Gusto Sessions with Jeff Miers

Freshly returned from a successful tour with the Goo Goo Dolls in support of their new album “Chaos in Bloom,” Robby Takac reminisces with Jeff Miers about the holiday music he loved in his youth, waxes rhapsodic about newer additions to the canon of holiday music, and even mentions a seasonal movie near and dear to his heart. Songs performed: "Christmas Time is Here," Harry Graser."River," Cami Clune accompanied by Rod Bonner."Happy Xmas (War is Over)," Grabbitz accompanied by Rod Bonner."Christmas Don't be Late," Robby Takac accompanied by Kevin Urso."O Holy Night," Richie English.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Farrow and the band – bassist and co-founder André Pilette, drummer Tim Webb, percussionist Michael Ruopoli, guitarist Cory Clancy, keyboardist Rufus “Breezy” Cole Jr. and backing vocalist Danielle Johnson – recently stopped by GCR Audio Recording Studios for a live performance and chat that covered the roots of their musical union, their songwriting process, and their firm belief that, as Pete Townshend once wrote, "you can dance while your knowledge is growing." Songs performed:Steal My JoyPlease Remind MeBe EasySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whatever the size of the crowd, one thing has remained constant: Vin DeRosa's musicianship is always presented through a lens of love and light. DeRosa's main vehicle, the soul/funk/R&B/pop/indie-rock supergroup Vitamin D, has evolved into a meeting ground for some of the finest and most adventurous musicians in the region. DeRosa was recently at GCR Audio Recording Studios for a performance and interview with Jeff Miers. Songs performed:So High UpMichael's SongGot That LoveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marcus Lolo is a pianist, composer, producer and educator who now proudly calls Buffalo home. His intensive training in classical music, coupled with a deep love for jazz and the rhythmic, harmonic and folk traditions of Haiti combine to make him a musician with a unique ability to fuse styles and cultural influences. Lolo was joined by bassist Taj Felton, drummer Isaiah Gethers and percussionist Dontrae Alonso at GCR Audio Recording Studios. Songs performed: Peze KafeNocturnal LamentSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The delightfully decadent garage rock/power-pop outfit Perilous, a quartet with a penchant for brutal guitar riffs and infectious chorus hooks, recently performed at GCR Audio Recording Studios. Included in the setlist was the band's debut single, “Rock 'n' Roll Kiss,” which made it into heavy rotation on infamous Los Angeles DJ Rodney Bingenheimer's show on Sirius XM's “Underground Garage” station. Songs performed: Always Dreamed of ... Rock 'n' Roll Kiss Energy Hey BabySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tokyo Monsters brought the full strength and scope of their live sound to GCR Audio Recording Studios for a set showcasing the band's ability to bring classic rock chops to bear on present-day indie rock.  Vocalist/guitarist Joseph Baldwin, guitarist Steven Rybarczyk, bassist Chris Baldwin and drummer Nathan Ronca joined Buffalo News Music Critic Jeff Miers for a discussion. Joseph Baldwin said of the band's collaborative process, "Believe it or not, it can come from humming things or recording melodies on our phones and constructing a song from that. It's like building a house from the ground up." Songs performed: Tequila Mockingbird The Wolf The Daredevil of Marywood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sound both deep and textured, imbued with sonic experimentation, and bolstered by elegiac vocal harmonies is what indie/alternative duo tuesday nite brought to GCR Audio Recording Studios for a live performance. Sara Elizabeth and Courtney Ann, veterans of the Buffalo independent music scene, also joined Buffalo News Music Critic Jeff Miers for an interview. Sara Elizabeth said, "People would ask us, ‘Oh, how much time did you guys spend writing that harmony part and practicing it?' We were like, ‘Um, we didn't. It just came completely easily and naturally.'” Songs performed: c song following after meSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

O'Mega Red brings his "hip-rock" to GCR Audio Recording Studios for a live performance. He describes rock and hip-hop as "sister genres" and points to the fact "rock originated from Black culture" as proof music evolves in a circular fashion, and that all of these genre subdivisions are in fact connected. "I fuse a lot of different genres and always have," O'Mega Red told Buffalo News Music Critic Jeff Miers. Songs performed: Boss Moves Pistol #DoIt4DaGramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rod Bonner and his striking mélange of funk, soul, R&B and jazz-fusion takes over GCR Studio with a live in-studio performance, featuring drummer Carl "Flute" Johnson, and a candid chat with Buffalo News Music Critic Jeff Miers. “I've been blessed to be able to get into as many different musical situations as I can and flow with as many different genres of music as possible," says Bonner, who played talk box behind hip-hop/pop superstar Doja Cat at the 2021 Grammy Awards. "I hate being put in a box in general, but with music even more so.” Songs performed: Dance Tonight Magic Don't RushSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Live in-studio performance and a behind-the-scenes chat with Fernway, who played a sold-out Town Ballroom in June. The band's take on modern indie, alternative and emo is showcased in this year's full-length tour de force, “Autocrave,” a record conceived, composed and recorded during the pandemic. "The writing process was a lot of working separately, sending demos back and forth and trading files," vocalist/guitarist RJ DeMarco tells News Music Critic Jeff Miers. Meet the band:RJ DeMarco - Lead Singer, GuitarTanner DeMarco - DrumsBrett Robertson - GuitarJonah Wrest - GuitarAlec Dube - BassSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover some fantastic new, local music and meet the tremendous talent from every corner of Buffalo's vibrant creative community with this new, weekly podcast – a collaboration between The News, Music is Art and GCR Audio Recording Studios to spotlight Buffalo's tremendous music talent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.