Piano Barbarians
Paul Seiz, Steve Savage, and Jarret Izzo host this podcast about roaming the earth as professional piano players and the various wildlife they encounter. Each of these barbarians perform regularly at dueling piano clubs around the the US and overseas. It's at these clubs that they meet some of the most exotic entertainers the world has to offer.

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March 2012
S M T W T F S
     
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Syndication

E48 - Mark Weiser

Steve sits down with The Piano Whore himself, Mark Weiser of NYC's "Shake Rattle & Roll Dueling Pianos."  Steve and Mark get to the root of Mark's philosophy on a "New York Style" dueling piano show, as well as some discussion of Mark's stake in musical theater scene in the big apple.  Tune in!

Direct download: E48_-_Mark_Weiser.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:09pm EDT
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It's been a while since the hosts have gotten together for a chat.  Steve has been busy recovering from pneumonia, Paul has been busy interviewing guests and keeping the podcast alive.  Jarret has been busy surveying real estate in Boston.  That being said, we're back with another episode discussing a variety of topics... "new country" music, facebook dramas in the DP forum, cover charges, and celebrity encounters in the world of dueling pianos.  Tune in!   

Direct download: E47_-_Steve_Jarret__Paul.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:14pm EDT
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Get ready to get your culture on as Paul and Alissa D discuss race, women, rap and pianos.  Also, in-depth discussion of the n-word and "the n-word" and why they both suck.  Don't forget your email your comments or report us to the FCC.

Direct download: E46_-_Alissa_D.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:52pm EDT
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Battered and bruises from some weird Halloween shows, Paul sits down with Lee Huff and Hannah Kendle to argue the merits of playing the solo of Great Balls of Fire with your breasts.  Lee and Paul advocate this, Hannnah actually does it.  Also, a dissection of the California piano bar scene and ponderings of how many ass-exposing-Disney-princess costumes is too many.

Direct download: E45_-_Lee_Huff_with_Hannah_Kendle.mp3
Category:Roundtable -- posted at: 7:22pm EDT
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Paul has the incredibly talented Brian Lee on the show, he of playing-organ-for-Leon Russell fame. Brian is our first ever blind guest, and he nails his appearance on all fronts. Caught up in the excitement, Paul toots and asks Brian for analysis...for science!  Also, the merits of nerding out on Rush are discussed, as well as a brief dive into retro-future-music.

Direct download: E44_-_Brian_Lee.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 1:44pm EDT
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Sarah Angela will be taking the 2012 award for coolest girl that has ever recruited Paul to play in her band.  We brought on her on the show to not only showcase her music, but to talk about working as a musician and the importance of artistic vision.  She also weighs in on piano bars, and how those skills can help you outside of a dueling-setting.  Do a search for her on YouTube, and you'll find Paul shaking his ass in the background of her music video for Lost Cause, the track featured at the end of this episode.

Direct download: E43_-_Sarah_Angela.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 3:33pm EDT
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E42 - Matt Mello

Matt Mello will always hold a special place in the hearts of Jarret & Steve.  They were both trained by Matt at Jake Ivory's in Boston several years ago.  Jarret and Matt sit down to chat about Matt's long career at Jakes, training new players, and the Jake Ivory's "format" that worked so well for so long.  Tune in!  

Direct download: E42_-_Matt_Mello.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:45am EDT
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E41 - Richard Cooper

Rich Cooper is a veteran of dueling pianos and one hell of a musician.  Steve caught up with Rich while they were both performing on the Norwegian Epic back in August.  Tune in to hear their conversation about traditional dueling pianos vs. bandalong dueling pianos, playing solo vs. dueling, and what it's like playing for such an eclectic mix of audiences out in Europe.  

Direct download: E41_-_Rich_Cooper.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:27pm EDT
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E40 - Steve & Paul

Fresh off their recent hiatus, the hosts are back with a brand new episode.  Steve and Paul sit down to catch up on what they've been up to this past month, and Paul shares a story about having a rough weekend on the job.  Tune in!  

Direct download: E40_-_Steve__Paul.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT
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Not many musical theatre composers developed their chops while dueling in a basement-level Times Square Irish bar. Brad Alexander has, and in this episode he and Jarret discuss the challenges of performing dueling pianos in Manhattan while they try to solve the age-old entertainer's question: what makes New Yorkers tick? The show "See Rock City & Other Destinations," for which Brad wrote the music, won a 2011 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical. Even so, he still gets bashful when his friends request to hear it at the piano bar.

