Only In The Green Room

Paul McDonald: From Hollywood to High Sierra

What happens when the spotlight takes you away from the music that made you want to step onstage in the first place? Backstage at High Sierra Music Festival, Paul McDonald joins Tami and Dennis for a candid, funny, and heartfelt conversation about finding his way back. From an unexpected American Idol audition to the whirlwind of Hollywood, Paul reflects on the experiences that shaped him—and the sense of belonging he’s found with his band, the Mourning Doves. He shares the personal story behind “Dark Side” and So Long to the Dark Side, how losing his mother brought him back to the records he grew up with, and why kindness matters as much as talent when choosing the people beside him on the road. Along the way: songwriting with Andy Frasco and friends, jamming with Lebo, and some unforgettable American Idol backstage encounters. A conversation about letting go, finding your people, and getting back to the music. Only in the Green Room — Where Artists Remain Human. Explore more episodes at onlyinthegreenroom.com.

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Boy Golden on The Church of Better Daze, Creativity & the Healing Power of Music

In this episode, we catch up with Boy Golden backstage at High Sierra Music Festival for a conversation that goes well beyond the music. The Winnipeg singer-songwriter opens up about The Church of Better Daze, why songwriting has become a spiritual practice for him, and his belief that music and creative expression can be deeply healing. We also get into the story behind the name Boy Golden, his early years playing hundreds of shows, his love of albums, the way he approaches songwriting, and why his ultimate mission isn't simply to make people listen — it's to make them want to create something themselves. For Boy Golden, a life filled with as many “creative days” as possible is a life well lived. Only in the Green Room — Where Artists Remain Human. #BoyGolden #HighSierraMusicFestival #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #ChurchOfBetterDaze #SingerSongwriter #IndieMusic #Songwriting #MusicPodcast

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Steve Poltz & Jay Blakesberg on the Grateful Dead — Then Everything Goes Off the Rails

What was supposed to be a conversation about the Grateful Dead quickly becomes something else entirely when photographer Jay Blakesberg and singer-songwriter Steve Poltz join us at High Sierra. The two give us a preview of Working Man’s Dead, their wonderfully unpredictable live collaboration combining Jay’s iconic Grateful Dead photography and storytelling with Steve’s music — including songs he writes spontaneously in response to stories and images he hasn't seen coming. They talk about Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and the strange magic of improvisation. Jay also recounts watching an all-white-clad Steve Poltz make his way toward the rail at the Sphere as the crowd seemingly parted for him “like Moses” — leading Jay to describe Steve as “a cross between Bob Dylan and Moses.” And then things go completely off the rails. Charlton Heston. Planet of the Apes. Paper routes. Behind the Green Door. A mysterious bag of vintage magazines. And several moments when we completely lose control of our own interview. Underneath the insanity, though, is a friendship between two gifted storytellers and a shared love of the Grateful Dead, spontaneity and the kind of live experience that can never happen exactly the same way twice. This is Steve Poltz and Jay Blakesberg — unfiltered, unscripted and very much Only in the Green Room. Steve Poltz, Jay Blakesberg, Grateful Dead, Grateful Dead stories, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Workingman's Dead, Grateful Dead photography, High Sierra Music Festival, Only in the Green Room

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Don Was & Jay Lane on Bob Weir: The Stories, Lessons & Legacy

What if a dream changed the course of a band? Don Was joins Jay Lane and Only in the Green Room for a remarkable conversation about Bob Weir, Rob Wasserman, Wolf Bros and the music that continues to connect them all. Don shares the story of the phone call from Bob Weir that started with something extraordinary: Rob Wasserman had come to Bob in a dream — and told him why he had introduced Don and Bob decades earlier. That call helped lead to the formation of Wolf Bros. From Don locking himself in a New York hotel room for 10 days to learn six songs they never ended up playing, to Bob eventually giving him the advice that changed the way he approached the music: “Just forget about all this and be yourself.” Don and Jay also reflect on the enormous influence of Rob Wasserman, revisit Blues for Allah 50 years later, and talk about what makes this music continue to transcend generations. A backstage conversation about friendship, fearlessness, musical legacy — and the people who change the course of our lives. Watch the full conversation on Only in the Green Room. #DonWas #JayLane #BobWeir #WolfBros #RobWasserman #GratefulDead #BluesForAllah #OnlyInTheGreenRoom

