch its Tales From the Green Room Podcast with a special series of episodes celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the iconic Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California. The roster of artists that have crowded onto the club's little stages, first at the original Sweetwater location two blocks away, and now at the new location which opened in 2013, reads like a Who's Who of roots & rock music: Bob Weir, Aaron Neville, Big Mama Thornton, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Etta James, Greg Allman, Van Morrison… the list of musical luminaries is endless. In the 80's, the Times of London hailed Sweetwater as one of the best nightclubs in America and the legacy continues! Mount Tam Media has been granted special access to Sweetwater’s green room during the venue’s 50th anniversary year to interview musicians, photographers, managers and the like, and capture their favorite moments and memories, preserving the untold secrets of what has graced these hallowed walls for half a century, before they are lost forever.© 2024 Mount Tam Media - All Rights Reserved Music
Episodes
  • Sunshine Garcia Becker: The Evolution of "American Beauties" and Women in Music

    Sunshine Garcia Becker: The Evolution of "American Beauties" and Women in Music
    Jul 31 2025
    In this episode, hosts Dennis Strazulo and Tami Larson explore the journey of Sunshine Garcia Becker (Furthur, Sunshine Garcia Band) on her mission to curate an all-female Grateful Dead tribute band, with the purpose of expanding the involvement of women as key players in the live music scene. Sunshine is joined on the show by drummer Anna Elva (Smokedaddies, Mark Karan’s Buds, West Grand Boulevard, Stu Allen & Mars Hotel), bass player Jen Rund (Jenerator, Talley Up, Mangobu, Lumanation), keyboardist Richelle Scales (The Richelle Scales Project) and rising star, guitarist Bella Rayne – all successful musicians playing with other bands. The ladies are joined by honorary male, Zach Nugent (Dead Set, Melvin Seals JGB), thrilled to be supporting the group and recalling his wonderful experiences playing alongside women with Melvin Seals JGB. Together they form the newly named band, American Beauties (formerly China Dolls), visiting with Tales From The Green Room before their debut performance at Ashkenaz in Berkeley, CA during International Women’s Month.Band members share their personal journeys, the importance of female representation, and the struggles and progress of women in live performances. The conversation is interspersed with humorous and heartfelt moments, ultimately emphasizing the ongoing efforts to foster a supportive environment for female musicians and lauding Sunshine’s tireless efforts creating American Beauties.Check out members of American Beauties during GD60 weekend (8/1-3) and during The Daze Between (8/1 - 8/9) in SF & Sonoma County & Zach Nugent during The Daze Between in Concord, NH, Killington, VT, Middlebury, VT, Newton, NY, and Middletown Springs, VTUpcoming Shows Jerry Day After Party - August 2, 2025 - Norton & Harrington (Jerry Garcia St.), San Francisco, CA - 6pmw/ Sunshine Becker, Jon Chi, Anna Elva, Angeline Saris, Jordan FeinsteinSunshine Garcia Band, HopMonk – August 7, 2025, Sebastopol, CA - 8pmw/ Sunshine Becker, Jon Chi, Scott Guberman, Angeline Saris, Jerry Saracini, Bella RayneSee Bella Rayne with Shakedown Citi, August 9, 2025 at The Hamilton Live, Washington, D.C.Zach Nugent TourHighlights Spreading love and kindness and joy and being silly with each other. That's really what's gonna get us through. So, when you are lost or distraught or in the darkness for a little too long, just ask yourself, what can I do? What am I good at? What do I love doing.. and do that.~Sunshine Garcia BeckerI spent a lot of time in Melvin Seals and JGB. And a third of that band is women. I had the most spiritual and wonderful and warm and special experiences of my life on stage, off stage with the women in JGB.~Zach NugentEverybody here knows exactly how it started for me. And I would say that being thrown into that is such a big part of my story and being literally thrown in headfirst. I learn so much still every day from everybody that I play with. And I say that I'm still pretty malleable and just pick up on a little bit of whatever I can.~Bella RayneThe last maybe six months, I've had at least two people tell me they've never seen a woman play drums. We play for these kids and those are some of my favorite ones because there's so many little girls there and they don't get to see bands often…for them, the one or two times they ever see a band, to see at least one woman on stage…I love that.~Anna Elva LinksSunshine (Garcia) BeckerAnna ElvaBella RayneJen RundRichelle ScalesZach NugentMusicFoolish Heart – Sunshine Garcia Band Live at Sweetwater Music Hall – 2016-08-09Jessica Fierro, Amy Berry, Ezra Lipp, Peter Lavezzoli, Matt Hartle, Mark Karan, David Gans, Robin Sylvester, John Paul Mc Lean, Danny Eisenberg, Sam Johnston, Jordan Feinstein, Mitch SteinMidnight Moonlight - Sunshine Garcia Band - Daze Between Festival - 2022-07-09 Sunshine Becker, Halina Janusz, Lisa Marlsberger, Stephanie Salva, Corrinne West, Zach Nugent, Jon Gold, Justin Purtill, Rodney Newman.Thank you, Sarah Travis and Ashkenaz!
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • "Danny's Live Dead" - Curating Chemistry and Community with Danny Luehring

