Mark Hutchison joins us with his road case full of stories, ready to review the soundtrack of his life on this episode of the Rock-N-Roll Show Podcast. His journey is a testament to the power of a great rock anthem, but it's not just about the tracks that shaped him – it's about the communal pulse of concerts that have etched unforgettable memories in his mind.
The discussion crescendos as we pay homage to historic performances that transcend time and the venues that hold the echoes of rock legends. From the soul-stirring solos of Cream to the powerhouse collaboration of Temple of the Dog, we amplify the connection between artist and audience that's only found in the live music experience. Mark's stories of rubbing elbows with iconic figures like Alice Cooper and Aerosmith's Joey Kramer add a personal touch to the lore of rock music. Tune in for a symphony of nostalgia, laughter, and the shared beat of a rock-n-roll heart.
Mark Hutchison joins us with his road case full of stories, ready to review the soundtrack of his life on this episode of the Rock-N-Roll Show Podcast. His journey is a testament to the power of a great rock anthem, but it's not just about the tracks that shaped him – it's about the communal pulse of concerts that have etched unforgettable memories in his mind.
The discussion crescendos as we pay homage to historic performances that transcend time and the venues that hold the echoes of rock legends. From the soul-stirring solos of Cream to the powerhouse collaboration of Temple of the Dog, we amplify the connection between artist and audience that's only found in the live music experience. Mark's stories of rubbing elbows with iconic figures like Alice Cooper and Aerosmith's Joey Kramer add a personal touch to the lore of rock music. Tune in for a symphony of nostalgia, laughter, and the shared beat of a rock-n-roll heart.
Welcome to the Rock-N- Roll Show Podcast. We're here to share the joy of experiencing live music together with strangers and with friends, and to get to know our guests a little bit better through their concert experience. I'm your Alex Gadd, and I relate to people best when talking about music. Finding out what bands someone likes and what shows they've been to helps me to understand who they are better. And today we'll be speaking with Mark Hutchison. Mark works in the athletic shoe industry and is a longtime music fan. We connected through his sons, who run bookthinkers. com, a marketing firm for authors to help them grow their audiences and supercharge their income. Mark, welcome to the . Thank you so much. Happy to be here. Yeah, happy to have you. So give us a picture To start off. I always like to get a sense of our guest's background with music. How did you first get interested in music?
Mark Hutchison:Okay, we're going to go way back because you're kind of looking at an old guy here. I actually called my sister, who lives down in North Carolina, and I asked her because I distinctly remember going to a concert with her because nobody else would go and she needed somebody to go. There were two tickets or whatever. We lived in Fairfax, Virginia, and this is going to sound impossible, but Procol Harum remembered seeing or Focus and they had a song Hocus Pocus.
Alex Gadd:And.
Mark Hutchison:I called my sister. She said I don't remember those venues but I do remember dragging you along to a concert here or there. But she says she was influenced. Her love of music came from an aunt of ours, my mother's sister. But I think my sister got me into music because she was always playing albums and it was a big variety of music, but I I think that's where it came from.
Alex Gadd:Okay, so did you play an instrument in
Mark Hutchison:No, I didn't. I, um, I talked to my mother into guitar lessons at one point, but I was probably in first grade or very young and couldn't get the frets and couldn't figure it out, found it very frustrating. My mother played the piano and, uh, I think, um, I think, that my mother probably finished the guitar lessons herself, so she let me off the hook.
Alex Gadd:That's actually a win-win. If it doesn't work for you, at least someone got something Exactly so. You're into music. You're listening to your sister's music, as it often is with younger siblings. They pick up what their older siblings are listening to. And do you remember that first concert was Procol Harum?
Mark Hutchison:No, those were different.
Alex Gadd:Okay, but those were the earliest two concerts you went to.
Mark Hutchison:Well and thinking that, yes, I tagged along with her. The, the first ticket stop I could I could come up with came much later. But my sister with her variety of music. I discovered the Doors and Jim Morrison and I was probably 10 years old so I had no idea Would I let my kids listen to Jim Morrison and the Doors? I suppose so now, but there were some things that were probably completely inappropriate and hidden meetings which I had no idea about. But love the music. I think I probably bought every album they ever made and then watched documentaries, watched the movie, so on, and so forth, so on and so forth.
Alex Gadd:Sure, yeah, I'm just a couple of years younger than you and I was just over the cusp of the seventies when I got into music, and it sounds like you were right at the cusp when you got into the doors, and so for me it was a little more hard rock and I was into bands like Kiss, Cheap Trick, Meatloaf, things like that. But I was brought up in music by my mom who was into the Beatles and the those Motown records. So I had an interesting mix. So first concert you bought a ticket what was that?
