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Date: January 21, 2026
Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
S10: E2: Earl Slick (David Bowie / John Lennon) - The Six String Saga


SHOW SUMMARY:
The guitar can talk if you let it. That’s the lesson Earl Slick brings to the table—equal parts groove, grit, and a sharp sense of what a song really needs. We sat down to trace his path from Little League dreams to stages with David Bowie and John Lennon, and the result is a candid masterclass on rhythm, taste, and integrity. He doesn’t chase trends or pedals; he chases feel. He’ll tell you why the best job in rock might be the sideman who keeps the front person free, and how a two-bar hook can make a track immortal.

We dive into the sessions that defined him. With Bowie, Slick had full creative trust and learned to build parts that breathe—signature licks, precise space, and a stage sense that let the star step back when needed. With Lennon, he was the “wild card,” the street player alongside seasoned readers, there to inject heart. He unpacks tone philosophy in plain terms: light bodies for resonance, Telecasters kept honest, Gibson acoustics that bloom, fuzz as spice, and a pedalboard that leaves plenty to your hands. It’s practical wisdom for players at any level, from studio pros to weekend warriors.

Slick doesn’t dodge the hard stuff. He talks about anxiety, isolation off the road, and the healing power of telling the truth. His definition of success is refreshingly simple: play the guitar, take care of your family, pay the mortgage, and sleep at night. We explore his Slick guitar line—lighter builds, quality hardware, workable prices—and his advice for the next generation: get in a room with a drummer and bass player, let the first take speak, and don’t mistake social media for a career. There’s new music, a heartfelt David Johansen tribute, and studio experiments on the horizon, all grounded in the same ethic: rhythm first, ego last.

If you love real stories from the engine room of rock—Bowie, Lennon, hooks that stick, tone that breathes—this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share with a musician friend, and leave a review to keep these deep dives coming. What’s the riff that made you fall in love with the guitar? Tell us.

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Backstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:
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Artist(s) Web Page

https://www.facebook.com/EarlSlickOfficial/

https://www.instagram.com/earlslick_official/

Call to action
We ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer.

Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio

Your Host,
Randy Hulsey

Let Us Know What You Think of the Show!

Date: January 7, 2026
Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
S10: E1: Austin Ingerman (Gunshine) - Gunshine From Sunshine State


SHOW SUMMARY:
Big riffs, big hooks, zero apologies. That’s the energy we chase with guitarist and songwriter Austin Ingerman of Gunshine, a Florida-born player who balances swagger with sharp songcraft. From Daytona beginnings to LA’s Musicians Institute and arena tours as a hired gun, Austin shares how those miles shaped a band built for choruses you can shout and guitars that actually feel dangerous again.

We talk origin stories the honest way: how a pandemic pause pushed Austin home, how early tracks came together before a singer was even in the room, and why the search for a voice with an X factor took years. When Jordan walked in from a dueling-piano bar, the chemistry clicked fast. The result is Gunshine’s “swampy” identity—Southern edge, modern punch—rooted in influences like Boston, Def Leppard, AC/DC, and a touch of early GNR. The name Gunshine nods to Florida’s nickname and the band’s sunburned grit, not a retro costume.

Songwriting sits at the center. Austin often starts with melodies and riffs captured on voice memos, while Jordan brings a Nashville-honed lyric lens and the number system to keep structures tidy. We break down “Bayou,” which began as Jordan’s country-leaning sketch and morphed into a layered modern rocker with a ramping chorus. The home-studio pipeline is real: tracks built in Austin’s space, files shipped to Chris Collier for mix and master, and a sound that still hits like a room full of amps. Theory helps in the background—tension, resolution, the occasional Mixolydian wink—but the rule is feel first.

Grand Rising, a 13-song album, arrives with more colors: piano textures, heavier corners, and a stealth seven-string thickening the choruses without stealing the spotlight. We dig into touring momentum after a successful run through venues like the Whisky and Sturgis, plus the realities of booking while transitioning agencies. Austin’s parting wisdom is pure working-musician truth: pick one job a day, finish it well, and let the songs lead everything else.

If you crave straight-ahead rock with big melodies and no filler, hit play, follow Gunshine on socials, and watch for the first single on January 23. Enjoy the conversation, then subscribe, share, and leave a quick review so more rock fans can find the show.

Sponsor Link:
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Backstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:
Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusic
Instagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusic
Twitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusic
Website - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.com

Artist(s) Web Page

www.gunshineband.com

Call to action
We ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer.

Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio

Your Host,
Randy Hulsey

Let Us Know What You Think of the Show!

Date: December 17, 2025
Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
S9: E11: Kendall Beard (Love & Chaos) - When Grit Meets Grace


SHOW SUMMARY:
The story starts on Texas backroads and winds through Opry houses, a teen pop deal, and a reality TV spotlight before landing in an Austin room where sparks fly. Kendall Beard joins us to share how that winding path led to Love & Chaos, her electrifying duo with AJ Vallejo, and why the most interesting music often lives between labels.

We dig into the early hustle—weekend shows, VHS audition tapes, and a family that said yes when the dream demanded long drives. Kendall opens up about the label collapse around the Napster era, stepping back for college, and a detour into the business side that confirmed she needed to be on the creative front lines. You’ll hear a candid look at American Idol’s true timeline, the contract strings that stall momentum, and the unexpected upside: a loyal Texas fan base and new doors for songwriting and production.

Then the chemistry kicks in. A one-off duet with AJ turns into Love & Chaos, a project where country storytelling collides with rock muscle and a hint of Latin rhythm. We trace their four-year Saxon Pub residency, the craft behind their live duo setup with a suitcase kick drum, and the evolution of Rather Be Alone from sprawling art piece to tight radio edit without losing its pulse. Kendall breaks down their writing process—sometimes 50–50, sometimes whoever has the spark—and why inspiration shows up on runs, in dreams, and in those moments when life refuses to sit still. She also talks about balancing motherhood with touring, choosing fewer but more meaningful shows, and what’s next: a Texas radio tour, new singles, sessions at AJ’s new studio in Gruene, and fresh solo writing.

If you love Americana’s open borders, Texas grit, and songs built to breathe on stage, this conversation delivers. Follow Love & Chaos, spin the new single, and tell us which track caught you by surprise. If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more music fans find us.

Sponsor Link:
WWW.ECOTRIC.COM
WWW.SIGNAD.COM
WWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COM

Backstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:
Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusic
Instagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusic
Twitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusic
Website - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.com

Artist(s) Web Page

www.loveandchaosmusic.com

Call to action
We ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer.

Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio

Your Host,
Randy Hulsey