38 Special Co-Founders Don Barnes & Donnie Van Zant Continue Rockin’ Into the Night, Onstage and Off

BY MIKE METTLER — MAY 19, 2016

Rock is rock, no matter where it comes from and who’s playing it. Sure, certain sounds and styles will always get some kind of genre label attached to them, but it all really boils down to one thing: Does the music move you? “Obviously, we’re from the South […]

By |May 19th, 2016|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on 38 Special Co-Founders Don Barnes & Donnie Van Zant Continue Rockin’ Into the Night, Onstage and Off

Sweet Sonic Dream Mixes Are Made of Dave Stewart

BY MIKE METTLER — FEBRUARY 10, 2016

He’s a man who’s been everywhere and done it with everyone, and lived to tell the tales. He’s Dave Stewart, the production wizard best known for his indelible partnership with Annie Lennox in the uber-popular ’80s electronic duo Eurythmics. His new memoir, Sweet Dreams Are Made of This – […]

By |February 10th, 2016|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on Sweet Sonic Dream Mixes Are Made of Dave Stewart

Yanni Composes a Sensuous Hi-Res Sonic Chill Experience (…and 5.1 Studio Material May Follow)

BY MIKE METTLER — FEBRUARY 3, 2016

The concept of being a true global artist didn’t really exist until the rise of Yanni, the visionary Greek keyboardist/composer who’s played his own unique brand of instrumental music for over 5 million concertgoers worldwide (and counting). Sometimes, you’ll find him and his top-tier “United Nations” orchestra playing for […]

Steve Forbert Makes No Compromises When It Comes to His Songcraft Or His Sonics

BY MIKE METTLER — DECEMBER 9, 2015

The songwriter’s songwriter is one who adheres to an unwavering standard of excellence. His work is honed, sculpted, shaped, and then reshaped until it feels right to share with the world. These are just a few of the guiding principles Steve Forbert followed while composing the 11 original songs […]

By |December 9th, 2015|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on Steve Forbert Makes No Compromises When It Comes to His Songcraft Or His Sonics

America Bandmates Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell Venture Down the Remastered Highway

BY MIKE METTLER — SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

Harmony (/ˈhärmənē/, noun): 1. The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions having a pleasing effect. 2. A relationship where various components exist together without destroying one another; agreement or concord. See also: America.

If there’s one band from the ’70s that epitomizes the literal definition of the […]

By |September 10th, 2015|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on America Bandmates Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell Venture Down the Remastered Highway

Robert Cray on How He Goes Up the Mountain to Get the Richness of His Live Sound on Record

BY MIKE METTLER — AUGUST 26, 2015

It’s hard to believe, but the eternally youthful blues maestro Robert Cray is celebrating five decades of plying his craft with the imminent release of 4 Nights of 40 Years Live (Provogue) in various formats, including Blu-ray + 2 CDs, DVD + 2 CDs, and LP + digital […]

By |August 26th, 2015|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on Robert Cray on How He Goes Up the Mountain to Get the Richness of His Live Sound on Record

Pyromania Blues: Going Delta Deep With Def Leppard Guitarist Phil Collen

BY MIKE METTLER — JULY 29, 2015

Dave Grohl is often acknowledged as being the nicest, coolest/cheeriest guy in rock & roll, and while I can indeed confirm Messr. Grohl is (to use a technical term) an absolute mensch amongst mensches, I also happen to think Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen could give Dave a run for […]

By |July 29th, 2015|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on Pyromania Blues: Going Delta Deep With Def Leppard Guitarist Phil Collen