    "Danny's Live Dead" - Curating Chemistry and Community with Danny Luehring
    Jul 17 2025
    In this episode of Tales From The Green Room - mixed with joyous reflection, levity, and emotion - drummer extraordinaire Danny Luehring discusses the origins and evolution of Danny's Live Dead, a weekly Grateful Dead show hosted by him every Wednesday at Peri’s Tavern in Fairfax, California. Danny shares insights into how the show started after the closure of Phil Lesh's beloved Terrapin Crossroads, the challenges and rewards of curating a rotating lineup of musicians, and the significance of community and chemistry in live music. The hosts delve into Danny's musical background, memorable moments from his performances at Terrapin with his band, San Geronimo, and his first time playing with Phil Lesh, as he lauds the lasting impact of the Terrapin era. The conversation highlights the magic of live music, the depth of the Grateful Dead's influence, and Danny's future aspirations for his musical endeavors.HIGHLIGHTSYou see all the people that you know are ready for it and that trust you. That’s the chemistry, too. I mean, chemistry, community…all those things. You can just line it up just right. And every night's different, but, my thing is I want it to be fucking amazing every night!I think music is a dimension. I don't know how else to explain it. Music is such a unit, like a dimension…the way it affects people, in general, like a blanket, on people, it just makes me feel like it's gotta be bigger than we think. And the Dead is probably one of the things that really got me thinking about that.My dad played guitar and I wanted to be a guitar player. So, for my fifth birthday he bought me an electric guitar and I remember it was at a costume party and I was dressed as a Denver Bronco and I put this thing on, and I broke the high string and it snapped back and hit me. And I thought it shocked me. 'cause it was an electric guitar. I mean, I was five. I was just like, oh my God. Drumsticks, please!Terrapin for me was something that a hundred percent changed my direction in life. I wasn't a Deadhead.I literally knew like two Dead songs. The first time I played at Terrapin I just kind of had to learn under fire. It is not like I didn't know who the Dead were, and they were obviously on my radar, I just wasn't, I wasn't ready until I I was in those circumstances. And then just in that… I don't know, it's hard to explain what happened. ~Danny LuehringLINKSDanny’s Live DeadSan Geronimo BandPeri’s TavernDanny’s Live Dead Presents GD60! After Parties The Balboa - August 1, 2, 3, 2025https://www.terrapincrossroads.net/SHOWSDanny’s Live Dead Presents GD60! After Parties - Balboa Theater3630 Balboa St., San FranciscoAugust 1, 2, 3, 2025 - 10:30PMTerrapin Road Shows Forest Meadows Amphitheatre - San Rafael, CA - July 18 (w/San Geronimo), 19, 20, (w/ Danny Luehring) 2025 SOLD OUTTruckee Amphitheater - Truckee, CA August 17, 2025 - TICKETSMUSICTiny Television (band) - "Carolina"MoniterLizard YouTube Channelhttps://youtu.be/_hOXYKLpXIg?si=ETYYfw_0HJ9pytloSan Geronimo @ Terrapin Crossroads on 10/9/14 ~ "Hear the Sound"Eric Finkelman YouTube Channelhttps://youtu.be/9JmG2vyzNJE?si=IOLjqKvmZ1I8YbJYDanny’s Live Dead” - Garrett Deloian, Grahame Lesh, Brian Rashap & Danny Luehring "Bird Song," Papermill Creek Saloon, 4/10/24Dreamlion YouTube Channelhttps://youtu.be/fgT17eMOkSs?si=BnFWE9-L0lUYn9HgGrahame Lesh and Alex KofordJupiter and MercuryJan. 20, 2024 HopMonk Tavern Novatohttps://youtu.be/ddSVxM9O8G0?si=GEJmVG-J2stAfJW1
    Show More Show Less
    48 mins
  • Zachary Richard - Canadian Star, Louisiana Native - on Music, Cajun Culture, and Heritage - Behind The Scenes at JazzFest (Part 3)

