Tales from the Green Room

Tales from the Green Room

Welcome to Tales from the Green Room - Backstage conversations from popular music venues around the country curated by Mount Tam Media. Buckle up and listen in, as host Dennis Strazulo and Mount Tam Media founder, Tami Larson, dig up conversations with artists - before and after shows - in the exclusive confines of the green room. Barriers are down with stories abound! Tales from the Greenroom Special Edition (Sweetwater Music Hall's 50th Anniversary Series) Mount Tam Media is thrilled to launch its Tales From the Green Room Podcast with a special series of episodes celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the iconic Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California. The roster of artists that have crowded onto the club's little stages, first at the original Sweetwater location two blocks away, and now at the new location which opened in 2013, reads like a Who's Who of roots & rock music: Bob Weir, Aaron Neville, Big Mama Thornton, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Etta James, Greg Allman, Van Morrison… the list of musical luminaries is endless. In the 80's, the Times of London hailed Sweetwater as one of the best nightclubs in America and the legacy continues! Mount Tam Media has been granted special access to Sweetwater’s green room during the venue’s 50th anniversary year to interview musicians, photographers, managers and the like, and capture their favorite moments and memories, preserving the untold secrets of what has graced these hallowed walls for half a century, before they are lost forever.

Episodes

June 11, 2025 50 mins

Super-creative, virtuoso pianist, Holly Bowling joins the show in the first-ever podcast recorded in The Green Room at Garcia’s Chicago. Holly shares the etiology of her genre-crossing and improvisational style in between her two incredible debut appearances at this spectacular venue - playing the music of Phish and The Grateful Dead on solo piano! The episode delves into Holly’s classical training, influences, and balanci...

In this engaging episode restaurateur, music promoter, and local legend  Chris 'Shaggy' Davis welcomes Tales From The Green Room and  listeners to  Day 2 of the 10th annual NOLA Crawfish Festival, a celebration that marries New Orleans' rich musical heritage with its vibrant culinary culture held at The Broadside New Orleans. The episode features an interview with rising star keyboard player/vocalist/singer song-writer, an...

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Join hosts Tami Larson and Dennis Strazulo as they dive into the vibrant atmosphere of JazzFest 2025, with this episode recorded at The Broadside in New Orleans during the 10th Annual Crawfish Festival. In this episode, the first of several generated from JazzFest, the focus is on the experiences of the captivating, modern New Orleans funk band, The Rumble, authors of  a sound they dub "New Orleans Mardi Gras Funk!" Specia...

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In this episode of 'Tales from the Green Room,' we welcome the band Spafford in the green room at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, CA to discuss their origins, musical influences, and journey. The conversation covers the genesis of their unique band name, evolving from 'Officious Tortfeasor' to 'Spafford,' inspired by a close friend. Members, Brian Moss, Nick Tkachyk, Corey Schechtman, and Shon Gordon share personal a...

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March 23, 2025 24 mins

Celebrating 50 Years+ of Sweetwater Music Hall with Tommy Castro!

Tales From The Green Room redux!  In Mount Tam Media's first drop of it's “one from the vault” series of never released episodes -recorded during Sweetwater Music Hall's 50th Anniversary celebration in Nov. 2022 -  host Dennis Strazulo sits down with legendary blues musician, Tommy Castro.  Castro reminisces about his deep connections with the iconic venue, i...

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In this episode of "Tales From The Green Room" Sam Grisman Project mainstays Max Flansburg and Chris English visit with hosts Dennis Strazulo and Tami Larson backstage at Terrapin Crossroads' Sunday Day Dream Vol. 4 in San Rafael, CA. Max Flansburg shares his experience of visiting California for the first time, his musical beginnings in the Finger Lakes region, and joins the roster of stellar guitar players marveling at t...

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In an insightful discussion on the "Tales from the Green Room" podcast, Reed Mathis provides host Dennis Strazulo and listeners with a detailed preview of his upcoming podcast series “The Gifts of Improvising” which debuts January 29, 2024 on the Osiris Media Podcast Network. Reed opens the door to a new, profound exploration of the role and challenge of artists as they navigate improvising the music of their heroes and le...

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The Journey and Legacy of Sweetwater's Uncelebrated Icon - An Interview with the late Austin de Lone


In this interview, which took place in October 2022 before Mount Tam Media launched its Tales From The Green Room podcast, Austin de Lone sits down with host Dennis Strazulo to discuss his rich musical journey and his pivotal involvement with Sweetwater Music Hall, as the venue approached its 50th Anniversary. This is th...