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Jay Lane on Bob Weir, RatDog & the Adoption Story That Changed Everything

What started as a conversation about Bob Weir and RatDog turned into one of the most personal stories we've ever captured. In this episode of Only in the Green Room, drummer Jay Lane shares what it was like joining Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman despite knowing very little about the Grateful Dead, learning songs from Heaven Help the Fool, navigating unpredictable RatDog setlists, and witnessing Bob's determination to keep creating after Jerry Garcia's passing. Then the conversation takes an unexpected turn. Jay opens up about his own adoption story, his remarkable adoptive mother, Mary D. Lane, and discovering his biological mother, prior to his birth, had a daughter with acclaimed jazz bassist Donald Rafael Garrett. As the story unfolds Jay pieces together a long-hidden mosaic of family, music, and coincidence, sharing how deeply his life had been intertwined with San Francisco's legendary music scene long before he ever knew it. This is a story about music, identity, family, mentorship, and the incredible coincidences that can shape a life. If you enjoy authentic conversations with the artists behind the music, please Like, Subscribe, and share this episode. #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #JayLane #BobWeir #RatDog #GratefulDead #AdoptionStory #MusicPodcast #BehindTheMusic#SweetwaterMusicHall #David Nelson, #Ramblin' Jack Elliott, #Lorin Rowan, #Matt Jaffe, #Matty Michna, #Jay Lane# Barry Sless, #Jason Crosby, #Samson Grisman# Bobby & The Midnites - I Want To Live In America 1984 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWscxdleZzI YouTube: @inmotion68 "Not Fade Away" - Bob Weir and Wolf Bros | 8/25/2019 | LOCKN' 2019 | Relix YouTube: @RelixMag https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfnfGM77Ob8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wdteIsK1qU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6a-A7gP9Mc

Michael Mullins & Bradford Lewis on Building the Legacy Coalition | OITGR

Michael Mullins (trombone) and Bradford Lewis (guitar) — two more members of the Legacy Coalition, and bandmates in their own project — join us to fill in the rest of the story. They walk us through how the Coalition really came together: an idea years in the making, a chance meeting at a recording session, and the moment a teenage keyboard player named River showed up and made the whole thing click. They talk about their new single "Brand New Day," a music video shoot funded in part by a Jazz and Heritage Foundation grant, and the weight — and the freedom — of carrying a family legacy forward. As Bradford puts it: "our job is not to fill their shoes, our job is to wear our own." Only In The Green Room goes backstage with the artists carrying jam, funk, roots, and Americana music forward.

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The Next Generation of New Orleans Music: New Orleans Legacy Coalition: Cyril & Omari Neville, Jake Eckert + River | OITGR-Part I

Backstage at the New Orleans Jazz Museum during French Quarter Fest, we caught up with Cyril Neville, his son Omari Neville, guitarist Jake Eckert, and his son River — the teenage keyboard player who rounded out the lineup of the Legacy Coalition, a band built entirely from the sons and daughters of New Orleans music royalty. The conversation moves through what it means to inherit a sound rather than learn it — from sleeping on drum risers at Tipitina's as a kid, to stepping onstage next to your own father and realizing the torch has already passed. Cyril talks about the "osmosis" of growing up around the music. Omari opens up about his debut album, out now with a release party at the Louisiana Music Factory. And the whole crew previews their upcoming set at High Sierra Music Festival. Only In The Green Room goes backstage with the artists carrying jam, funk, roots, and Americana music forward.