Mark Hutchison:all right, I gotta tell you one about one before that. But I went to California in 1979 when I graduated from high school with a buddy of mine and the drinking age was 18 back then. Uh, and I went to see the Fabulous Thunderbirds at the Whiskey of go-go on the sunset strip. So, technically speaking, again, I can't pinpoint you know, uh, focus, uh, or propyl harum, but the fabulous Thunderbirds and the guy I went with knew somebody in the band or whatever. So, uh, we had a great time. Then I moved back to massachusetts and the first ticket stuff I could find was the rolling stones the first of me, 1980, yeah, hartford civic center and the tickets were 50 dollars.
Alex Gadd:Chandler, when I spoke with him, did say that you and I had a lot in common musically and it started with the rolling stone. He also shared a story what? What's the first song that you play when you get a new car?
Mark Hutchison:oh yeah, I've done it. In fact, I bought a car totally by mistake in Toronto, canada, but I brought the stones a CD, because I knew the car would have a CD player. It'd start me up. So I'll sit in the car and I'll play. Start me up, start me up. I'll never stop and I've. I've done that forever. I've done it when my wife and I bought a Jeep. I do it when I buy my kids' cars, but there's no CD players in cars anymore, so I got to learn how to connect my phone, I think.
Alex Gadd:Okay, well, I think it's the right song to play if you're hopeful that your car will actually start up. Not only is it a great Rolling Stones song, but it actually is applicable to getting into the car.
Mark Hutchison:I've told them a hundred times that this car runs on rock and roll and I say you know, it doesn't matter if I run out of gas, I'm still going. It doesn't matter because I got the stones.
Alex Gadd:I love it. That is great. I'd like to make a bumper sticker, if that's the right. This car runs on rock and roll.
Mark Hutchison:Yeah, yes, let's do it. All right, let's do it. So what ads have you seen the most times in your life? Okay, I did my best. I'm trying to figure this out, and I think I've seen the Stones, u2, and the Dave Matthews band the same number of times. It's five or six for each of them.
Alex Gadd:That's great, those are good bands. Those are good bands to choose.
Mark Hutchison:Yeah, love to have been able to go out to see you two in the sphere. That would have been an absolute blast. It looks like a magnificent place to see a concert, but yeah, those three and I try to see those guys whenever they come around.
Alex Gadd:Sure Amazing man.
Mark Hutchison:Amazing man. So what's the most recent concert you've seen? That would have been Dave Matthews. Okay, when was that? We have a? Uh, I try to go every year. Um, we have an outdoor venue up here. It's changed. Uh, it's changed names three or four times that I can remember. It used to be called Great Woods and then the Comcast Center. Now it's the Xfinity Center, but it's outdoor, although there is a section of seats that have a roof over there.
Mark Hutchison:Uh, and let me tell you that the last time I saw him, I was absolutely certain that I had seats, because they sell lawn seats, and I I thought that, uh, I thought that I have a roof over my head because it was pouring, and one of my kids, christian, he always will go with, okay, he likes Dave Matthews, he feels bad, he would never want me to go by myself, although I probably would, and so it's pouring.
Mark Hutchison:I mean, it is an absolute mess. And when we get to where I know my seats are, I start to turn left to go onto the roof and the woman says no, no, no, no, you're over there. And I'm like no, no, no, I'm under the roof. And she says, no, you're not. So we stood in the rain for three hours and Dave Matthews came out late by about 10 or 15 minutes and he started off with fool in the rain. So since we're all standing there in the rain, he's doing led zeppelin fool in the rain. So that was a lot of fun and everybody got a big kick out of that.
Alex Gadd:That's great, and does dave matthews play great woods every year? Or the xfinity center ever.
Mark Hutchison:Yeah, yeah, he's playing this year, but we won't be. We won't be available. Um, we're going to be. At a way, one of my kids are getting married, so we'll be out of the country, unfortunately well, fortunately, but I'll miss the show right.
Mark Hutchison:I think that's probably a good enough excuse to feel good, but I'm already plotting and planning that he's going to be in guilford, new hampshire. I have not been to that venue. I hear it's the same as the xfinity center, an outdoor venue, and he's going to be up there for two days and I also heard that there's like a two-day pass you can buy. So I think he might go north like that to draw people from Vermont, new Hampshire and Maine so he stays for two days. I don't know, but if that's what he's doing, it's a good idea.
Alex Gadd:Yeah, those amphitheaters are really pretty popular. There's one in bridgeport, connecticut. Actually that's fantastic, really nice, and bridgeport is not the greatest city in the world but really a fantastic place to see a live show. And they've got them in jones beach and down in new jersey. So they're, I mean, up and down the coast. They have those amphitheaters out west alpine valley, they're all over the country. It's really it's a core part of the touring market. You know, you go from club amphitheater, theater, you know, and then off to arenas and stadiums Is the one in Bridgeport on the water, so I haven't seen it.
Mark Hutchison:That's interesting. I have an account in Bridgeport called Jimmy's Hip Hop, and so I'm in and out of Bridgeport, but I didn't know that there was. That would be something I'd be interested in, uh you get the right.
Alex Gadd:Yeah, that's for a drive for you either, and I'm sure Dave Matthews plays there, although I don't know if he's playing there this year, but you know what he does.
