Remembering Sir George Martin, 1926-2016: Producer Way Beyond Compare

BY MIKE METTLER – UPDATED JUNE 14, 2016 / ORIGINALLY POSTED APRIL 10, 2016

Sir George Martin passed away at the age of 90 in Wiltshire, England on March 8, 2016. Best known for his indelible, enduring, and daringly innovative studio work with The Beatles from 1962–70, Martin also produced a wide swath of artists including […]

By |June 14th, 2016|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on Remembering Sir George Martin, 1926-2016: Producer Way Beyond Compare

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

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

Brian Wilson Feels No Pressure When Creating His Sonically Beautiful Pocket Symphonies

BY MIKE METTLER — MAY 13, 2015

How does he do it? How does the eternal Beach Boy Brian Wilson keep composing all-new harmonically gorgeous and sonically seductive pocket symphonies (as he likes to call them), 50-plus years into his career? The answer, he says, is quite simple: “I know in my head — in […]

By |May 13th, 2015|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on Brian Wilson Feels No Pressure When Creating His Sonically Beautiful Pocket Symphonies

I’m Going to Give You Everything: Giles Martin on Mixing The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night in Surround Sound — and What Fab Album He Might Tackle Next

BY MIKE METTLER — JUNE 25, 2014

“I’m just into the ethos of having great sound,” says Giles Martin, describing his surround sound mixing philosophy. “The intention of what we do is to make the journey as seamless as possible. I want people to enjoy what they’re listening to without thinking about it.” Martin’s “natural […]

By |June 25th, 2014|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on I’m Going to Give You Everything: Giles Martin on Mixing The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night in Surround Sound — and What Fab Album He Might Tackle Next

All You Need Is LOVE: The Beatles’ Revolution Lives on at The Mirage in Las Vegas

BY MIKE METTLER

“Love is all around you.” It’s a phrase that enveloped me in full during the climax of The Beatles — LOVE. My reaction? “Yeah yeah yeah!” The 7:00 p.m. performance on January 10, 2014 was my fifth time seeing this Cirque du Soleil extravaganza in its 7 years (and counting) at The […]

The SoundBard’s Top 25 Songs of 2013

BY MIKE METTLER

It’s that time of year: Time to cite the tunes that caught hold of my expert ear over the past 12 months — the ones I consider most worthy of purchase, hi-res download, and/or dropping the needle on at 45 rpm! Here, in reverse order, are my favorite 25 songs of 2013. […]

By |December 31st, 2013|Odds & Sods|Comments Off on The SoundBard’s Top 25 Songs of 2013