S3, Episode 10: Jerry Portnoy: Blues, Billiards, Bar Rooms and Being Brilliant
Wachtelligence
Season 3, Episode 10. AJ chats with Jerry Portnoy. Legend, one of the highest ranks you can achieve. But when you are the premiere harmonica blues player in the world and can speak of being in both Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton’s touring band, my friend, you have reached the legendary status. Born in Chicago, he now makes Cape Cod his home. Essentially he has been on the road performing live since 1970. He recently penned his memoirs in an amazing book: “Dancing with Muddy: Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton and My Lucky Life In and Out of the Blues. It is indeed an honor to have a...
info_outline
S3, Episode 9: Billy Bud: The Paradise Stud
Wachtelligence
Season 3, Episode 9. AJ chats with Billy Bud. As the Production Manager of the historic Paradise Rock Club in Boston, Billy has had a front row seat for some of the greatest shows ever. For over 30 years, Billy has been setting the stage for some of the most legendary national acts as well as local musicians who are living their dreams by playing on that stage. You would think this would be plenty to talk about, but before his club days, he was the tour manager for one of Boston’s most important bands: The Atlantics. Lots to cover, I’ll stop typing, so you can stop reading and simply enjoy...
info_outline
S3, Episode 8: David Bieber, Celebrated Caretaker, Curator and Collector of our Generations’ Legacies
Wachtelligence
Season 3, Episode 8. AJ chats with David Bieber. There is a great line in a classic George Carlin skit, where he says “… all you need in life, is a little place for your stuff….” But what if your "little place" needs to be a warehouse? After a 50 year career within the radio business, including time at both WBCN and WFNX. David Bieber collected a lot of stuff. Out of necessity came The David Bieber Archves. An indescribable location. Think of your favorite used book / magazine / record shop, combined with a pop culture museum, art gallery, advertising / political archives, walls of...
info_outline
S3, Episode 7: Harvey Wharfield, The WCGY, WZLX, WCOZ, WAAF DJ
Wachtelligence
Season 3, Episode 7, If the voice sounds familiar it is because you have been hearing it on the radio since the early 1970s. AJ chats with Harvey Wharfield about a career that kept him in the Boston Market for over 50 years, up and down the dial on different rock ’n roll stations. No matter where he was, he was always a strong supporter of local music and was one of the first DJs to have a radio show that only focused on local talent. This was an amazing opportunity to connect with True Royalty ~ The Commander of the Rock N Roll Air-Force, someone who truly loved and helped shape the local...
info_outline
S3, Episode 6: Liz Borden: And Her Killer Career
Wachtelligence
Season 3, Episode 6, This Episode is all about Girl Power. As we are honored to have one of the strongest woman voices to emerge from the Boston Music Scene. AJ chats with Liz Borden who led the charge with an all female band in a predominantly male music scene. She was forced to hide her true self from the public eye, told how to dress, act, etc.., things you do not think of when you just want to rock, Originally from New York, her Boston-based band Lizzie Borden and the Axes were a fixture for many years in the club circuit. She is now based in California, has expanded her creative flow to...
info_outline
S3, Episode 5: Mach Bell: A Cowboy With No Respect for Authority
Wachtelligence
Season 3, Episode 5, AJ chats with “Cowboy” Mach Bell. A fixture on the Boston Music Scene since the mid-70s. Initially a Glam Rocker, this lead singer/songwriter has an amazing ability to adapt to the times and the current music trends. His bands are legendary: Thundertrain, the Joe Perry Project and currently the Mach Bell Experience. As if that is not enough he teached music for local home-schooled students, is the author of 3 books of his career and was recently inducted into the New England Music Hall of Fame. This episode is simply when 2 old friends get together and chat, lets...
info_outline
S3, Episode 4: Cha-Chi Loprete: A Day In The Life of WBCN & WZLX’s Distinguished DJ
Wachtelligence
Season 3, Episode 4, AJ chats with Cha-Chi Loprete, a native of Cambridge Massachusetts. After seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show as a youth, he immediately knew his career path would be in music. He started volunteering in the early 80’s at WBCN on the listener line and by the end of the decade he was the station’s Marketing Director. His show “Breakfast with the Beatles” has been on the air for over 40 years and has allowed him to interview the surviving members as well as many within their immediate circle. A friendship with Tony Bennett in the 90’s helped solidify the...
info_outline
S3, Episode 3: Rick Berlin: The Podcast
Wachtelligence
Season 3, Episode 3, AJ chats with Rick Berlin. A fixture on the Boston music scene since the mid-70s, this Iowa born piano playing songwriter established himself for his visionary writing of theatrical rock n roll songs. With their exposure on WBCN, Orchestra Luna captured a national audience, recorded for a major label and opened for established bands on every major stage in Boston. Thru his solo career and many bands, including Luna, Berlin Airlift, Rick Berlin the Movie and the Shelly Winters Project, Rick has been one of the true local artists who has constantly been reinvented himself...
info_outline
S3, Episode 2: Steve Berkowitz: The Many Hats Of A Local Legend
Wachtelligence
Season 3, Episode 2, AJ chats with Steve Berkowitz. A proud Brighton resident, if there is a job in the music business, this man has performed it: a teenage roadie for Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry, Tour/Co Manager for The Cars during their first 4 albums, Co-Owner of the legendary studio Synchro Sound, Concert Promoter, Agent, Musician, A&R Executive and Producer. He has settled in nicely working with Sony Music’s Legacy department working on historical reissues for Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Robert Johnson, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen and Paul Simon, just to name a few. This 7 time...
info_outline
S3, Episode 1: Ray Tabano Gets a Grip
Wachtelligence
Season 3, Episode 1, AJ chats with Ray Tabano. Growing up Ray was best friends with Steven (Tallarico) Tyler. Naturally they started a band with Tyler on drums, and Ray on bass. Eventually he switched to guitar and was a founding member of The Bad Boys of Boston: Aerosmith. When Brad Whitford took over on guitar, he became their Marketing Manager, from designing their logo, to running their fan club, writing their newsletter and overseeing all merchandise sales, he helped get the word out about this legendary band. But why am I telling you this, check out the episode and let Ray tell you how...
info_outlineEpisode 16, AJ talks to Willie Alexander. Singer, guitarist, Boston Rock legend sits with AJ for a truly historic conversation about his career. The son of a Baptist Minister speaks of playing coffee houses, Barry Tashian helping him get signed to a label, joining Velvet Underground, how he got the nickname “Loco”, previous bands: the Lost, the Bagatelle, the Grass Menagerie, writing the classics: “Mass Ave.”, “Kerouac” & “At The Rat” and of course the Boom Boom Band. Willie lives and breathes the true spirit and essence of what Boston Rock is all about.