Mark Hutchison:He does the Hartford thing, which is the same as the Xfinity Center. In fact, it might be an Xfinity Center yeah, all right, all right, good to know.
Alex Gadd:Well, I'll look out for Dave Matthews' band and I will let you know if they're playing anywhere near us. What is the longest concert you've ever seen? Do you have a sense of?
Mark Hutchison:what that was. Absolutely, it would have to be Springsteen. I've seen him a couple of times. And yes, I mean Springsteen.
Alex Gadd:Right here.
Mark Hutchison:From the and yes, I mean, uh, here's the big year, my, my from the last tour. There you go, and with that, last tour.
Alex Gadd:Was that in new york city, or was that was?
Mark Hutchison:that met life stadium in new jersey, it was just this year.
Alex Gadd:Yeah, he, okay, there's no place big enough for him to play in the city anymore. He'll play the garden or he'll play in brooklyn for one, but that's, you know, not enough. So then he goes out.
Mark Hutchison:Yeah, so it could have been Gillette stadium. I also saw him at the Worcester central.
Alex Gadd:Oh, that was a while ago, though I would have met.
Mark Hutchison:Oh yeah, a long time ago. In fact, I almost got arrested that night.
Alex Gadd:Oh, let's hear that story Cause that is one thing always here. Has anyone gotten arrested at a show? That is is a very important it's no story and it was 100% innocent.
Mark Hutchison:We had an extra ticket and we were actually trying to I guess we were trying to sell it for face value, but we were going to give it to somebody. But we wanted to make sure because this person was going to be with us. We wanted to make sure that, you know, we could trust that person and whatever. But the you know we could trust that person and whatever. But uh, the minute I pulled the ticket out and they heard, hey, I've got one ticket, I had the police on me, an arm, you know, behind my back, and handcuffs were coming. Uh, we were able to talk our way out of it, but I, you know, I know all about scalping and everything, but that is not what we were doing and I thought I'm gonna miss this show. Oh my god, that would be rough.
Alex Gadd:Yeah, In the old days it was a lot more serious. Now no one seems to care.
Mark Hutchison:Right.
Alex Gadd:You do all the truth Right and it's all done ahead of time.
Mark Hutchison:Yeah, and I wouldn't know how to do it today anyway, because everything's in your telephone you know, what's your? Give me the cash. The longest were Springsteen. He does them all. You know that he's got one of my favorite songs of all time which is what?
Alex Gadd:Racing in the Streets you are a true Springsteen fan, then because people, when they list their favorite Springsteen songs, they say Born to Run Thunder Road, Rosalita Dancing in the Dark, whatever Racing in the Streets is truly a magnificent piece of songwriting, Beautifully realized song, I agree.
Mark Hutchison:In fact, there's an acoustic. No, it's not acoustic, there's a. I don't know where the concert was, but it's nine minutes long and it almost makes me cry. It's just beautiful, just accurate.
Alex Gadd:Every time I hear it it I get the chills. It's a brilliant song about dreams that don't come true, and what do you do after that?
Mark Hutchison:um, yeah, really beautiful. Yeah, it's like you wonder how, how could he write it? Because obviously he's uh, he doesn't have to worry about that like most of us do. He, you know, but, uh, he can get right down to the factory floor, you know, or to the hard times in the town. And, by the way, I think that his album, you know written right after 9-11. Now the name escapes me.
Alex Gadd:Yeah, the rising.
Mark Hutchison:Spectacular. The entire album.
Alex Gadd:There's a great story about how, right after 9-11, he was driving around at his hometown around the Jersey Shore and he pulled up at a stoplight and someone yelled out from another car and said, bruce, we need you now. And he went home and wrote the Rising and Into the Fire and some of the other songs from that record.
Mark Hutchison:My City of Rains. Yeah, you're right, the whole thing Spectacular.
Alex Gadd:Yeah, glad to meet another Springsteen fan anywhere. He's my favorite. I've seen him 30 something times oh, wow, okay.
Mark Hutchison:So you've seen him, probably more than the total number of concerts I've seen.
Alex Gadd:I've I've probably seen 30 concerts yeah, I've seen a couple hundred concerts wow yeah, that's okay. There are no judgment. Everyone sees any concerts they want.
Mark Hutchison:It's great well know, after we started we ended up with four kids. And then you start to think, uh, can my wife and I get away and go to a show and our music tastes are different. But then you start to think, can we bring the kids? And then, if you start to think, can we bring the kids Now, you're talking six tickets instead to just two. Uh, so there was probably a little more concert going before I got you know married and had kids than after yeah, understood and I get that.
Alex Gadd:Have you ever seen a really short concert? Oh, that's a good question.
Mark Hutchison:That's a tough one. Uh, I I can't say that I have. Um, I've thoroughly enjoyed concerts and if we go back to dave mat, sometimes you know all the music he's playing. Sometimes he digs deep into you know B-sides or whatever, and so you don't enjoy it as much. Yes, I want to hear the hits. None of his music is played out or overdone or I can't hear it another time. But I'll go to U2, the Joshua Tree 30th anniversary, because it was that album. Now they did play some other music, but that was and I'm not going to complain about Bono and U2, that might have been a little too short. I wanted more.
