Rocktorium Records

01/02/2025

Just submitted my Grammy ballot for this year.
Easily half of the fun of it is sharing my votes in the Pop categories with my nieces, 15 and 12 years old.
I love how serious they are about it, and the debates they bring about what good songwriting is, and what makes a good album.

11/05/2024

Clatta Bumboo-We Are Chosen-Dubplate for Reggae-Unite Blog-2020. Recorded at Rocktorium Records, West Kingston Rhode Island. USA.Riddim by Rocktorium Records...

07/27/2024

I can't express how happy it makes me to be playing twice this weekend at the Ocean Mist, and a whole bunch this Summer (last night with Clatta Bumboo, and every Sunday with the The Ravers). I've always said it's my "home" club, and last night I found myself in several conversations with strangers who were expressing their fondness for the venue, and me sharing my connection with it. I started doing live sound, and then playing shows at the Mist when I was 18 in 1988, which I believe is the same year that Kevin Finnegan opened it. Since then, I've played there hundreds and hundreds of times, with at least 45 different bands- local and national acts- and have never not loved a minute of it.

I'm going to keep going here and shout out Kevin, as I don't think he gets enough recognition for what he has done for Rhode Island's music scene. Over the last 35 years, I'll say he has been the most consistent and impactful supporter, promoter, and champion of music in RI, again both local and national acts. And he is still actively doing that today- we talk every several months, and he'll ask about any new bands I know about or am working with in the studio, and which of his rooms (he owns the The Pub in Matunuck as well) they might be best suited for. Even better, he isn't just looking to book a band and see if they can make him some money- his approach has always been to book a new-to-the-scene band at least 3 times, and give them opportunity to create a following that lasts, and will benefit both them and the venue.
I think it's this passion that has led to the Mist's longevity, and helped him weather the obstacles that have taken down many other venues- Covid, the Station fire and the costs of new safety measures and reduced capacities that resulted from it, and the changes in how and when people want to see live music.
The talents of the staff that have worked there for a long time, in the kitchen, at the bar, and the sound engineers, can only be a testament to the work environment there too.

So that is my ode to the Ocean Mist- thanks Kevin!
I know my story would not have been the same without it.

06/23/2024

I had a really sweet and unexpected memory of Bob Enos today when I bought some beer and turned down the free, promotional bottle opener, thinking to myself- I can get into a beer with anything.
Bubba was convinced of that than even more than I was when we were together with Roomful of Blues, and I became almost a party trick for him. He'd love to show me off- we'd be in the green room at shows, and when he'd offer someone a beer that needed an opener when we didn't have one he'd say "don't worry, The Kid can open it with anything" and he'd hand me any random object in reach - a stapler, a land line phone- and trust me to pop it smoothly in one try. I loved how much he loved it when I did.

I've never been one for collecting photos, or even being in them, but as people I care about are leaving, I'm wishing that I had thought about that differently. I'm gad this picture exists and that I have it, and I'm glad that I've got more Bubba memories to enjoy.
Leave it on the floor, my friend.

06/08/2024

The end of the school year also means, for me, the end of mentorship season.
For the last several years, I've been working through the Recording Academy's Grammy U program and mentoring a young woman who was close to finishing her secondary education and was looking for more experience in the music industry. They have been mainly in the NY/NJ area, and we would meet and work remotely, with the occasional stay here in the studio.
This year, it coincidentally worked out that I mentored closer to home, and advised 3 Rhode Island students on their High School Senior Projects. Each of these young women chose a different aspect of music to focus on- one recorded and co-produced her original song and made an accompanying music video. Another focused on songwriting and we also explored how arrangement and accompaniment of even just an acoustic guitar could affect the emotion and impact of how her vocals were delivered. The third was mainly interested in the actual recording of music, and learned how to mic up and tune a drum kit, how to record other instruments, and how I produce and record a vocal session- she will even have an Assistant Engineer credit on a worldwide release next year.
These are three, amazing, creative and talented young musicians.

One of the biggest reasons that I mainly mentor young women is that sadly, even at this very early stage of their music careers and experiences, each has already had instances of having their ideas and suggestions being ignored, while the same, or even inferior suggestion given by a male was embraced. It is an industry that is still often unwelcoming to women, and at times, even toxic.
We talk about these things through the course of our meetings, and I'm often asked for suggestions to navigate these situations, as well as how to put a stop to being flirted with or even harrassed while still remaining professional- a situation that I know many men even have to consider in a recording session.
I definitely don't feel I am as helpful as I would like to be with my advice, and I often feel that the best I can do is to keep reinforcing to them that these are NOT situations they should tolerate- any unprofessionalism is not theirs. And hopefully, the more knowledge I can share with them, and the more time they spend in a studio settings will equate to confidence that they will draw on to not be ignored, belittled, or taken advantage of- They have way too much to offer to be driven away from a music career because of the way things used to be, and they are it's bright future.

I've had an incredible time with each of them this year, learned a ton, and cultivated some relationships that I know will last. I'm really lucky.

05/27/2024

Headed to Nashville today to spend the week working on a record for one of my favorite people, songwriters, performers, and cowboys- Phillip Wildman!

And I'll get to come back to Rhode Island in its full Spring lushness.

Hope your week is filled with things that make you happy too...

05/10/2024

It's already the season where Maple is finding that it's too hot to be a jet black dog in the sun, and it's a lot cooler to be a dog in the dandelions.

04/19/2024

Got a couple of fun hits coming up with Clatta Bumboo, starting tomorrow when we kick off the Wakefield RI Festivals Reggae Fest from 2-3. The on to The Parlour Providence on Monday night, opening for Marlon Asher. Bringing it back home to the Ocean Mist on May 4 with Dudemanbro, and finally, that same lineup on May 25 back at The Parlour.
Hope to see you!

03/02/2024

Ted Stevens released this song today from his upcoming album that he was kind enough to ask me to record and produce. It happens to be one of my favorite songs from that record.
We wanted to keep the vibe of what he does live (with the awesome slogan of "One Man, Two Hand Band) but not compromise at all in making a killer record. Enjoy!

Ted Stevens song "Still got the Key" is from his 2024 Rocktorium Records album "Almost There" featuring 8 original cuts. Thanks for listening and please sub...