Direct download: BRAD_final.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 1:13am EDT
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E38 - Adam Brooks

Today's episode features Adam Brooks, an improv comedy pianist and songwriter whose new show Paragon Park: The Musical opens this Friday.  Jarret chats with Adam about the "groove" of an orchestra being channeled through the conductor, and the groove of an improv or dueling piano audience being channeled through, well, the performers.  Lastly, everyone involved with this episode is a big supporter of the "yes, and..." principle of improv!  Tune in!   

Direct download: E38_-_Adam_Brooks.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:56am EDT
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E37 - Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts is the CEO of Chicago Dueling Pianos, co-writer of "The Curly Shuffle", and an undisputed veteran of the dueling piano concept.  Steve and Dave sit down for a chat at Dave's home in Chicago to discuss the origins of dueling pianos, the future of the concept, and a wide variety of other topics.  Tune in!  

Direct download: E37_-_Dave_Roberts.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 7:55pm EDT
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E36 - Greg Asadoorian

Today's episode features Greg Asadoorian, road warrior and consummate pro working the dueling and solo piano bar circuits around the globe.  Steve and Greg sit down to chat about what it's like maintaining such an intense schedule and constantly bouncing from one format to another.  From St. Maarten to Aruba, Amsterdam to Boston, and New Haven to Lincoln...Greg has seen a million faces, and he's rocked them all!  

Direct download: E36_-_Greg_Asadoorian.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 1:02am EDT
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Deep talk about Goldfish racing and Mermaid anatomy, with Jason Marion and Travis Von Cartier...and Jen the waitress.

Direct download: E36_-_Jason_Marion__TVC.mp3
Category:Roundtable -- posted at: 4:53pm EDT
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Broad questions are confronted in this episode, such as the merits of YOLO and the level of pride we invest in artificial appendages.  Also, Dave Alan and Travis Von Cartier allow Paul to have a mini-therapy session after being ridiculed while enthusiastically playing key-drums.

Direct download: E34_-_Dave_Alan__TVC.mp3
Category:Roundtable -- posted at: 6:21pm EDT
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Steamy Dean Madonia is a man on the move, constant traveling for gigs and working on multiple musical projects in Nashville. He and Paul sat down to chat in Paul's hotel room after their first show together.  We can all agree that a microphone in front of Dean's face will not go wasted.  www.deanmadonia.com

Direct download: E33_-_Dean_Madonia.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 12:39pm EDT
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First of all, look past all the references to prison showers and blow-up dolls.  Once you do that, you'll find a a great interview with Jeff A and Jeff D of ComedySportz Quad-Cities, located in Rock Island, IL.  Paul worked at this club back in the 1900's, and the Jeffs were kind of enough to sit down and discuss the tenants of improv...and prison showers.  Find out more here: http://www.establishmenttheatre.com/

Direct download: E32_-_Jeff_and_Jeff_of_ComedySportz.mp3
Category:Roundtable -- posted at: 2:23am EDT
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E31 - Brian Babcock

Brian and Paul met up in Kansas City and chatted about where to draw the line, Clint Eastwood style, when a heckler goes too far.  A host of other topics come up, such as how Sweet Home Alabama is actually in two keys at the same time...WHOA!  MIND = BLOWN!

Direct download: Brian_Babcock.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 1:35am EDT
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E30 - Steve, Jarret, and Paul

It's time for another roundtable discussion with your Piano Barbarian hosts!  Steve, Jarret, & Paul get together to talk shop about hecklers, wrist injuries, vocal care, and much more.  Tune in!  

Direct download: E30_-_Steve_Jarret__Paul.mp3
Category:Roundtable -- posted at: 6:34pm EDT
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E29 - Pat George of The Entertainment Agency

Piano gigs abroad can be hard to come by, unless you know the right people.  Pat George, CEO of The Entertainment Agency, is one of them, and he's booked pianists in rooms around the world for decades. Jarret talks with him about performing solo versus dueling pianos, how disco killed rock shows, and what bar owners look for in an entertainer. Plus, proof that Diana Krall can't cut it as a singalong pianist.

Direct download: E29_-_Pat_George.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:41am EDT
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Jason & Adam work nearly every night in the touring production of Wicked, the smash-hit musical about the land of Oz before Dorothy crashed her house in it. Jason is the conductor and Adam is one of several keyboard players, ocassionally conducting himsel.  Basically, they have bad-ass musical theatre jobs, and Paul managed to talk them about their careers and musical theatre whilst only bringing up Hawaiian strippers once.  Wicked has done much to keep theatre alive in this world, and guys like Jason & Adam are the backbone of that success.