Alex Gadd:Yeah, that's interesting. I've never thought of that question in that way, but that's a perfectly reasonable answer. You could go to a three-hour show and if you want it to be a five-hour show, it's too short. Good point, yeah, and for me. I went to see Cheap Trick, who, as a child, one of my favorite all-time bands, and I never saw them. I finally went to see them, I don't know in 2017, and they played the tightest hour and 25 minutes I've ever seen, and they played. Every song was a hit, or at least some song that I knew and love, and then they walked off the stage and I thought you've got to be kidding. I've been waiting my whole life to see you and you play an hour and 25 minutes.
Alex Gadd:And that stones the stones tour that we saw in 1981 at different places, but that tour they were playing a tight hour and a half and it was not long enough because I would. That was my third concert that I ever saw and I loved the stones as a kid and I thought you're kidding me an hour and I and my first concert was bruce, and in 1980. So I had seen a what a four hour or three hour concert with an hour intermission in between look like, and so they came out and did an hour and a half and I said this is terrible. So that's where that's where my thought comes from and asking question. But yeah, you can see a much longer concert, and I saw the 30th anniversary of the joshua tree tour as well and, uh, I thought it was just right in time.
Mark Hutchison:But I do love that record so much, so I understand wanting to see more it always seems like now you get 90 minutes, no matter who it is, unless it's Bruce right, Cause he still does it all and tries to make sure you get what you paid for.
Alex Gadd:Yeah, he still does three solid hours, start to finish three hours every time and he's in his seventies now. He used to do four hours In 2016 on the tour. He was doing four hours or three hours every time and he's in his seventies now. He used to do four hours in 2016 on the tour. He was doing four hours or three hours and 50 minutes every show Incredible. So, three hours still good Of all the shows you've seen, mark, what's the favorite concert you ever saw?
Mark Hutchison:it's going to be down between. I saw you two in Boston Garden on St Patty's Day, so that's pretty good. But I also saw the Stones the last time around and I think Charlie Watts was still with them, and that was in Gillette Stadium and I just sat there with a smile on my face the entire time because I could not believe the energy that Mick Jagger was bringing to the stage and his voice, and it was as good or better than any of the Stones concerts I've ever seen, but I just smiled the entire time. I think it was 2019 the last time I saw him in Gillette Stadium, but it was outstanding.
Alex Gadd:They really are amazing. I mean, Keith Richards will apparently live forever, and Mick Jagger is in great voice and in great shape and he's I got to think he's 81, if not, he's either 80 or 81.
Mark Hutchison:And that has changed a lot over the years, obviously from way back when in the late 60s and then with. Well, ronnie Wood is still there, but Keith and Mick, of course, but those guys are the nucleus. Bill Wyman he left, charlie Watts has passed away, but the Stones, they're still out there doing it.
Alex Gadd:It's amazing. Yeah, you know, they still call Ronnie Wood the new guy and he's been in the band since 1975.
Mark Hutchison:Yeah, that's funny, the new guy, the new guy, I love the music. I mean, I love the music. I mean I love the stones. There's a stone song, it's my favorite song of all time. So, um, what's that? It's memory motel off of black and blue, and I've seen mick play it on the piano and you know, as I search around and I look at memory motel and I just love that song. He mentions boston in that song. Um, dave matthews has done that song with mick and that would be something to see she drove a pickup truck painted green blue.
Alex Gadd:The tires were wearing thin. She did a mile or two.
Mark Hutchison:When I asked her where, she said it far back up to boston I would love to have seen that, but I but I've watched that video a few times.
Alex Gadd:There's actually there's an official release of that too, that you can download off of Spotify or Apple Music as well.
Mark Hutchison:Nice, I'll get Chandler to show me how to download Spotify.
Alex Gadd:Have you ever gone to see a show and discover the opening act and become a fan just by seeing them perform live? Yeah, a couple of times.
Mark Hutchison:We saw Snow Patrol with U2 and one of my favorite songs again. If I were going to put a list together of, you know, my top 10, top 20 favorite songs run by Snow Patrol would be there. Top 20 favorite songs run by Snow Patrol would be there. And we also discovered Elbow at a Coldplay concert and Elbow has some outstanding music. Have I followed him? Probably not really, but bought two albums and know the two albums and listen to them all the time. I have X amount of music in my telephone when I'm mowing the lawn or something like that, so there's nothing better than putting in the earbuds and just going outside, spending the day listening to great music and getting the yard cleaned up.
Alex Gadd:So I've never even heard of Elbow. I have her work now. After our talk I'm going to go find out who Elbow is. But I do like snow patrol and I see how snow patrol is a perfect uh accompanying band for you too.
