Episodes
5 days ago
5 days ago
Venue director and musician, Russ Gusetti, shares some of his favorite things in Rhode Island, how he started playing concertina, and then takes us back through a bit of the history of Providence's Irish Session over the decades! At the end of the episode, you'll hear the lead track from Pendragon's Live At Blackstone River Theatre album "Brogan's / The Silver Spear". // Interview recorded May 31st, 2022 at Blackstone River Theatre// Intro music by Cedros// Hosted by James Toomey // /// If you enjoy the episode please leave a rating or review wherever you're listening right now! ///
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
On this mini-episode, Russell Gusetti provides some of the most practical advice a musician can do to get attention, as well as what not to do... and a lot of the reasons why he continues to do what does with regard to shows.Don't forget to head over to Diamond Hill Park in Cumberland, Rhode Island for the 10th Annual Summer Solstice Festival this Saturday, June 18th! More info is available at riverfolk.orgAs you heard in the previously-released full episode, Russ talked about how Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame inductee, Ken Lyon, played with Pendragon for a period of time. One of the most popular songs they performed together was a rendition of Doc Watson's song "Handsome Molly" featuring Ken on bass and vocals. The song is from Pendragon's 2005 album Artistic License and I've included it for you at the end of the episode. I hope you enjoy it! // Interview recorded May 31st, 2022 at Blackstone River Theatre// Intro music by Cedros// Hosted by James Toomey // /// If you enjoy the episode please leave a rating or review wherever you're listening right now! ///
Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Thursday Jun 09, 2022
For this episode, I catch up with the executive director of Blackstone River Theatre, Russ Gusetti. In our conversation we talk about his unfortunate introduction to playing guitar that ended up being an overall benefit in his life, we also discuss how his small theatre came together and got to be known all around the world, what it was like being in the band Pendragon for 34 years, and of course, we get into what you can expect from their 10th annual Summer Solstice Festival that's taking place at Diamond Hill State Park on June 18th.Speaking of that... head on over to Instagram or Facebook to follow Where The Living Room Used To Be and find out how you could WIN 2 tickets to this year's festival!!! Interlude song order: "Restless Waters" by Pendragon from their album Live at Blackstone River Theatre (originally written by Jon Campbell) The Vox Hunters with Torrin Ryan live at BRT Summer Solstice Festival in 2015 "Humours of Tulla / Star of Munster" by Pendragon from their album Live at Blackstone River Theatre // Interview recorded May 31st, 2022 at Blackstone River Theatre// Intro music by Cedros// Hosted by James Toomey // /// If you enjoy the episode please leave a rating or review wherever you're listening right now! ///
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Five shares some of his favorite things from Rhode Island... including a couple of cool beach spots, a nostalgic pizza place and where to get it these days, and a century-old tradition that happens each summer in Cranston! At the end of the episode check out a couple of Five's favorite tracks from his new project, Long Time Coming Volume 1! Enjoy "R.E.S.P.E.C.T feat. Wardo" followed by "Lace Em Up feat. Vendetta" // Interview recorded May 16th, 2022 via Zoom// Intro music by Cedros// Hosted by James Toomey // /// If you enjoy the episode please leave a rating or review wherever you're listening right now! ///
Thursday May 26, 2022
Thursday May 26, 2022
On this mini-episode, Five passes along a holistic view to music, what believing in yourself really means as an artist, and one of the core reasons he continues to push himself to create. At the end of the episode, you'll hear a posse track Five did entitled "Summer Freestyle" that was produced by 8th Wundah and features Raise, the late Hammer Beanz, and Milez Grimez. // Interview recorded May 16th, 2022 via Zoom// Intro music by Cedros// Hosted by James Toomey // /// If you enjoy the episode please leave a rating or review wherever you're listening right now! ///
Friday May 20, 2022
Friday May 20, 2022
On this episode, I speak with hip hop artist, Five, where he shares what goes into his complex writing process, the experiences he's had winning several bars challenges, working with many other great artists from Rhode Island, and what he's looking to achieve with the release of his latest project, "Long Time Coming Volume 1" Interlude song order: "I'm Back" Five's verse from "The Story of Jacob pt. 2 (Cypher)" by Joe Bruce & Clarkwork "Franchise Report Freestyle (feat. DJ Franchise)" from Long Time Coming Volume 1 "If I Could" from Long Time Coming Volume 1 // Interview recorded May 16th, 2022 via Zoom// Intro music by Cedros// Hosted by James Toomey // /// If you enjoy the episode please leave a rating or review wherever you're listening right now! ///
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
Christian Caldarone shares his experience record shopping on Thayer St., tells the story of a chance encounter with Buddy Cianci, and passes along creative ways to catch a show. The end of the episode features one of my favorite Steadystate songs "Two Moons So Low In The Sky" // Interview recorded March 17th, 2022 at Christian's home in Lincoln, RI // Intro music by Cedros // Hosted by James Toomey // /// If you enjoy the episode please leave a rating or review wherever you're listening right now! ///
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
In this mini-episode, Christian Caldarone shares his perspective of success, the level of love he has for the Rhode Island music community, and the ways he gets through writer's block.Plus, you can find out why I included "Figure 8" from High Planes' new album Ghost Town at the end of the episode. // Interview recorded March 17th, 2022 at Christian's home in Lincoln, RI// Intro music by Cedros// Hosted by James Toomey // /// If you enjoy the episode please leave a rating or review wherever you're listening right now! ///

A podcast about Rhode Island's music scene
Hey everyone, it's James!
As a touring musician and board member of the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame I knew there were stories of our state's rich musical history that many (including myself) may not know.
I started this podcast to shine light on these incredible performers from a diverse selection of genres; and learn about their careers - how they got their start, where they played shows, and the other bands and musicians that performed along beside them - in hopes of archiving RI's dynamic music scene and showcasing the artists representing our country's smallest state.
Hosted by James Toomey
Est. March 2019
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Header photo by James Lastowski
Shot during my interview with Chachi Carvalho at Beatbox Studio