Direct download: E28_-_Jason__Adam_of_Wicked.mp3
Category:Roundtable -- posted at: 8:12pm EDT
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E27 - Steve Dorian of Rockapella

Steve Dorian of Rockapella fame sits down to discuss his unique career in the music business.  The multi-talented tenor reminisces about his time as a rollerblading singing guitarist for Busch Gardens as well as his current work with the world famous Rockapella.  We also find out Keith Lockhart, conductor for the Boston Pops Orchestra, is a great guy to have a few beers with!  Tune in!

Direct download: E27_-_Steve_Dorian_of_Rockapella.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:01pm EDT
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Being around smart people makes you more smartier!  Mike Cappo is a brilliant Colorado musician, and he and Paul hashed out the value of pro-marimba gigs, big rooms, and what makes you a success.  Is bar-singing an artform or a sciene?  Stay tuned at the end of the episode for an original track by Mike called "Watch the Walls."  Paul already feels much smurter.

Direct download: E26_-_Mike_Cappo.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 6:26pm EDT
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E25 - Steve, Jarret, & Paul

To celebrate the 25th episode of Piano Barbarians, your intrepid hosts Steve, Jarret, & Paul discuss poisonous crowds and tipping in cashless societies.  Also, we compare the sack of our podcast to the sack of Facebook forums and draw conclusions that will shock you.  Are you in the 90, the 9, or the 1?  Tune in!  

Direct download: E25_-_Steve_Jarret__Paul.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:14am EDT
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Feast your eyes and your ears upon one of the most solid entertainers you'll find behind a piano, Jennifer Lane.  Paul and Jennifer had a not-so-serious talk about chauvenist crowds, certain compressed air-bursts and the "mac-daddy gig" of dueling pianos.  This show also features "Bone Happy", a cut from Jennifer's album In A Magazine, available on iTunes.  jenniferlaneonline.com 

Direct download: E24-Jennifer_Lane.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 4:39am EDT
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E23 - Chris Keenan

Our guest this week is Chris Keenan, Entertainment Director of Boynton's Taproom in Manchester, NH.  Chris sits down with Jarret to discuss the Jake Ivory's mystique, the challenges of a "theater style" performance space, and his auspicious beginnings performing for the Boston Derby Dames.  

Direct download: E23_-_Chris_Keenan.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:22pm EDT
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E22 - Greg Sampson

Greg Sampson is a world traveled veteran of the cruise ship piano bar scene.  He sits down in Barbados to chat with Steve about his background in radio, his transition from playing in cover bands to dueling pianos at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, and his eventual tenure on the high seas with various cruise ship companies.  Enjoy!  

Direct download: E22_-_Greg_Sampson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:09pm EDT
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Steve sits down with Mr. "Fake it till ya Make it" Steve Kouba in Barbados to chat about Chicago, Dueling Pianos, playing solo, the NCL Epic, and much more...tune in!

Direct download: E21_-_Steve_Kouba.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:12am EDT
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Choke holds, chipped teeth, and getting arrested on stage.  Paul sits down with dueler Steve Dakin in Boise, Idaho for some great stories highlighting the absurdities of dueling pianos.  Oh yeah, and there's also some discussion of adapting to the energy of a room.  

Direct download: E20_-_Steve_Dakin.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:26pm EDT
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Jarret sits down with "Barry from Boston" to discuss the lifestyle and the wild variety involved with gigging in the Caribbean and Europe.  Tune in for some great history about piano bar world!    

Direct download: E19_-_Barry_Rocklin.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:44pm EDT
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Troy Neihardt from Chicago sits down with Steve in a New York City Hotel room to discuss Howl at the Moon Singapore, the merits of playing the accordian as a kid, and the history of dueling pianos.  

Direct download: E18_-_Troy_Neihardt.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:09pm EDT
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E17 - Rebecca Muir

Steve sits down with singer-songwriter Rebecca Muir from Nova Scotia to talk about Berklee, gigging around New York, and the merits of rapping like Nicki Minaj in a wedding band.  

Direct download: PB_RebeccaMuir_1.3.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 12:27am EDT
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E16 - Tony Bohnenkamp

Paul sits down with Tony B between gigs in Iowa to discuss songwriting, playing covers, and extended vacations in the friend zone.  Check it out!  

Direct download: E16_-_Tony_Bohnenkamp.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 7:57pm EDT
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Paul met up with Papi and Jimmy C at the second floor of their new pub in downtown Denver, The Kraine Station.  For those of you who don't know these two jabronis, strap on your safety belt for the ride, as Papi and Jimmy hold court on the dueling piano business, what it's like to run a restaurant, and how to find the right chemistry onstage.  For those of you who DO know these two raisin cakes, this interview is exactly what you want it to be.

www.krainestation.com

Direct download: Papi_Jimmy_C_Full_Podcast.mp3
Category:Roundtable -- posted at: 11:33pm EDT
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E14 - Christian Colabelli

Cruise ships, Berklee, and the life of a working musician today.  Christian Colabelli of Boy Meets Machine sits down to talk shop and impersonate various guitar teachers from a certain music school in Boston.  