Mark Hutchison:That's a really nice pairing yeah, and there's a leona lewis story. She was on something like the x factor or whoever's got talent and she came out and she sang run by snow patrol. And in the comments we're like how could snow patrol ruin a perfectly good leona lewis song? You know I'm like, oh, you don't know, you just don't know. It's like depeche mode has done a great version of so cruel, by you too. It's outstanding and usually I like the original artist. But when somebody can step up and do the original better, I'm not going to say better than you two. I love them both. I've got one more. Everybody knows it Disturbed, doing Sound of Silence, unbelievable, yeah.
Alex Gadd:Love it. One of the things I really enjoy at concerts is when a guest performer comes out, someone you weren't expecting. Have you ever had an experience like that? Have you ever seen someone come out and just show up for a song with the, with the band?
Mark Hutchison:no, never. I've never seen anybody step on stage when when dave matthews tours, he doesn't tour with anybody else and I know he sometimes has guests. I've never seen anybody jump on stage with Mick Jagger and the Stones. I don't think I've ever seen anybody. I've seen it happen on videos and I've seen Bruce Springsteen get on stage with U2.
Alex Gadd:I was sharing with Chandler. One of my favorite all-time videos is from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th anniversary concerts at Madison Square Garden and U2 was the headliner the first night of the two nights that they did and Bruce came out and they did. I Still Haven't Found what I'm Looking For, which is my favorite all-time song, and it was better than it's ever been when the two of them sing it together. Gotta watch it. I've seen mostly Bruce have people out. I've seen Dylan come out and play with Bruce.
Mark Hutchison:I've seen.
Alex Gadd:Jackson Mountain play with Bruce and yeah, lots of people Like that's always fun. When you go to see Billy Joel shows at Madison Square Garden, he always brings up someone. He has a monthly show at the garden.
Mark Hutchison:Oh, he does, but he's been doing it.
Alex Gadd:He's done like 110 shows and he does it every month for the last 10 years and he brings up guest stars a lot. He's had Bruce up, he's had his daughter come up, he's had all kinds of behind-the-scenes things coming out and it's really fun when that happens, and so it's always something to look for.
Mark Hutchison:I would love it. I would love to see it. I mean, the crowd goes crazy when that kind of thing happens. You can see the reaction when you watch those kind of videos. I would love to have seen it. It hasn't happened to me.
Alex Gadd:We will keep going to concerts and it will. Bruce actually came out on Friday night, he or not Friday night, Sunday night he had just played in Phoenix and San Diego and then he came back and showed up in Brooklyn at a country musician, Zach Bryan. He just walked out on stage and started singing in the middle of a song with this guy, Zach Bryan. But it's always fun to watch. So you know, Dave Matthews, you see Trey from Phish come out a lot and play. They're pretty friendly, so I've seen them play together unannounced and that's always fun. So keep going and and you'll get there and hopefully I hope so.
Alex Gadd:Where's your favorite concert venue? You've been to a number of different places. Is you? Do you have a favorite place to see a show?
Mark Hutchison:I'm gonna have to say that it is the outdoor venue right here in mansfield mass which is currently called the xfinity Center. I like it because it's not too big but you can get a seat if you want to. You can get cover if you want to. One of the things I don't like is I don't like watching a video screen. I'm at the concert. I want to look at the artist. I don't want to look at a video screen. So if it's too big a place and you can't see what you're there for, I could listen at home. So I would actually prefer probably something smaller. But that's that's where I've been most and where I enjoy. You know how to get in, how to get out, where to go, so on and so forth, and it's just the right size.
Alex Gadd:So that's a good one for me to get out where to go, so on and so forth, and it's just the right size, so that's a good one for me. I like those. They call them sheds or amphitheaters. Those are a great place to see. I don't love sitting on the lawn. I definitely would rather have a seat if it's going to rain. Those are great rooms to see a band playing, and is that the venue that you've seen the most concerts at? I would assume with this plan.
Mark Hutchison:Definitely and then following that would be Gillette Stadium and the Boston Garden and the Boston Garden, of course, is a little bit more intimate than Gillette, and one of the things was I saw Springsteen in Gillette and we had the worst seats in the entire place, probably because those were the ones we could afford, and I found myself looking at this video screen screen and I said I'm not going to do this again love the guy, but need better seats or need to be able to see a little bit better than this.
Mark Hutchison:Although gillette stadium has just installed the largest outdoor video screen in the world, I think so that wouldn't be the worst thing to see, although I still wouldn't want to do it. I'm there to see this guy. Uh, you know, I want to see him, not the screen I get it.
Alex Gadd:I get it and it's interesting because if you become a fan of a band, you want them to continue to be successful, but inside I kind of hope they don't get so successful that they have to play stadiums only because then it gets very. The lack of intimacy is a challenge, as you described. I still go because unfortunately, many of our favorite bands are nostalgia hacks at this point, and so Paul McCartney still goes out on tour every year or every other year and he has to go to stadiums because he has so many fans. Springsteen, you try on.
