The Gracious Two, Chad Gracey and John Rotolo discuss an unreleased LiVe song, "Don't Wait," from their album “The Distance to Here” and also express frustration with the lack of media coverage on the suicide of a victim of Jeffrey Epstein. They question the silence surrounding the Epstein case and the lack of accountability for those involved, expressing disappointment in the Trump administration for not releasing the full Epstein list. The Gracious Two also reminisce about Chad's music career, discussing the challenges of selecting songs for albums and the possibility of releasing unreleased material in the future.
The conversation discusses the future of driving and the potential decline of human labor due to AI and humanoid robots. It then shifts to Tom Lord-Alge, a three-time Grammy-winning music engineer, and his career, including his work on Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” album and his early experiences in the studio.
Tom Lord-Alge recounts a story about his brother Chris being offered the opportunity to mix Steve Winwood's album, which ultimately led to Tom mixing the album and winning a Grammy. Years later, Tom repaid the favor by recommending Chris Lord-Alge to mix Green Day’s “American Idiot,” which also won a Grammy. Tom and Chris have a supportive relationship, often collaborating on the same projects and pushing each other’s success.
Tom recounts mixing LiVe’s “Throwing Copper” album at a resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He describes the challenging recording process, the fun atmosphere, and how the album’s success led to numerous other opportunities. Tom also shares a humorous anecdote about working with Chaka Khan, highlighting the unpredictability and magic of the recording studio.
The podcast then discusses the recording and mixing process of popular songs. It highlights the importance of capturing spontaneous moments in the studio, as seen in the intro to “Higher Love” and the outro of “White Discussion.” The discussion also touches on the challenges of mixing heavy drum sounds and the creative decisions made during the production of “Throwing Copper.”
Tom Lord-Alge discusses mixing for Dave Matthews Band, specifically “Under the Table and Dreaming” and “Crash”. They recall being asked to remix “Under the Table and Dreaming” after Steve Lillywhite’s mixes were rejected by the record company. The speaker also shares their experience mixing “Crash” at Room at a View studio in Manhattan, noting Steve Lillywhite’s presence and suggestions during the process.
Tom recounts creating the intro for “Likinis Juice” and facing resistance from the band. Despite initial skepticism, the intro was eventually accepted and became a proud moment. Tom also shares a humorous anecdote about nearly burning down a bridge with Chad Taylor after setting off fireworks.
Tom Lord-Alge, a renowned music producer, discusses his approach to music production and his views on the digital world. He emphasizes the importance of artists embracing technology to record demos and produce music independently, while still utilizing the expertise of objective professionals. Lord-Alge highlights the complexity of mixing music, explaining how he manipulates audio to achieve the desired sound, and believes that his unique techniques and artistic touch cannot be replicated by AI.
Tom recounts mixing a song for an artist, highlighting the importance of the artist’s satisfaction with the final product. The guys then discuss the dissolution of the band LiVe, revealing internal conflicts and legal disputes that led to the departure of a member and the band’s eventual cancellation. Despite these challenges, Tom remains hopeful for a future reunion and suggests band therapy as a means of addressing past issues.
The conversation discusses the strained relationships within the band Live, specifically between Ed Kowalczyk and the other members. Chad, expresses frustration with the situation and his efforts to reconcile Ed with the band. Tom also shares how he met his current partner in Paris while attending a Rolling Stones concert.
Tom recounts meeting his wife at the Admirals Club in JFK and later proposing to her at the same location. They got married at a Rolling Stones concert in Austin, Texas, during the pandemic. Tom shares a humorous anecdote about their wedding day, including tearing down fences to reach their car.
The Gracious Two thank the audience for their support and ask them to SHARE the broadcast. They discuss a friend’s health condition, mentioning a potential need for medical intervention.
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