Tag Archives: NAMM Show

SHE ROCKS AWARDS 2024

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There is no better way to escape Boise winter weather, than heading to Anaheim for the January NAMM Show, and She Rocks Awards!

Check out the WIMN, Women’s International Music Network, and the She Rocks Podcast HERE. I watched founder Laura B Whitmore come out front several times, and watch this show with pride. Many from these groups also led some wonderful NAMM panels on female empowerment in the industry.

This awards show is unlike any other, honoring female performers and audio technicians. I am so honored to have been invited again, to cover this event. Susanna Hoffs from The Bangles, was the co-host of the show.

I arrived in time to grab a few red carpet photos, including this of Debbie Gibson.

Debbie Gibson Photo

There were so many great performers and appearances. Debbie Gibson, did a great set of her hits. Susanna Hoffs did “Hazy Shade of Winter.” I loved seeing a set from the band Vixen with Britt Lightning. They have a new song! You might not know the name Laura Karpman, but there’s a good chance you know of songs she has scored for TV and film, including the recent movie “American Fiction.”

This event is so worth the price of admission, as you get almost 3 hours of great entertainment, a wonderful buffet meal, and swag bag.

This year my friends Niccole and Trudy from Boise, attended. They had purchased a couple of raffle tickets, and later I heard my friend Niccole’s name called. She had won a custom set of in-ear monitors, worth about $2000!

It is said that only 5% of audio engineers in the music business are women. I wish I could see this number rise. It was super exciting for me to see Sylvia Massy. She has produced and won awards for bands like Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Prince, Johnny Cash, Jason Isbell, and many other artists.

<<<<<<< NERD ALERT >>>>>>>
I LOVE how innovative Sylvia Massy’s recording techniques are! Check out her STUDIO PAGE. She thinks outside the box, and creates some unique sounds. Having a good producer might be even more important than having a good songwriter or musician. They can make or break a record. I’ve been watching Sylvia invent things for years.

Want a great drum sound without such loud symbols? Use a HOSE!

Because…IDAHO…

I could go on, but get stuck in your own rabbit hole by subscribing to her stuff! @SylviaMassyKnowsStuff.

Didn’t get to attend? WATCH THE SHE ROCKS AWARDS HERE!

After the She Rocks Awards, I went to a Creator VIP Party hosted by Gibson. This was my first year invited to this, and it was so much fun! People with a podcast, YouTube channel, or blog, gathered to network and listen to great music. The food and drinks were free. People stood around visiting while eating cotton candy from LED holders, and we were given LED concert wristbands they synced to the live music. At one point the NAMM president John Mlynczak got on stage and spoke. He made a point to emphasis, “YOU BELONG HERE.” It just felt good to hear.

I went through a heavy amount of Imposter Syndrome. Most of the people around me were from L.A. or Hollywood, and most seemed to know each other. Anyone who asked where I was from, seemed surprised to hear the answer.

There was a photo booth at this event. I wandered into it at the end, and was told to put my hands on these metal plates. A photo was taken, and I was told to wait outside. I hadn’t realized this was an “Aura Photo,” and then the most California thing happened. A woman gave me a reading of my colors, saying I was a dreamer, and liked to do things for my community. What a great ending to a wonderful day!

It’s great to return to Boise though, and we have our first live session of the year tomorrow at noon!

COMING SOON :
FEBRUARY 14TH-JOHN CRAIGIE 1pm
APRIL 30TH-ASHLEY ROSE 12N
MAY 4TH-RUSTY TINDER 12N

Wallflowers sold out quickly, and we just announced Nickel Creek and Andrew Bird 7/7 at Outlaw Field. Tickets go on sale Friday, don’t wait to get tickets to your favorite shows!

No plans for Valentine’s Day? Highly recommend MARCHFOURTH MARCHING BAND, 2/14 at Treefort Music Hall. Ashley Rose is opening, and all your friends will be there.

Here’s our events page to learn about ALL THE THINGS!

Have questions or comments? Email me.

QUEEN by Neal Preston and Behind the Scenes

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Who is the one band you wish you wish the most you had been able to see in concert? For me, it’s Queen. I grew up with a poster of Freddie’s striped costume above, and all the vinyl I could get my hands on, singing into open albums to hear myself better. Queen taught me harmonies, and a love for intellectual lyrics and musicality.

At The NAMM Show, there were surprises at every corner. I had been following news on this Queen book for quite some time. Every time I’d see press about it in my work emails, I’d get so curious about the book. When I found out that photographer Neal Preston was going to be at the Behind the Scenes booth signing copies, I knew I had to meet him. I wrote an email in hopes he was actually checking them during the convention. He actually replied and told me where and when to find him.

Neal Preston photo by Rochelle Smith

Neal Preston is someone you know. You know his photos, posters, album covers, magazines, documentaries, and more. This legend has spent 4 decades doing concert photography, best known as the Led Zeppelin U.S. Tour photographer. He has also worked with Springsteen, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Heart, Duran Duran, Live Aid, and Queen in Mexico and South America.

