Myrony Musings with Musician Alan Jax Bowers

Hi, and welcome to the That's Myrony podcast. My name's Alysha Myronic, and I am your host and creator of this fun new concept. But first, what exactly is myrony? Well, myrony or my irony are those crazy coincidences that happen in life that you just can't explain. It's also another word for sign or synchronicity. We've all experienced these throughout our lives. But what if you started paying closer attention to your myronies? What if you started connecting the dots, or, as I like to say, follow the spiritual breadcrumbs that could have an impact so big that it changes your life forever? Not to mention the lives of others. Now, that's myrony.

Everyone, welcome back to That's Myrony podcast. I am so excited. I know I say every single time but I'm really excited because this is one of my best friends from high school who's joining me today. Alan Jax Bowers. So a little bit about Alan Alan Jax Bowers is a drummer percussionist and producer and owner of mud cut South studios in Englewood, Florida, and is currently performing live and doing studio work and production for clients all over the world. He has been playing since the age of 10, and is studied with some great players like the late Ralph McDonald, we'll Calhoun from living color, Carl Latham and the staff of drummers collective in New York City. His musical journeys regularly bring him to St. Barts Key West Jamaica, Barbados, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Disney, Virgin Atlantic and Norwegian Cruise Lines and beyond. He has shared recording credits with Lee Sklar, Kenny Aronoff and rich Redman just to name a few, and has had the pleasure of performing with Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer band and club Trini, including 10 times CMA Musician of the Year winner Nachman mechanically. Alan also proudly endorses a so many drum and percussion companies actually too many to say, but let's go meet Alan and hear all about his Miran ease that has led him to connect to some pretty cool famous musician friends. And we even have a surprise at the end of the episode. So let's go mi Allen Jack Bowers. Hi, Alan, thank you so much for joining me on that's my rainy podcast.

You got it. Thanks for having me.

Oh, you know what's really crazy you I mean, totally geez, want to talk about our my ironic connection and stories. And that's what we're gonna go into. But you are my oldest and dearest friend. Well, besides being one of my oldest and dearest friends, you're the first one ever on my podcast that literally knows like almost my entire crazy story that I've been putting out to the world now. And you can actually validate so much of it. That is like, No, this chick isn't just batshit crazy.

No, no, you're not, you're not.

We just had some fun stories to share. But you know, the concept of irony are the crazy coincidences that happen in life that we can't explain. It's also a more modern day word for sign or synchronicity. However, it has its own definition, because it is synchronicity in motion. You see a sign. And then there's an action to take that continues this progression. And I love to say it's the divine design that interweaves us together. And as I mentioned in your bio, which is unbelievable of the people that you know,

I get around Yeah, yeah, as

a musician, as a drummer and percussionist. I mean, your story is unbelievable. So I'm so excited to like, kind of start from the beginning of like, you know, our friendship from when we were in high school, to where you are now. And then like, all the cool people you're connected to. And so and I'm just gonna be putting this invitation and I kind of talked to this off, you know, before we started recording, but I want to have you as a guest co host so we can bring to your cool friends. And here, they're my ironies. And we actually have one that I'm so excited about that to the listeners, there's a big announcement at the end of this, so I can't wait to share that. Right. Yeah. So okay, so going back to I mean, we're both from Sparta, New Jersey, tiny suburb town about an hour outside of New York City. And Sparta was an interesting place, right. It was like it was still is it still is That's right. All right, because I always like to let the listeners know Where are you calling in from?

Englewood Beach, Florida is where I live. I'm on the West Coast.

On the west coast, you're on the west.

I'm on the west coast of

Florida. Oh, West Coast of Florida and like, like, Allen, do you know your geography? I do. I do. But you also lived up closer to where we grew up for quite a while, like you'd moved to Florida. A few years ago. Three years, you have been here full time. Okay, but you were kind of like in the closer to where we grew up. Like you still have a lot of connections with. With with friends back there, which Oh, absolutely. Which would be really fun for us to share the episode and to people. That'll be like, Holy geez, I remember that girl.

He's alive. She's alive. Right,

exactly. So I never went to any of the reunions or any of that, either. Yeah, no, we're basically we're a grade apart. So we weren't in the same grade. But you and I had this unbelievable friendship from the beginning. Like I can't remember exactly when we realize how close we were but we have this soul connection. That is not anything and I want people to know you can have soul connections between a guy and a girl and and not be anything more than just an amazing friendship. People like you can't be a true friend with a with a guy who's a girl. It's like, No, you

can't No, you can we're proof of that. actual proof.