    Zachary Richard - Canadian Star, Louisiana Native - on Music, Cajun Culture, and Heritage - Behind The Scenes at JazzFest (Part 3)
    Jun 25 2025

    In this episode of 'Tales from the Green Room,' the hosts engage in an enlightening conversation - and history lesson - with singer-songwriter, Cajun culture activists, and International recording artist, Zachary Richard. Richard first reflects on his deep ties with Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, CA - playing and hanging with Huey Lewis and Bob Weir - before musing on his touring experiences and unique cross-cultural identity as both an American and French Canadian artist. The interview was recorded in the green room at Chickie Wah Wah, a premier New Orleans music venue, just after Richards's set on the last day of JazzFest 2025, moments before his after-show at the club that evening.


    The discussion delves into the historical and cultural impacts of the Acadian deportation and the preservation of French culture in Louisiana; while Richard recounts his career in music, his prolific work in both French and English, and his passion for children's literature and poetry. The episode offers a heartwarming look at Richard’s collaboration with his neuro-motor handicapped grandson on a musical project - his latest album Handicap Bonheur - and his hopes for cultural and linguistic preservation through nonprofit endeavors. Richard’s reflection on his performance at Jazz Fest and his thoughts on American and French cultural intersections add depth to this rich dialogue on music, heritage, and identity.


    Highlights


    I'm the most American of the French Canadians and the most French of the Americans because I've been going across the border of Quebec, singing in French for 50 years. So, it's a little disheartening to see the tension between the United States and our friends to the north, especially since I've spent most of my professional career singing in French and working in Quebec. But so goes it, and I’m still part of that culture…I'll be playing in Quebec this summer, which, which I really enjoy doing, 'cause it gets so hot in Louisiana.

    -Zachary Richard on being part of both American and French-Canadian Cultures

    To become a Canadian citizen, I have to swear an oath of allegiance to the king now. It just struck me as something that I couldn't possibly imagine doing. Swearing an oath of allegiance to a British monarch when my ancestors had suffered so terribly from the fact that they had refused to sign such an allegiance.

    -Zachary Richard on loyalty to his ancestors.

    I was torn the United States, back in the nineties and Sweetwater was our home, away from home, in the Bay Area. Sweetwater was so cool! Jeanie Patterson…. she was a real firecracker and we had a lot of fun with Jeanie and she was so welcoming. And the club was really a lot of fun to play because it was easy to pack. And Huey Lewis would come out, Bob Weir came out, and then we'd go and party at Bob's place. I can't remember too much about that, but I know it was good.

    -Zachary Richard on his memories playing at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, CA


    Links


    https://www.zacharyrichard.com/en

    Zachary’s Richard 2025 Album - Handicap Bonheur

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHlc29obilCk2CUD4n6Vs0w
    https://chickiewahwah.com/\

    https://sweetwatermusichall.org/

    “Against The Tide” - Cajun People of Louisianaa Documentary

    Contre vents, contre marees - by Zachary Richard

    https://www.deezer.com/fr/artist/5977


    Music In Episode

    Zachary Richard - Who Stole My Monkey (Live on Letterman 1990)/Rare Tracks II - YouTube
    Crawfish by Zachary Richard
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.