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Tales from the Green RoomWelcome to Tales from the Green Room - Backstage conversations from popular music venues around the country curated by Mount Tam Media. Author: Mount Tam Media
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 Sweetwaters green room during the venues 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. Language: en Genres: Music, Music History, Music Interviews Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Greg Loiacono and Stingray - “We Don’t Talk, We Just Play”
Episode 49
Tuesday, 27 January, 2026
Guests: Greg Loiacano – vocals, guitar Michael Urbano – drums Vicki Randle – percussionIn this episode of Only in the Green Room, we sit down with Greg Loiacono & Stingray, a Bay Area super-group built on deep respect, serious groove, and a whole lot of joy. What started as a solo recording session for Greg Loiacano quickly turned into something much bigger when drummer Michael Urbano stepped in—and the chemistry was instant. Add longtime collaborator and powerhouse percussionist Vicki Randle, and Stingray was born.The trio talks about the unspoken language that defines their music: listening more than talking, playing for the song, and letting structure and feel guide everything. Influenced by classic soul, R&B, funk, and rock—from Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye to Sly Stone and beyond—Stingray’s sound feels timeless but alive in the moment.We dig into:How the band formed organically (and accidentally)Why joy and laughter are non-negotiable onstageThe rare magic of musicians who truly listen to one anotherPlaying parts instead of overplayingBalancing Stingray with busy touring and recording schedulesRecording at the legendary 2200 Studios and feeling the weight of Bay Area music historyWhat’s next: new singles, more shows, and getting back into the studioWith lineup support from Tom Ayer’s, Kofi Brown, and Danny Eisenberg, Stingray is prioritizing what matters most—great songs, great vibes, and genuine connection.If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when seasoned musicians stop chasing “projects” and start chasing feeling, this conversation says it all.New singles out now:Come Back HomeI Hope We Get to DanceRecorded backstage, moments after finishing their November 2025 set at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California —because the best conversations always happen only in the green room.Greg Loiacono. Founder of Stingray, is best known as a gritty rock and soul man of legendy San Francisco rock band, The Mother Hips and his collaborations with Chris RobinsonVicki Randle has recorded and/or toured with Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, George Benson, Lionel Richie, Kenny Loggins, Celine Dion, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Branford Marsalis, Jeffrey Osborne, Laura Nyro and Lyle Mays. She appeared in the HBO documentary Mavis!. She became the first female permanent member of the Tonight Show Band with Branford Marsalis, starting in May 1992 and continuing through May 2009.Michael Urbano toured extensively with John Hiatt (1995–1999), as one of Hiatt's "Nashville Queens" that included bassist Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello) and guitarist David Immergluck (Counting Crows). He also spent time as a drummer Smash Mouth. Before Smash Mouth, Urbano had played drums with The Spent Poets, The Kinetics, Deathray, Third Eye Blind, John Hiatt, Black Lab, Cracker, Paul Westerberg, Red House Painters, Willy DeVille, Camper Van Beethoven, and Sheryl Crow.[2]https://gregloiacono.com/