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Jennifer Hartswick on Meeting Phil Lesh, Christian McBride & Why New Orleans Feels Like Its Own Planet | OITGR

Trumpet player and vocalist Jennifer Hartswick sits down with us in the green room at Jazz Fest to talk about her decades-long love affair with New Orleans — a city she calls "its own planet" — and the musical relationships that have shaped her career. Jennifer recounts her first New Orleans gig at the Maple Leaf, an overnight set that ran from 3am to sunrise, and reflects on what it took to earn that kind of audience. She shares the story of meeting Christian McBride, a musician she idolized as a kid, and forming what she describes as an instant soul bond. And she tells us about the night she met Phil Lesh — he didn't know who she was, noticed her trumpet in the green room, and the conversation that followed led to years of playing together in Phil & Friends. We also talk about High Sierra Music Festival's move to a new home in Grass Valley, and why Jennifer believes this inaugural year there is going to be something special. Guest: Jennifer Hartswick Website: jenniferhartswick.com | Instagram: @jhartswick Recorded live at Jazz Fest, New Orleans #JenniferHartswick #PhilLesh #GratefulDead #ChristianMcBride #HighSierraMusicFestival #JazzFest #NewOrleans #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #MusicPodcast #MapleLeaf

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Kristin Diable: She Lost Her Voice for Years. Here's What Brought It Back

Singer-songwriter Kristin Diable joins Only In The Green Room at the New Orleans Jazz Museum during French Quarter Fest — and the conversation goes deep. We talk about what it really means to lose your creative voice, how traumatic experiences can freeze a songwriter's ability to be vulnerable, and what it took to come back from that and finish her long-awaited album Impossible Things — out now. Kristin also opens up about leaving New York in her 20s for a writing sabbatical in New Orleans and never leaving, why the camaraderie between New Orleans musicians is unlike anything else in America, how she thinks about being the "parent of her songs," and what it means to choose joy when things are genuinely hard. Plus: teaching the "dark arts of songwriting" at Loyola University, running her own independent label Speak Easy, why she thinks festivals are the antidote to screen addiction, and a shoutout to Medium Build. Impossible Things is available now on all streaming platforms. Search Kristen Diable — D-I-A-B-L-E. Buy the vinyl and CDs at kristendiable.com. — CONNECT WITH KRISTiN — Instagram: @kristindiable] — ONLY IN THE GREEN ROOM — Subscribe for more candid artist conversations from backstage and beyond. Instagram: @onlyinthegreenroom Website: onlyinthegreenroom.com #KristinDiable #ImpossibleThings #NewOrleans #FrenchQuarterFest #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #SingerSongwriter #NewOrleansMusic #IndieMusic #Songwriting #LiveMusic

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Eric Krasno & Wally Ingram on Phil Lesh, Aaron Neville's Grammy, and the New Orleans–Dead Connection | OITGR

Recorded live at Bayou Boogaloo during Jazz Fest in New Orleans — two of our favorites in one green room. Eric Krasno (Soulive, Lettuce) and Wally Ingram (percussionist, collaborator extraordinaire) join us for a wide-ranging conversation as the golden-hour sun goes down over the bayou. We get into the deep connection between the Grateful Dead world and New Orleans music, what it was like for Eric to join Phil Lesh on stage with no rehearsal and an 80-song set list, and how Wally ended up on the Bob & Phil duo tour with literally a djembe and a pair of bongos. Plus: how Eric produced Aaron Neville's Grammy-winning album Apache, the story of Lawrence sleeping on his studio floor before they were famous, his new music collaboration platform Ensemble, and why Billy Kreutzmann plays like a New Orleans drummer. Oh, and Eric's five-year-old son is really into James Brown right now. Just FYI. 🎙️ Only in the Green Room is the backstage music podcast — real conversations with artists in the moment, where the music lives. 📍 Recorded at Bayou Boogaloo | New Orleans, LA 🎸 Guests: Eric Krasno + Wally Ingram 🔔 Subscribe for more green room conversations: onlyinthegreenroom.om 📲 Follow OITGR: Instagram: TikTok: Facebook: 🎶 Follow Eric Krasno: Instagram: @erickrasno 🎶 Follow Wally Ingram: Instagram: @wallyingram

High Sierra Music Festival Founder Dave Margulies: New Orleans, New Venue & July 2026 Lineup

