In this episode on Seeing Them Live, Charles shares one of his ticket stub stories taken from the pages of his book, Ticket Stub Stories: A Memoir of Live Music’. This story details his experience at a Nirvana concert in October 1993. Charles recounts the second show of a Nirvana concert he attended where the band, upset by a critical review in the Chicago Tribune, did not perform their hit 'Smells Like Teen Spirit.' Discover how Kurt Cobain's frustration led to a memorable, albeit puzzling, nig...
Jun 29, 2025•8 min•Ep. 43
In this episode of 'Seeing Them Live,' Charles interviews Zach Paradis, a Cleveland-born artist now based in Los Angeles, known for blending pop, hip hop, and R&B influences. Zach discusses the overwhelming success of a viral video he did with Crash Adams, which garnered millions of views across various platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. He delves into his early music experiences, including his first concert at a music festival called Alive and his best concert experience seeing ...
Jun 20, 2025•34 min•Ep. 42
In this interview episode of Seeing Them Live, Charles interviews singer BB from BB & The Honey. BB is an American singer and songwriter who has been an integral part of the Chicago music scene for 20 years. Audiences say her voice is a blend of Brandy Carlisle, Janice Joplin, Patsy Klein, Stevie Nicks, and Amelda May. Her powerful interpretations range from blues, funk, soul, classic country to jazz, rockabilly, and classic rock. BB & the Honey have released a new EP of original songs c...
May 31, 2025•41 min•Ep. 41
This episode features an interview with the artist MEGG, who combines her love for pop music with her punk rock background to create a unique sound for a diverse audience of tomboys, romantics, and misfits. Born and raised in LA's South Bay, MEGG has achieved significant milestones such as performing at Dodgers Stadium, headlining at Saint Rocke Music Venue, and opening for bands like The Used. This summer, she will be playing at Van's Warp Tour in Long Beach, California. The conversation begins...
May 16, 2025•50 min•Ep. 40
This episode features Benny, a musician and producer who performs under the name Muted Circus. Benny, originally from Orange County, California, is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. He spent seven years in Tokyo, Japan, and attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. The discussion starts with Benny sharing the story of his first rock concert at the age of 13, where he saw The Get Up Kids in a small, intimate venue in his hometown. This concert sparked his lifelong passion ...
May 01, 2025•47 min•Ep. 39
The podcast episode features Jesse Rifkin, the owner of Walk on the Wildside Tours NYC, a music history walking tour company in New York City, and the author of the book 'This Must Be the Place: Music, Community, and Vanishing Spaces in New York City.' Rifkin shares his background, including his consultancy roles as a pop music historian and his 12 years as a touring musician. They discuss his first concert experience, watching Bob Dylan with Ani DiFranco as the opening act at the Filene Center ...
Apr 13, 2025•43 min•Ep. 38
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, we are thrilled to have Jose Rivera, founder, manager, and lead vocalist of the band Five Guys Named Moe. Jose shares his extraordinary journey from a budding musician to a prolific performer. He narrates how his fascination with the trumpet began in his early childhood and flourished during his time as a section leader and soloist for the United States Marine Corps. Jose describes his experiences performing before U.S. Presidents and numerous heads of state ...
Mar 30, 2025•32 min•Ep. 37
Jamie James, guitarist, singer, and songwriter, joins Charles on Seeing Them Live to discuss his musical journey and new album Straight Up , released on Oglio Records. Jamie reflects on his early musical influences, growing up in Woodstock, Ontario, and his transition from aspiring hockey player to musician after a knee injury. He shares how he taught himself guitar on a damaged acoustic and recalls receiving his first real guitar as a Christmas gift in 1966. The conversation turns to Jamie’s fo...
Mar 16, 2025•58 min•Ep. 36
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, host Charles Berman interviews Giuliana Funkhauser, a transdisciplinary artist known for her innovative blend of digital code and synthesized audio to create immersive art installations. Giuliana, based on the U.S. East Coast, completed her graduate studies at the San Francisco Art Institute, concentrating on art and technology, with a particular interest in sound synthesis. Besides her artistic endeavors, she teaches courses on data sonification and video ga...
Mar 02, 2025•54 min•Ep. 35
In this conversation, John Dominguez, co-founder and chief strategist of Songbird Collective, discusses his extensive background in music and his initiative within the Metaverse aimed at creating immersive and collaborative environments for artists. Songbird Collective has facilitated over 1000 live concerts in the Metaverse, allowing artists to showcase their work, even during the pandemic when live music was largely inaccessible. The initiative has also opened new revenue streams for musicians...