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Link to Tales From The Green Room Episode 27 Photography Gallery 


In this bonus episode of Tales from the Green Room, hosts Dennis Strazulo and Tami Larson interview Jack Barton of Jack Barton Entertainment, discussing the behind the scenes operations running Grateful Guitars Foundation. Jack delves into his involvement with Grateful Guitars, sharing insights into its charitable work, including supporting music programs...

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Link to Tales From The Green Room Episode 27 Photography Gallery

In this episode of Tales From The Green Room, Mount Tam Media takes listeners backstage at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco during the Grateful Guitars Foundation Second Annual Benefit. Grateful Dead historian Dennis McNally shares some of his experiences with Jerry Garcia and his storied history with the band; David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) ...

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Tales from the Green Room hits the road with its debut visit to the iconic Capitol Theater in Port Chester, New York, sitting down backstage with Dark Star Orchestra lead guitarist, Jeff Mattson! Recorded in between DSO’s first two shows since the passing of Phil Lesh, Jeff reflects on his memorable interactions with Phil and how the band prepared for these memorable performances at one of his favorite venues. The episode ...

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In this very special episode of Tales from the Green Room - recorded backstage at Terrapin Crossroads’ Sunday Daydream Vol. 3 in San Rafael, CA on July 21, 2024, on what turned out to be the late Phil Lesh’s final performance -  hosts Dennis Strazulo and Tami Larson sit down with legendary musician Stanley Jordan, Greg Loiacono (Greg Loiacano and Stingray, Mother Hips, and Jerry Saracini (Forgotten Space) all who shared th...

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    Steve Kimock: Reflections and Revelations on Zero’s 40th Anniversary


    In this special episode of Tales From The Green Room, Steve Kimock shares his insights and experiences backstage at the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma, celebrating the 40th anniversary of his band, Zero. The conversation, recorded less than two weeks after Phil Lesh’s passing, delves into the weight Steve was still experiencing after that event, and touche...

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    In this episode of Tales from the Green Room, hosted by Dennis Strazulo and Tami Larson of Mount Tam Media, listeners get an exclusive look into conversations with members of Steely Dead backstage at the renowned Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, CA. The episode features lively discussions with band members Dave A'Bear, Matt A'Bear, Chris Sheldon, and Dylan Teifer as they share insights about their music, the etiology of Steely...

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    November 7, 2024 48 mins

    In this episode of 'Tales From the Green Room,' the hosts welcome guest co-host Paul McCaffrey ("Paulie Mac") -  formerly of the 'Murph & Mac' morning sports radio show on KNBR -  for an engaging and wide-ranging conversation with members of Boston-based band, Bearly Dead, Nick Swift, Michael "Butzy" Butler, and founder Tyler Brooks.  Recorded backstage at the iconic Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, the discussion...

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    Mother Hips' Journey: Past, Present, and California Current


    Join Greg Loiacono and Tim Bluhm of The Mother Hips in the latest episode of 'Tales from the Green Room' as they discuss their journey, starting from the early days in Marin County to the release of their latest album, California Current. Recorded at The Junction in Mill Valley, CA, this episode covers the band's deep connection with their fan base, the evoluti...

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    Hosts Dennis Strazulo and Tami Larson sit down backstage with a divergent group of talent at Sound Summit 2024, the annual music festival atop majestic Mt. Tamalpais across the Bay from San Francisco.


    Fresh off her releasing her debut album, Wine on Venus, and her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, rising Nashville star and Gibson Guitar endorsed phenom, Grace Bowers (Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge), chats about how s...

    Listen in as Tales From The Green Room corrals three star power artists from the 2024 Mill Valley Music Festival! Margo Price joins the green room conversation after her festival performance and moments before her late night exclusive show at Sweetwater Music Hall later that evening - musing on demystifying psilocybin, her journey to “California Sober” status, touring with her husband of 20-years, and her penchant for spea...

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    Ever wonder what it was like growing up as a true child in the Grateful Dead family? Trixie Garcia (Jerry’s daughter), Jess Hunter Keilt (daughter of lyricist Robert Hunter), and Merry Prankster/Author Ken Kesey’s daughter, Sunshine Kesey share fond stories of the circus atmosphere surrounding their upbringing. In a rare interview with these three ladies together, while guests backstage at the Skull & Roses Festival in...

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    We had the pleasure of sitting down with Americana and roots singer-songwriter Jackie Greene before his second of three sold-out shows at The Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, CA in February 2024. Joined by his wife, Kyle, who reveals some lesser-known stories and behind-the-scenes moments about their life together, Jackie muses about his musical journey, upcoming shows, side projects, being a father and his all ti...

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