Behind The Scene

Frank Zummo of Sum 41 on Tour Bus Truths

This week on Behind the Scene with Gunz, Sully and Dicky Barrett, we chat about what touring really costs, from bus life and backstage grind to the split-second joy of a great show. Then Frank Zummo joins to connect performance to wellness and mental strength, sharing how his work with kids and his new book turn hard lessons into something useful.  • The Defiant lineup and how a “supergroup” actually comes together  • Tour bus life as survival training, including the unglamorous rules  • Small clubs versus massive festivals and the challenge of staying connected  • A Lollapalooza 1994 memory that captures the backstage chaos of the era  • Breathwork, recovery, and wellness habits that support longevity on stage  • Sum 41 rebuilding, ending at a peak, and the fear that follows the final show

Vinnie Fiorello on The New Punk Rock Playbook

This week, we pull back the curtain on what actually moves the needle for bands right now, from streaming algorithms to live shows. Vinny Fiorello of Less Than Jake joins us to talk personal brand, label realities, the modern “jetpack” moment, and how the Punk Rock Museum keeps the scene’s history alive without trapping it in the past. We dive into: • Touring momentum and why the live show still converts • Algorithms pay-to-play and the fight for attention • How labels can help and what they cannot fix • Social media backlash and the value of authenticity

Matt Young of Bravado on The Merch Economy

In this episode, Matt Young of Bravado gets real about why merchandise is the lifeblood of touring and how a t-shirt can matter more than a stream.    • Why modern touring is all about tickets and t-shirts • Merch creates an emotional connection point • Merch is the last physical link in a digital music era • What big-tour merch logistics really look like  • Practical must-dos for a young band’s first merch drop • What record merch sales at festivals signal about fan demand • Unique merch ideas and the value of an iconic logo Make sure to check out Bravado @BravadoUSA on Instagram, and their website, Bravado.com.

Kevin Lyman on the Warped Tour from Inception to Popularity to Rebirth

We catch up with Kevin Lyman of Warped Tour as the famous annual punk/ska pilgrimage ramps up for a comeback this year. Kevin reflects on the work that makes live music feel electric and talks about everything from surviving the Altadena wildfires to building festivals where fans discover bands, crowd-surf, and feel genuinely understood. HIGHLIGHTS: • Kevin Lyman’s Warped Tour return and international expansion • Altadena wildfire survival and how rebuilding really looks • Why a new generation is showing up to concerts • What changed in festival logistics, liability, and paperwork • Keeping ticket prices affordable and using sponsors for value • The Warped Tour mix of genres, diversity, and fan discovery • Backstage chaos stories from human cannonballs to tour bus antics You do not want to miss it. Subscribe for more music industry conversations, share this with your music-loving friends.

Scott Friedman of Ticket Talk on Rising Ticketmaster Prices and What Fans Can Do

This week we talk with ticketing watchdog Scott Friedman about why concert ticket prices feel out of control and why the DOJ settlement does not change much for fans. We dig into bots, venue control, and the harsh reality that face value seats for the biggest tours are basically gone. • DOJ settlement fallout and why the monopoly debate continues • Why regular fans cannot compete with ticket bots • What the FTC lawsuit could change and why progress feels slow • How Live Nation venue ownership limits artist leverage • The Slack leak about gouging and what it signals • Why some tours show empty seats while “outlier” shows get crushed on resale Check out TicketTalknetwork.com