🎟 WIN PIT ACCESS + A SEAT AT OUR FESTIVAL INTERVIEW Buy tickets at highsierramusic.com and enter code GREEN at checkout. You’ll be automatically entered to win front-of-stage pit access for all shows + an exclusive seat at a live Only In The Green Room podcast interview at the festival. High Sierra Music Festival · July 2–5 · Grass Valley, CA 🎸 In this episode: — The New Orleans roots of High Sierra going back to the Radiators and the Grateful Dead world — The full 2026 New Orleans lineup: The Rumble, Dumpstaphunk, Anders Osborne, The Break (Stanton Moore, Robert Walter, Eddie Roberts), River Ecker, George Porter Jr., Cotadosa, Anna Moss & more — Don Was and his Blues for Allah 50th anniversary tribute — The Steely Dead Royal Scam 50th anniversary set + Pink Talking Fish late night mashup — Lebo's "50 Years in the Rearview" — curating 1976 — Why High Sierra is a musician's festival: landing, connecting, sitting in — The new Grass Valley location and what it means for the future of the festival — Sunrise Kickball (yes, really) — How to get tickets before they're gone Dave has attended 49 consecutive Jazz Fests, and this conversation captures exactly why the connection between New Orleans music and High Sierra runs so deep. We cover the 2026 lineup, the new Grass Valley venue, and why musicians from Luther Dickinson to George Porter Jr. call High Sierra their favorite festival in America. 🎟️ Get your High Sierra 2026 tickets now: [LINK] 📍 Filmed at The Broadside, New Orleans, during Jazz Fest 2025 Only In The Green Room captures unscripted, candid artist moments backstage and on the road. Subscribe for more long-form interviews with the artists who make live music culture what it is. 🎙️ Also available on all podcast platforms: [LINK] 🌐 Full episode + transcript: [YOUR SITE LINK] #HighSierra2026 #HighSierraMusicFestival #JazzFest #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #LiveMusic #MusicFestival #NewOrleans #GrassValley OnlyInTheGreenRoom #LiveMusic #MusicFestival #NewOrleans #GrassValley 0:00 Welcome to Only In The Green Room 0:45 How Dave and Tami first met at The Broadside 2:00 The Bay Area–New Orleans connection explained 4:30 The Grateful Dead, the Nevilles, and how it all started 6:15 How the Radiators brought Dave to High Sierra 8:00 The 2026 New Orleans lineup revealed 10:30 The Rumble + Dumpstaphunk late night throwdown 12:00 Anders Osborne, The Break, and Stanton Moore's new trio 14:15 River Ecker: 16-year-old piano phenom 16:30 Luther Dickinson, Jake Ecker, and The Word 18:00 George Porter Jr. with Lebo and the All-Stars 19:30 Don Was, Cymande, and the soul of the 2026 headliners 21:00 Steely Dead, Pink Talking Fish, and the late night mashup 23:00 Why musicians call High Sierra their favorite festival 25:30 The artist liaison program and why artists want to be there 27:00 The new Grass Valley venue and the future of High Sierra 29:30 Sunrise Kickball and the magic of the full festival experience 31:00 Get your tickets now — why this year is unmissableHigh Sierra Music Festival founder Dave Margulies sits down with Only In The Green Room at Jazz Fest in New Orleans — where the two festival worlds collide.

Meels Interview (Backstage) | Only In the Green Room Podcast

🎧 Listen + full episode, transcript & more: https://onlyinthegreenroom.com/episodes/meels-interview Only in the Green Room interviews Mill Valley-raised artist. "Meels" after her Sweetwater stage set, discussing her local upbringing and current life in Pasadena living with her 86-year-old grandmother - after five years in New York and attending NYU’s Clive Davis Institute.

Pink Talking Fish Interview (Backstage)|Only In The Green Room Podcast

🎧 Listen + backstage photos, transcript & more: https://onlyinthegreenroom.com/episodes/pink-talking-fish-interview A playful, lively, and informative conversation with all members of Pink Talking Fish (Eric Gould, Zack Burwick, Cal Kehoe, Richard James) moments before their recent performance at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, CA. The boys delve into some of their favorite stories, including playing with George Porter, Jr, performing Phish kids shows, their history with Berklee School of Music, and other fun antics.