Feb 16, 2025•43 min•Ep. 34
This episode of Seeing Them Live features an in-depth and in-person conversation with Ray the Roadie and Hollywood Mike, hosts of the Rock and Roll Chicago podcast. Joined by producer and co-host Doug Florzak, the episode was recorded inside the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 in downtown Joliet, Illinois, where the Rock and Roll Chicago podcast is also recorded. The Rock and Roll Chicago podcast provides a platform for bands and musicians from the Chicago area, delving into the histor...
Feb 02, 2025•36 min•Ep. 33
In this interview on Seeing Them Live, the guest, Ben Apatow, shares his insights and experiences in the music world. Ben is an accomplished author of the books Metallica, the $24.95 Book, and Body Count, part of the Bloomsbury 33 1/3 series. Ben's writing has been featured in various well-known music publications. He begins by recounting his first concert experience, seeing Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead at RFK Stadium in 1995, a formative event for him. He also highlights memorable concerts, ...
Jan 19, 2025•44 min•Ep. 32
In the first-ever year-end concert review show for the 'Seeing Them Live' podcast, host Charles and his panel of previous guests, including Eric Green, Jessica Catena, Doug Florzak, Steve Pothel, Summer, and Scott Patrick Wiener, review their concert experiences from 2024. The panel members take turns speaking about their most memorable shows, spanning a wide range of venues, cities, and genres, providing vivid anecdotes along the way. Eric discusses his rich year, including covering bands like ...
Jan 05, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 31
In the final episode of Season 2, Charles welcomes Jim Turbert, an American communication technologist and podcaster residing in Rotterdam. Jim reflects on his first concert at age 13, where Ringo Starr's performance left a lasting impression, partly thanks to his music-loving uncle who influenced his musical tastes. He recounts various memorable concerts, including a powerful Afghan Wigs show in Boston, where lead singer Greg Dooley's storytelling made the performance unforgettable, even despit...
Dec 08, 2024•51 min•Ep. 30
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, Charles interviews Shelley Van, an experienced community builder, marketer, and manager of Tru Band Room, a music venue in Decentraland. Shelley discusses her journey from her first concert experience at the B96 Bash to managing over 1,000 performances in the virtual world. Shelley highlights the unique aspects of virtual events, such as creating avatars, virtual merchandise, and NFTs to engage audiences globally. The conversation delves into the challenges a...
Nov 24, 2024•41 min•Ep. 29
In this episode dubbed 'Seeing Them Live After Show Report,' Doug and Charles take listeners to The Liars Club in Chicago, where they record brief conversations with fans and performers at a live music event. The focus is on the band Soraia, first introduced in S02E01 by guest Dawn Fontaine, who shared how their music had a life-saving impact on her. After Dawn’s episode, Charles and Doug interviewed ZoZou Mansour from the band in S02E07. The hosts finally meet the band in person at the Liar’s C...
Nov 10, 2024•33 min•Ep. 28
In this episode of 'Seeing Them Live,' Charles explores the multifaceted career of Ken Reid, a Boston-based comedian, former punk band member, and podcast host. Ken reflects on his diverse experiences, from his early days in the 90s punk band '30 Seconds Over Tokyo' to his extensive comedy career, which includes two comedy albums and a successful podcast 'TV Guidance Counselor.' He humorously shares early concert anecdotes, including winning tickets through radio contests and memorable shows lik...
Oct 28, 2024•50 min•Ep. 27
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, host Charles welcomes Rudy Childs, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and rock photographer. Rudy shares insights into his career, highlighting his acclaimed documentaries on heavy metal music and his extensive photography work with iconic bands like Van Halen and Aerosmith. The conversation touches on Rudy's early concert experiences, notably his first Aerosmith concert at 15, which set the course for his unique approach to concert photography by sneakin...
Oct 13, 2024•46 min•Ep. 26
In this special episode of Seeing Them Live: After Show Report , host Charles welcomes back previous guests Eric Green, an award-winning filmmaker and blogger, and Scott Patrick Wiener, an artist and art teacher. Both friends, bonded by their love for Jane's Addiction, recount their experiences at a recent controversial Jane's Addiction concert in Boston where frontman Perry Farrell attacked guitarist Dave Navarro on stage. They reflect on attending the show together, reminiscing on their long f...
Sep 29, 2024•50 min•Ep. 25
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, host Charles welcomes Scott Patrick Wiener, an artist and lifelong skateboarder who currently teaches art at Hanscom Middle School in Massachusetts. The conversation kicks off with Scott reminiscing about his first concert experience in 1991 at the Walter Brown Arena, where he saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers with opening acts Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins. Scott recounts the electrifying atmosphere and the impact that punk rock had on his life following his d...