Alex Gadd:But then there's the whole second tier of 70s and 80s bands who mostly don't have their original members anymore and so they play the amphitheater circuit and so you can see a double bill of journey and toto or sticks and rio speedwagon, and you know, you get to see all the bands that you listen to as a kid and they've got one or two original members still and they're playing those smaller theaters so we've done that once or twice, but the the one that immediately comes to mind is we've seen train and million five together.
Mark Hutchison:But they don't have to be together anymore. They can do it themselves on their own. But I totally get what you're talking about?
Alex Gadd:Yeah, it's the nostalgia bands, the bands that don't make records anymore, but they still have a huge fan base and need to get out to make money, because selling old catalog records no longer is a thing and so the only way to make money in the music business is to tour, and so they all do these package tours. Even the bigger bands I mean Def Leppard, motley Crue, joan Jett were playing shows last year, and that's a lot. That's almost a festival. You know, if you put one more band in there, that's a whole day.
Mark Hutchison:Oh yeah, in fact the drummer from Def Leppard must be in the Boston area. You know, a week or two ago, because the drummer and I don't know his name, uh, rick al. Yes, he was on the sports radio show that I listened to because the the dj boston has had some famous can roll radio stations wbcn, charles lauderdale, all those guys a wcoz. So anyway, this guy, waaf the morning guy at waf greg, still has a lot of those rock and roll connections, even though he's got a kind of a talk format on a sports station now. So that's where that connection came from. But that guy, the drummer, it was really interesting to listen to him talk about after losing the arm and there's nothing he can't do on the drums. It's amazing.
Alex Gadd:It's truly amazing, and they figured that out in the mid 80s. It's not even like the current technology. They had technology 30 years ago. That's all Incredible 40 years ago.
Mark Hutchison:Funny to hear him say that he actually doesn't miss his arm. I'm sure he does, but it hasn't held him back, hasn't stopped Very inspirational, very cool and they sound great.
Alex Gadd:I can't wait to see them. I'm hopefully going to see them this summer. I've never seen their band. I really want to. So, speaking of great concert venues, we kind of get a sense from you that your amphitheater is the right size for you. And have you ever been at a rock club and seen an unknown band and just said, wow, they're amazing?
Mark Hutchison:Yes, yes, and I love that sort of intimacy, that small venue. In fact, before one of those Stones concerts which started in Boston, they were spreading rumors about the Stones are in this farmhouse practicing every day, and then that Friday night or Saturday they're in a local club that nobody's ever heard of. I'd love to experience something like that but haven't. But have been to some other shows when I was younger, where you can't hear yourself, think or talk to the person next to you. Been a lot of fun.
Alex Gadd:Love that too. That's really fun for me. So do you have a favorite live song, a recording of a live song that you go back to and you never get tired of? For me it was always Crossroads Kareem doing the Robert Johnson cover of Crossroads Kareem Ginger.
Alex Gadd:Baker recorded solos in history and one of my favorite songs, and that's the live song that I always think of when I think of a great live record, you know, and then also Springsteen to erasing in the street. If you can get a lot of that, that is so haunting.
Mark Hutchison:Yeah.
Alex Gadd:And he adds a whole level of it when you hear it echoing in the background, yeah, unbelievable.
Mark Hutchison:Like I said, it could make me cry listening to that. And then somebody walks in and you know like, I got something in my eye.
Mark Hutchison:I'm going to go right back and say memory motel, love that song, love Mick. A lot of people don't even know Keith sings the background and nobody knows it because they think it's Mick. A lot like Mick singing background for Carly Simon in. You're so Vain. When I point that out to people and they listen on good headphones or good speakers, they're like you've got to be kidding me. Mick Jagger with Carly Simon. But one of my favorites probably is Bad by U2. Spectacular, love it. And he'll modify that song and change the lyrics and do a few different the guitars and an acoustic guitar and how these guys just get to do what they do in just and they're a perfect sync, you know. And then boom, it's over. These guys just look at each other and laugh because they know how good it was so, yeah, fun to watch and those bands especially that are a little more free form.
Alex Gadd:really the talent, from everything I've understood, is just in understanding how to listen to one another and keep track of where you are as a band, not just doing your own thing as a soloist, but jamming as a band. And improvising as a band is really a skill and it comes from years and years.
Mark Hutchison:And Dave Matthews' band is really a skill and it comes from years and years and and dave matthews band particularly, really strong yeah, uh, there's a video of a 17 minute version of, uh, maybe gray street in central park or something like that, and that's exactly what you're talking about, because he'll look over his shoulders and smile or wink or he'll make a movement and that might say we're going to do this for five more minutes. So you know, let's go. And Carter Beaufort is smiling nonstop the entire time.
Alex Gadd:One of the greatest drummers in rock and roll, sorely underappreciated.
Mark Hutchison:He's super talented and it's amazing how that band was put together. You know what a diverse group of people to come out of. Wherever they did and do what they do. I just love it. I mean, it's just. I think it's Charlottesville, Virginia. Yeah yeah, and how did Dave get there? I mean, he's from South Africa, you know, and lives down in Seattle Pearl Jam.