This book is a grand masterpiece, and I’m sure Freddie would approve. It’s a quality coffee table sized book, with many personal and tour photos of the band. As their tour photographer, Neal captured many sides of each member of the band. He also includes stories and conversations he’s had with members of the band. If you or anyone you know is a huge Queen fan, this book is a must-have. I’ve shown it to a few friends who flip through it and say, “wow, this is awesome.” I am going to savor each page of this book, and take it all in. I was on the air at a local rock station the night Freddie Mercury passed away, and announced it live, with a lump in my throat. The phone just kept ringing, as people hoped the news wasn’t true. It took me years to even be able to finish a Queen DVD or documentary without getting too emotional. This band had helped me out of some dark times growing up, where I could seclude myself and enter these colorful musical worlds they had created.

More photos of your favorite singers can be found in the book above.

The booth was very busy at NAMM, as everyone wanted Neal’s autograph. As he signed my copy, I asked if there was one specific memory of Queen that stood out to him. He just said, “It’s all in the book.”

The Behind the Scenes group is an amazing resource of suicide prevention information. Some of the proceeds this day were going to this amazing organization.

Specifically for Entertainment Technology Professionals, Basic Needs, Counseling, and Funeral Assistance grants are available through this website. Behind the Scenes resources are impressive. Counseling includes clinical, psychological, social work, and substance abuse help.

Purchase the Neal Preston Queen book HERE, and know you’re helping this worthy cause of suicide prevention.

Donate HERE!

Have questions or comments? Email me.

NAMM 2022

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Alice in Wonderland
THIS is how you do a booth at NAMM!
Deering Banjos
Steve Vai Guitar
Lego Guitar
Fruity Ukes

Imagine having Treefort inside and out, and adding a huge convention convention center filled with around a thousand booths of instruments on 3 different floors, software, stage lighting, DJ equipment, workshops, and performers. Last time it was 4 floors, but there still wasn’t enough time to see everything there. Imagine different sounds every 10 feet, where you can play your favorite guitar, drums, keyboards, ukuleles, and new inventions you haven’t even seen yet. This is NAMM.

A broadcaster’s grant helped me make this journey possible, and I’m very thankful to the Publicists who gave me media credentials for press coverage. It’s been a rough year with health stuff, and I really needed this bit of doing my favorite thing.

Fog Bubbles

I know it’s silly, but I love this fog bubble machine. I saw it during the 2020 NAMM Show, and fell in love. I’d love to see a club here get one of these. Kids love this machine.

I hit the ground running with a Women of NAMM after-party at a hotel. It was a great networking event, we were given a free beverage and fancy appetizers, while hearing music and speakers. Hotel Row is filled with many extra performances and events during the convention. NAMM is full of crazy cool tech. The workshops and seminars are really informative. I attended events like Sound Advice From Women Visionaries, hands-on immersive audio, and a double session on how to make effective videos for Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. This one was so interesting, breaking down what elements are needed at what time to keep your audience, and the importance of the first 3 seconds.

Robots

These were creepy and cool, full human-sized robots. No one else was with them, and there was a strange quietness compared to the surrounding cacophony all around.

I was inside a hotel, when I heard a sound that drew me outside. I was lucky to catch part of a sound check with Preservation Hall Jazz Band, from New Orleans. There is every style of music you can imagine, performing somewhere at NAMM.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Electronic, organic, and everything in between can be heard in the convention center. This guys doesn’t work in the booth, but makes this suitcase drum sound amazing.

Suitcase Drum

Some of my favorite things over the weekend, included meeting Neil Preston, author of this delightful Queen coffee table photo book. I will be reviewing this very soon, with much more information including the suicide prevention non-profit he is associated with.

Saturday night I attended the NAMM TEC Awards. This is nerdness to the nth degree .It honors brand new tech, some of it isn’t even in stores yet. Last NAMM I saw Joni Mitchell at this award show. I wrote a separate blog about this, products, software, mics and preamps that are the BEST of the best. Let your nerd/freak flag fly by reading the blog HERE.

My absolute favorite event was the industry drum circle. The founders of REMO drums were an incognito part of the 300+ people circled around between hotels. I grabbed a seat and small djembe, and found myself playing for an hour until I had to run to get my TEC Award credentials. I’ve done drum jams and circles for years, but never one this large. I can’t describe to you the power of this event. All instruments were provided. Everyone of any age or background was encouraged to play, reminded to breathe. We made up rhythms that would change in speed and intensity as the group felt it together. It was impossible to think about anything but drumming, and the people smiling all around you.

If you write, play, produce, film, DJ, dance, or even just listen to music, you will absolutely love The NAMM Show. Plan ahead for next year’s show, April 13-15 2023. Your entire family will love this, plus it’s near Disneyland. I really hope to be there next year, and so should you!

Have questions or comments? Email me.
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