Sep 22, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 24
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, hosts Charles and Doug welcome Jim, known as the Podcast Sherpa and host of Too Many Podcasts, a podcast dedicated to exploring other podcasts. Jim shares his unique experiences attending various concerts, beginning with his first concert in 1980, where he saw The Police at Madison Square Garden during their Zenyatta Mondatta tour. He reminisces about the electrifying atmosphere and how the concert left a lasting impression on him as a high school student. Th...
Sep 08, 2024•37 min•Ep. 23
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, Charles welcomes award-winning writer, director, and producer Eric Green. They dive into Eric's concert experiences, starting with his first concert at age 12 when he saw Debbie Gibson thanks to his mom. Eric reflects on other notable concerts, including several Lollapalooza festivals in the 90s, and iconic shows by Green Day, Aerosmith, and Ringo Starr. The discussion also covers his most surprising and disappointing concert moments. Eric talks about his bac...
Aug 25, 2024•40 min•Ep. 22
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, host Charles welcomes Amy Hill, a nurse and avid music fan, to discuss her rich history of attending live concerts. Amy shares the story of how she first met Charles at a bar before a Jonathan Van Ness show and discusses her lifelong passion for music. She reminisces about her first concert experience seeing Poison, a love for music that she surmises began even before her birth, and her diverse musical tastes ranging from Goth industrial to Luke Bryan. Amy ta...
Aug 11, 2024•38 min•Ep. 21
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, Charles and Doug welcome Stephen Pitalo, a music video historian and creator of the Music Video Time Machine. The discussion explores the golden age of music videos from the 80s and 90s, touching on Stephen's website, magazine, and blog that highlight iconic music videos and upcoming events. They reminisce about Stephen's first concert experience with Ratt and Bon Jovi in 1985, his fascinating encounters with musicians, and the influential music video directo...
Jul 28, 2024•58 min•Ep. 20
In this episode, Charles welcomes Paul Peterson, a retired technology manager and lifetime audiophile who created, hosts, and produces the podcast "An Avid Listener" available on Spotify. Paul shares his experiences attending concerts since 1969, starting with his first concert seeing The Doors at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago. He reminisces about the vibrant music scene of the late '60s and early '70s, recounting memorable performances by legendary bands like The Beatles, The Doors, and Pau...
Jul 07, 2024•26 min•Ep. 19
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, host Charles Zona introduces a new segment called Ticket Stub Stories, inspired by his memoir, Ticket Stub Stories: A Memoir of Live Music. Charles recounts a vivid memory from a U2 concert he attended in 1985 at the UIC Pavilion, where Bono lost his voice mid-performance. He delves into the background of the concert, detailing the unique perks for UIC students and sharing his personal experiences leading up to the show. Charles also highlights the editorial ...
Jun 23, 2024•13 min•Ep. 18
In this engaging episode of Seeing Them Live, hosts Charles and Doug welcome ZouZou Mansour. Along with drummer Brianna Sig and bassist Travis Smith (both musical and visual artists in their own right), ZouZou is the dynamic lead singer and lyricist of Philadelphia's rock band Soraia. Among other artists, ZouZou has co-written songs with Steven Van Zandt and Jon Bon Jovi. Join Charles and Doug as we explore these and other topics with ZouZou: - What was ZouZou’s first concert? - What artist infl...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 17
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, Charles and Doug welcome members of the eclectic New York City band Mad Meg : Ilya Popenko, Dan Vexler, Jason Laney, and Igor Reznik. The conversation starts with an introduction to Mad Meg’s unique sound, characterized by a blend of various music genres and fronted by Ilya's distinct vocals. The band members recount their formation story within the Russian-speaking community of New York City, with Jason humorously describing his determined efforts to join th...
May 30, 2024•30 min•Ep. 16
In this episode of Seeing Them Live, eight-year-old Emma and her father Barry delve into their concert escapades, sharing their experiences as a father-daughter photography duo. Barry's profession as a professional concert photographer provided Emma with opportunities to experience various concerts from a different angle. Barry started his career as a freelance photographer in 1997 for JAM TV, which quickly became a partnership for the Rolling Stone Network. This was where he eventually became t...
Apr 28, 2024•41 min•Ep. 15
Charles welcomes Rick Onstop who hosts the Rock Talk Studio podcast. Rick is a seasoned veteran of the music industry with a rich history in music distribution, blogging, and podcasting. Rick shares his journey from working in a record store in Hollywood, experiencing in-store appearances by big names like Bruce Springsteen, Alice Cooper, Patrick Swayze and Itzhak Perlman, to attending iconic concerts, including an unforgettable KISS concert at the young age of 14. Rick’s deep-rooted connections...
Apr 14, 2024•44 min•Ep. 14