Alex Gadd:I love Pearl Jam. Yeah, I just saw them live for the first time in September Amazing. I've loved them since they came out, never saw them, and now I'm going to see them every time I can. They were so so good.
Mark Hutchison:Eddie Vedder, just amazing. And to see some of the things he's done, like with Chris Cornell with Hunger Strike, Just unbelievable.
Alex Gadd:Yeah, and he was nobody. Then. At least, Soundgarden had an album out when they recorded Hunger Strike. But the guys in the Pearl Jam half of Temple of the Dog, which was the band that recorded that, they were in a band called Mother Love Bone and then they broke up Mother Love Bone when the singer in that band died and then they hired Eddie Vedder and they were recording that. But they were friends with the guys in soundgarden and then they recorded the temple of the dog album. Hunger strike song is mind-blowing, yeah, and the fact you get chris cornell and eddie vetter singing together is just it was incredible. All right, let's get through some bucket list questions. What concert venue would you like to go to but haven't been to?
Mark Hutchison:I see, uh, I see Red Rock in Colorado. Love to go. My dad grew up in Colorado. I've been there a few times. I've seen any number of different videos. Uh, and that looks like a place I'd love to experience. So I'd love to see that and that looks like a place I'd love to experience.
Alex Gadd:So I'd love to see that. Yeah, I mean that fits your model too, because it's an amphitheater, it's just an open area. Exactly, and it was gorgeous. I've never been. It is my answer to the same question. That is the next place. That and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville are two places that I haven't been. That I'm really anxious about?
Mark Hutchison:I know nothing about Nashville yet. And the other thing you see certain U2 practice sessions or whatever at the Sloan Castle. So you've got that history of a meeting.
Alex Gadd:Sloan. Okay, yes, sla.
Mark Hutchison:Yes, sloan, yes yes, yes, but something like that would be amazing to be in Europe or to be in Ireland or to see something authentic like that.
Alex Gadd:Bruce plays in Ireland, apparently more than U2 does. You can go see him there. In the same vein, is there a band or a musician that you'd like to see perform above others that you have?
Mark Hutchison:yet to see. Yes, but it's impossible. I would love to see Jim Morrison in the Doors. I would love to see the Doors.
Alex Gadd:That's what bucket list questions are all about. It doesn't have to be constrained by reality in any way.
Mark Hutchison:That's fine, and I don't know if anybody. I think Raymond Zarek passed away. I don't know if John Densmore or Robbie Krieger is still there, but Robbie Krieger, I think, is still alive. I can consume so much of the documentaries or or whatever information I can see and read and there's still so many unanswered questions, but it's, it's, yeah, very sad. I love the stuff from the doors, all of it, and you know my kids don't get it at all. They'll hear some songs, they'll understand it, but I love it, it all. Any album, all the albums live, whatever I'd love to hear. I think it was absolutely live. I think that was the Doors album. But Jim Morrison was on stage too. Got in a lot of trouble down by you and New Raven, didn't he?
Alex Gadd:He's a great performer Just had so much charisma on stage. I don't know firsthand, of course, but having seen video and read, that's a good one, really good one. And have you ever met?
Mark Hutchison:a musician. I've met Steven Tyler and I've met Joey Kramer, because they're from here and I'm in the sporting goods industry. But Joey Kramer would come into it's gone now, it was called Coleman Sporting Goods but he would buy all kinds of spandex and compression shorts and stuff like that. And Steven Tyler, I think one time he owns a home on Lake Winnipesaukee up in New Hampshire, but I don't know if he still has a home in Massachusetts or not. Joe Perry did, but I remember one time he bought a canoe and you don't think, think about you think he'd send somebody you know, right, me, a canoe but tying you down on the top of a jeep, grand wagoneer. I think it was at the time. But those are probably really the only music celebrities I can't think of. Anybody else met with those guys. And I think joey cremer has a, a coffee business up here called I think it's Joey Kramer's Rock and Roasters, maybe something like that.
Alex Gadd:They're not always as creative as you'd like them to be, but I don't blame him. He wants to get his name in.
Mark Hutchison:Oh, let me tell you quickly about my brother. Okay, my younger brother is a drummer. He was in a band called Bang out of San Francisco 100 years ago and they actually had to sell their tickets to try to fill a venue. They had to go out and try to sell their own tickets to guarantee to get the venue. But he tells me he bumped into Joey Kramer one time walking out of a hotel downtown San Francisco and they're carrying on a nice conversation and then Joey Kramer's car pulls up and he says hey, it was good talking to you. And my brother said something yeah, let's pick up this conversation next time we see each other.
Mark Hutchison:I'm thinking how's that going to happen? Oh, and I bumped into Alice Cooper one time in Portland Oregon. Okay, he was sitting having breakfast by himself and easy to recognize even though there was no makeup, and I stopped. I'm walking by with my, my breakfast it was a buffet style and I stopped and I look at him and he he looks up at me, he's by himself, and I thought should I sit down or should I give this man the privacy that maybe he wants or maybe you know, you never know with these guys they might enjoy some company. They don't. It's awkward eating by yourself oftentimes, but just uh, looked at him, smiled, gave him the nod and kept going you know, so yeah but that's it, it's a tough, you know.