Direct download: E14_-_Christian_Colabelli.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 2:23am EDT
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E13 - Matt Nichols

Introducing a new member to the Piano Barbarians squad... Jarret Izzo sits down with Matt Nichols of Howl Boston to discuss friendemies, the life of a freelance dueler, and how it feels to be a house player at one of the country's busiest dueling piano bars.  Enjoy!  

Direct download: E13_-_Matt_Nichols_.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 7:06pm EDT
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E12 - Chris Hatfield

Pour the wine, light the fire, because Chris Hatfield is about to make sweet sweet love to your ears.  Steve had a chance to sit down with Chris at his house in Nashville to talk about everything from getting punched in the nuts at 6am to spending your days off working on finishing a record.  

Direct download: E12_-_ChrisHatfield.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 1:43am EDT
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To behold Dave Hawke onstage is the equivalent of cracking your eyes when the Ark of The Covenant is opened .  And then super-natural spirits rip into the most blistering rendition of "Wanted: Dead or Alive" you've ever witnessed.  Grandiose comparisons aside, make sure you hang in there with this episode past the bits on boob-flashing and Uranus for some brilliant words from Dave Hawke, a performer in his own class.

Direct download: Dave_Hawke_Experience.mp3
Category:Interview -- posted at: 4:45pm EDT
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E10 - Travis Von Cartier

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a bad-ass session musician in LA? You have? Well, affix your earholes to this podcast, as Travis Von Cartier holds court on life as an LA musician, and the differences between NoCal audiences and SoCal audiences. Follow Travis on twitter: @tvoncartier...Also, Paul makes a blatant at controversy. Did he succeed? Were you “WHA?” or “meh..”

Direct download: Travis20Von20Cartier.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:16am EDT
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What’s the impetus to start dressing up like Elton John? Are iPads just fancy frisbees? Can you tell how much fun the audience is having by the sweat on the walls? These and other questions are explored by Steve Savage and Bill Connors, a dueling piano player and EJ impersonator.
www.eltonimpersonator.com

Direct download: PB_BConnors_Episode_Mix_1.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 3:03pm EDT
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E8 - Steph & Ashley

Steph & Ashley are partners in owning and running That Bar Danville, a piano-club in Danville, CA. When not mesmerized by their beauty and charms, Paul was able to ask them semi-intelligent questions about running a piano-bar business.
www.thatbardanville.com

Direct download: Steph-2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:01pm EDT
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E7 - Jacob Wolfson

Steve and Jacob sat down in New Haven to discuss the proper way to harass somebody in a wheelchair. Also, have you ever been accused of looking like Condoleeza Rice? Listen up. Plus, the merits of actually playing a banjo during Dueling Banjos.

Direct download: Jacob20Wolfson-1.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 3:45pm EDT
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Steve and Jarret caught up in Boston to talk about the east coast dueling piano scene and performance philosophies. What’s more important: feel or accuracy? Timing or energy? A keytar or a pile of fertilizer?

Direct download: Jarrett20Izzo.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:57am EDT
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E5 - Eric Blumenfeld

Eric is among the most talented young men in Denver. He sings well, he plays well, and he is so totally cool about it...about, you know, being so good at everything.

Direct download: Eric20Blumenfeld.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:09am EDT
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Please welcome to the stage, Hannah Kendle! Steve and Hannah met up in Dallas to contrast the dynamics of a team-environment vs. life on the circuit. Also, guess Hannah’s LEAST favorite song to play on the fiddle, and then request it anyway.

Direct download: Piano20Barbarians20-20E420-20Hannah20Kendle.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:35am EDT
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Jon Sherman is a kingpin of Colorado dueling pianos. A master improviser and show-man, Paul and Jon sat down in Denver to cover topics ranging from bachelorette parties to compressed air blasts. WARNING: Adult thematic content.

Direct download: Piano20Barbarians20-20Episode20320-20Jon20Sherman-1.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:52pm EDT
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E2 - Jen Porter

We sat down with Jen at her current gig playing solo at Soprano’s piano bar in the island of St. Maarten. We are proud to present the Caribbean Queen of Piano Entertainment.

www.jenporter.com

Direct download: Piano20Barbarians20E2-1.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 7:32pm EDT
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E1 - "The Pilot" Paul Seiz & Steve Savage

The debut episode is here! Paul & Steve tackle deep topics such as life, love, and getting groped onstage while playing piano.

Direct download: Piano20Barbarians20S1E0-1.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 7:32pm EDT
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1