STEVE POLTZ Interview (Backstage at Sweetwater Music Hall)|Only In The Green Room Podcast

🎧 Listen + backstage photos, transcript & more: https://onlyinthegreenroom.com/episodes/steve-poltz-interview Backstage at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, “Only in the Green Room” interviews singer-songwriter Steve Poltz, co-writer of Jewel’s multi-platinum “You Were Meant for Me,” as he tours promoting his new green-vinyl album Joy Ride.

Greg Loiacono and Stingray Interview (Backstage) | Only In the Green Room Podcast

🎧 Listen + backstage photos, transcript & more: https://onlyinthegreenroom.com/episodes/greg-loiacono-stingray-interview In this episode of Only in the Green Room, we sit down with Greg Loiacono & Stingray, a Bay Area super-group built on deep respect, serious groove, and a whole lot of joy. What started as a solo recording session for Greg Loiacano quickly turned into something much bigger when drummer Michael Urbano stepped in—and the chemistry was instant. Add longtime collaborator and powerhouse percussionist Vicki Randle, and Stingray was born.

Jon Chi Interview (Backstage) | Only In the Green Room Podcast

🎧 Listen + backstage photos, transcript & more: https://onlyinthegreenroom.com/episodes/jon-chi-interview Marin County singer-songwriter, community and music collaborator Jon Chi joins “Only In The Green Room” as the first guest under the show’s new banner—recorded in the Sweetwater Music Hall Green Room before Jon played to a packed house for his birthday show at the iconic venue. In a conversation full of gratitude, community love, and live-music philosophy, Jon reflects on how the Terrapin scene helped shape his musical orbit, why vulnerability is where the magic lives, and how live shows remain irreplaceable

Jonathan McHugh Interview (Backstage) | Only In the Green Room Podcast

🎧 Listen + backstage photos, transcript & more: https://onlyinthegreenroom.com/episodes/jonathan-mchugh-interview In this episode of Tales From The Green Room, recorded backstage at the 2025 High Sierra Music Festival, the hosts sit down with veteran film producer, director, and music supervisor, Jonathan McHugh. Jonathan shares his experiences growing up in New Orleans, starting in college radio at WTUL, and his journey through the music and film industries leading to his current role as Hilton-Baldridge Eminent Scholar and Chair in Music Industry Studies at Loyola University New Orleans.

Karina Rykman Interview (Backstage) | Only In the Green Room Podcast

🎧 Listen + backstage photos, transcript & more: https://onlyinthegreenroom.com/episodes/karina-rykman-interview In this episode of Tales From The Green Room, recorded backstage at the 2025 High Sierra Music Festival, host Dennis Strazulo sits down with hardcore New Yorker and bad-ass bass player, Karina Rykman. Karina shares her experiences growing up in a highly intellectual family, her early start in punk bands at the age of 12, and her journey through various musical styles - including her experiences in the improvisational jam band scene - leading to her current solo projects and other collaborations.

Amy Helm Interview (Backstage) | Only In the Green Room Podcast

🎧 Listen + backstage photos, transcript & more: https://onlyinthegreenroom.com/episodes/amy-helm-interview Fresh from bringing the spirit of the Midnight Ramble to the High Sierra Music Festival stage, Amy Helm sits down with the hosts for a moving and unflinching conversation about family, recovery, and carrying forward a legacy. Recorded backstage among the festival magic, this episode blends raw honesty with deep musical history.

Chaparelle Interview (Backstage) | Only In the Green Room Podcast

🎧 Listen + backstage photos, transcript & more: https://onlyinthegreenroom.com/episodes/chaparelle-interview In this episode of Tales From the Green Room, the hosts welcome Chaparelle, the Texas-based pop, folk and classic-country band created by Zella Day, Jesse Woods, and Beau Bedford. The trio discuss their unique musical lane, inspired by a blend of romance, personal experiences, and a mutual affinity for original music, which has earned them a dedicated following. Special guest, Rob Bleetstein (SiriusXM Producer and Host) joins the show, having dubbed the band’s music style as “Eroticana” - while Zella Day describes the essence of her theatrical, sometimes sensual flair blending with the band’s authentic country-influenced performances.