Music Drives Us

From local bars in Worcester to the Boston Calling stage, the Blue Light Bandits have carved out a sound all their own. In this episode of the Music Drives Us Podcast, host Kelsey Boch kicks off Season 2 by diving into the band’s roots, mentors, and musical evolution.

Creating your own underground venue can come at some great costs. Actual expenses, lost sleep, lost time, things breaking, noise complaints, and even the risk of people disrespecting the space. But what if that didn’t matter to you and you just wanted to see live music and put on great shows? Today on the Music Drives Us podcast, we have a great conversation with John and Rocky, the duo behind Dud’s (Dud) Dungeon! A small DIY basement venue in the south shore, the Dungeon has tons of social media presence and a HUGE group of supporters that continues to grow in the local scene.

Finding the right sound for your band can take some time. There are always the songs that don’t work at first but then slowly find their groove. Testing, editing, trying new things and even using older styles to see what fits right for them. For the lucky bands, finding their sound doesn’t take long at all. This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Party Mountain, a local band that has been putting out Music since around 2019. Performing locally in New England for quite some time, they have been avid contributors to great music throughout the underground DIY scene.www.studio550boston.com

Host John Laurenti is joined this week by Tyler Morris for part two of their sit down interview. Tyler is a musician that has been playing live since the young age of 11 and has performed with many legends of the industry. On top of that, he's also made custom guitar pedals for the likes of Conan O'Brien, Brad Whitford of Aerosmith, Brian May of Queen, and much more!

Host John Laurenti is joined this week by Tyler Morris for part one of their sit down interview. Tyler is a musician that has been playing live since the young age of 11 and has performed with many legends of the industry. On top of that, he's also made custom guitar pedals for the likes of Conan O'Brien, Brad Whitford of Aerosmith, Brian May of Queen, and much more!

Kylie Olsson is a British TV and radio personality. She has worked with Download Fest, Sky Arts, VH1, and MTV. Currently she is working on her new show called "Life in Six Strings." Host John Laurenti chats with Kylie about her upbringing and how she fell in love with music.

Host John Laurenti interviews Alex Toli about teaching kids with Autism how to rock! Alex works at the Higashi School in Boston where he helps neurodiverse students fall in love with music and put on rock concerts in their dorms.

An English major and two music majors walk into a basement and come out as a math rock band. Host John Laurenti gets more details on the origin story of Three Mandareens and their eponymous debut album.

How crazy do you have to be to put on a rock show in your basement? Matt C steps into the Music Drives Us podcast studio with host John Laurenti to discuss the DIY community, turning his home into a concert hall and rock stars sleeping on his couch.

Host John Laurenti welcomes good friend Alex Boch to talk about his journey to becoming a drummer, the growing momentum behind his band Generation Three and that one time Dave Mustaine was his babysitter.

Award-winning New England singer/songwriter Natalie Joly joins host John Laurenti to discuss how music shaped her early years, her struggle to find other people who were as serious about being in a band as she was and how her recent move to Nashville influenced her career.

 Peter Noone, born in Manchester, England, is a multi-talented entertainer who began his career as a child actor before gaining international fame as the lead singer of the 1960s pop band, Herman's Hermits. The band's hits, including "I'm Into Something Good" and "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter," helped them sell over 60 million records.After Herman's Hermits disbanded in 1971, Noone pursued a solo career, collaborating with artists like David Bowie. He also took on leading roles in theatrical productions, including starring on Broadway and in London in The Pirates of Penzance. He has hosted a VH1 show called "My Generation" and a weekly SiriusXM radio program. Today, he continues to perform to sold-out venues with his band, Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone.

With a career spanning over 40 years, Russell has helped shape the sound of soft rock with unforgettable classics like “All Out of Love,” “Even the Nights Are Better,” and “The One That You Love.” His iconic vocals have touched hearts across generations, making Air Supply a household name around the globe.Now, Russell joins us for an exclusive conversation on the Music Drives Us Podcast, sharing stories from the road, the music that inspired him, and how he’s kept the magic alive all these years

We sat down with the one and only Micky Dolenz of The Monkees on the latest episode of the Music Drives Us Podcast! From chart-topping hits to behind-the-scenes stories of fame, friendship, and staying creative through the decades—this is a can't-miss conversation with one of music’s most beloved icons. Plus, hear why Micky believes in the power of music and how it changed his life.

From The Lost Boys to 24, Kiefer Sutherland made his mark on screen, but in this episode of the Music Drives Us Podcast, host Jaybeau Jones dives into a different side of his artistry: his passion for music and songwriting. 

Go behind the mic with Radio host Jaybeau Jones! In this special episode, Program Coordinator Jacyn Tremblay interviews Jaybeau about his journey, career, and the voice you know and love.

On this episode of the Music Drives Us Podcast, Jaybeau Jones and rockstar Rick Springfield talk music, mental health, and more. From general hospital heartthrob to Grammy-winning musician, Springfield's 1981 hit, “Jessie’s Girl,” launched him from the screen into the spotlight. Together, Jaybeau and Springfield explore Springfield's journey of overcoming his soap-opera image in the music industry to earn his well-deserved reputation as a rock legend. Additionally, they discuss the recent release of his new greatest hits album, Big Hits: Rick Springfield's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, which includes the new track "Lose Myself" among an assortment of songs from throughout his career. 

Jaybeau Jones spends some time with heavy-metal band Twisted Sister’s frontman Dee Snider. They discuss the motivation behind Twisted Sister’s hit “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and what it has spiraled into today. They also dig into his upbringing which ultimately shaped him into an 80s icon and one of the greatest metal vocalists of all time.

Host Jaybeau Jones is joined by Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter/touring musician Lisa Loeb. She rose to fame in the ‘90s with the song “Stay (I Missed You)”, the first Billboard number one single from an artist without a record deal. Together, Jaybeau and Loeb discuss her unique path to get her music played on air and her business-driven mindset in the music world. 

Music Executive, Andrew Govatsos Jaybeau Jones interviews legendary music executive Andrew Govatsos, who played an integral part in launching artists like Alanis Morissette, Green Day, Bare Naked Ladies, Michael Bublé, and Josh Groban. They discuss how he got his start in concert promotion in the New England area and Gavatsos shares stories from his time in the business, including being on stage at Live Aid.