Alex Gadd:You'd like to think you know so, yeah, but that's it. No, you'd like to think that they'd welcome just a normal person who's a music fan but isn't a rabid lunatic, right? Or spending some time with the people that they're actually making music for, but I think they're probably happier just being alone. Uh, you're, I think you're right I don't know for a fact and you never know maybe one day he's happy to be alone and the next day he wants him. You know.
Mark Hutchison:And it's almost possible to say something to these guys that somebody hasn't already said 10 times.
Alex Gadd:Yeah, it's interesting. Growing up in New York City as I did, you see, I saw people all the time. I walked by Lou Reed, I walked by David Bowie, in the streets. Just they're walking to get coffee or walking to their office or doing whatever it is they're doing, and my attitude has always been just Malone, don't even like, maybe give him the wink or hey, how are you? But don't talk to him and don't bother him. But it may be the only time you ever get to see these people, and is it worth it for you to maybe upset them a little bit by complimenting them? And in the long run, will it really upset them? It's hard to tell and it's. There's no one answer. It's never going to be the same, but I figure if they want to talk they'll say hey buddy, how are you Right?
Mark Hutchison:Good point, if you say hello, they acknowledge you and speak to you, you know. But yeah, I think they think everybody's going to say can we take a picture? Can I get your autograph?
Alex Gadd:Or can you actually get me tickets? It's a must be tough. And yet if he's sitting alone, it can't be that tough. And I mean, alice Cooper plays golf and he's out on the course with regular people all the time. Right, he's an avid. So what do you never know? All right, looking forward, do you have any tickets for shows coming up this year?
Mark Hutchison:Two weddings coming up this year and another trip plan, so no, but I'm going to work on that. Dave Matthews in Guilford, new Hampshire, that's in mid July. Um, I don't think I would go see the stones again, um, because I I think the last time was such a great experience that it's it's kind of unnecessary. And or, the stones still the stones. I didn't buy their newest album, although, just like Billy Joel coming out with a great song.
Alex Gadd:It's. I agree. Billy Joe song is really shockingly much better than I expected it to be. The Rolling Stones album has at least six above average Rolling Stones songs and it's really good. All right, hackney, it's changed my mind.
Mark Hutchison:That could change my mind about wanting to see them.
Alex Gadd:Yeah, I'm seeing them Memorial Day weekend.
Mark Hutchison:Oh, nice, and is that in New York or Connecticut?
Alex Gadd:At MetLife Stadium in.
Alex Gadd:New Jersey, the only big enough to house those bands. That's fantastic. Bringing me back, yeah, yeah, I'm really excited about that. But my next show is actually the black crows at radio city music hall. So I mean, I've never seen the black crows and they just reformed after breaking up for years and years and years. So I'm excited to see them, and I'm going to see the foo fighters at city field in queens later in the summer as well, and then deaf leopard in fact, I think I saw dave grohl at the u2 concert in a video and he was singing.
Mark Hutchison:He was standing up singing his. That would have been something. I wonder if, uh, he could have stepped on stage, but he was in the audience, so he was just having fun.
Alex Gadd:And that was at the Sphere. That was the last night their residency at the Sphere, so he was definitely into it.
Mark Hutchison:Yeah.
Alex Gadd:Singing along, just loving it. It's great. Well, what have I not asked you, Mark, that I need to know about your journey through live music? Have you ever seen Chandler's friends band flip?
Mark Hutchison:turn? I have not, but of course, the lead singer has been in this house many times and I secretly recorded him one time and he's got a really interesting distinct voice and uh, they, they are paying their dues right now, as Chandler probably told you. You know um jamming everybody into a car and that we're buying an old van, and I think they're, I think they're talking about a concert bus now. So they're getting festivals and and this kid and that band and and his unique voice. Let's hope they make it big someday. Let's hope that they can sell out you know the Xfinity center Right there you go.
Alex Gadd:I will be there too, because Chandler turned me on to them and I think they're great. Mark, I've thoroughly appreciated talking with you today, getting to know you a little bit, and I hope that we get together in Bridgeport sometime or somewhere else, and catch up.
Mark Hutchison:That sounds great. I had a blast. I hope that somebody finds me interesting, but it was a pleasure, thank you.
Alex Gadd:I found you interesting. So thank you so much, mark. That's it for today's conversation. Thank you for joining us. We'll be back next Tuesday and if you like what you heard today, we'd appreciate it. If you would like and subscribe or follow, to make sure you get notified about every new episode. And please tell your friends Additionally, we want to know what you think. Please leave us a comment and we'll try to respond to every one. The Rock and Roll Show podcast is a World Highway Media production. I'm your host, alex Gad, and until next time.