I think we might be one of the only ones that are like like that proof. Because most of the time, it's not like that. But we had such an interesting connection where there were so many times you would call me and the phone would not ring and I would just pick up. Oh, yeah, the old school landlines. Yes, the old lines and like vice versa. Like we were always just so in sync in the most interesting way. So I have to ask before we dive into your crazy, moronic story. In the music world. Where are you in? Like your spiritual beliefs? What do you think of because I represent So for anybody who's listening in the podcast for the first time I represent God as love with an awesome sense of humor through my little logo. For anybody who's watching on YouTube, there's a little wink, I call them Winky. And, and the idea behind this and I'm just the first I'm gonna put it out there, I somehow spent 24 hours with God back on May 10 2015. I know how unbelievably crazy that sounds. But I have proof of all of this because I had literally took pictures before things happened. And the most and the most amazing things have unfolded because of it. And but really, I believe I'm here to with so many others to break the box of what people think of who God is. And when I met God, it was just an omnipresent, beautiful energy. And believe me, I have no idea why I was the one chosen to you know, experience this. And anybody who wants to actually hear the spiritual story, they can go to Episode 57 through 59 of my podcast and also Episode One explains where my Rainey came from in the first place. But I will say God had like the biggest ego but was so full of love bounced himself out. He thinks he's really funny, too. And I feel like our lives have shown so many of these my ironies, you know, and then it's so funny because you know, me from so back then, you know, my last case is literally my ironic just pronounced or just spelled differently, because everyone has these my ironic experiences, just not the way I spell my last name. So with that little not very long explanation. Where are you in your beliefs?

I mean, I, I was raised in the church. I went to church when I was a kid, like a lot of us did. Catholic. Yeah, me too. Definitely fell out of that whole thing. I mean, a long time ago. But I'm definitely I hate to say it this coined way but I'm not religious. I'm spiritual. And I am it's true. I hate to use that coined phrase, but no, it's that describes it to a tee. You know, I do indeed believe there is something greater than all of us as you do. It's not it has nothing to do with what you do on Sunday morning. But that's, you know, but um, yeah, so, I mean, I just, I think, between my family and my own kids and just life you know, it just, you know, it's it's everything, everything comes together. Yeah, in its own way. And you know, whether it's ironic my ironic whatever.

Now, you know, the difference between ironic and my ironic because my ironic is bringing in the spiritual side and we have so much to share about that. But you know, the the most interesting thing that happened with me is I you know, I was brought Catholic, I turned against the Catholic Church, not that there's anything wrong for those that are still part of it. But I just was always like, If I lived in another part of the world, that's what I would believe. So how can I say this is the only way of being? Well, as you know, my story of how I got married and 60s, in the hospital, I was born engaged in married in the same hospital. And my father passed away one week later, which I know you've lost both your parents as I've lost both my parents. And of course, that always makes a massive impact. And I'm going to ask you a question in just a second. But it was my father that I discovered I had mediumship abilities. And he gave me one of the most profound messages. And he's like, Alicia, you need to go back to the Holy Family. And I was like, wait, what? So this, to me is like, okay, Alicia, you're not making this shit up. Because that was not in your head, your universe girl. You didn't believe in God, you didn't believe in Jesus. You didn't believe in the Bible because of religion of Catholicism. And I was like, Catholicism is the answer. And he's like, No, it's like Tao is with the Holy Family. That was one of the most powerful messages I was ever given. And it allowed a door to open, that allowed me to step outside the box of God as religion. And that was part of this journey that I went on. And anybody wants to hear that more again, 57 through 59. But going into that, I mean, since your parents have passed, which of course I'm so sorry, because that's always, you know, it's just freaking hard and difficult and, you know, still weird. They leave you signed, do they leave you my ironies, you connect to that?

I mean, I'm turning into my father more by the day, which is not a bad thing, because he was a wonderful human.

Your dad was, he was sweet. And he was hysterical, too. And

he was really funny. Most people. I mean, there was some people, you know, like Pete and Kevin, and you know, my old friends I've had even longer than you. They all knew my father. You know, my father was a big guy. He was a forest. He was kind of intimidating sometimes. But he was hysterical, you know? But um, yeah, I mean, it's, it's,

well, for those that have lost loved ones. There's a really beautiful book called signs, the secret signs, the secret language of the universe by psychic medium, Laura Lynn Jackson, I highly recommend anybody to check that out if they want to see the signs, which now, you know, are now called My ironies. Because they love to leave a sign so they can leave it through a music. license plates all the time I go up with

numbers. Yeah.

thing, what numbers and you know, we'll go into that another time. But, you know, it's just like, if all we need to do is pay attention, and one of the things and even though why I'm saying this because we have we never know this may be the first time somebody's even hearing this, because of people that you know that you share that you're like, Hey, I was on this podcast, listen to my interview. And I like to call my irony, my ironies, spiritual breadcrumbs, because it can be sometimes a giant like loaf of bread that just like hit you across the face, like you're like, you cannot deny it. But truthfully, it also can be the smallest crumb. But the what the difference is, and in my first episode, it's called discover my irony and your inner superpower. Because you see a sign, you then got get a gut reaction. And then there's an action to take. And in most cases, it's to connect to somebody, which that's what we're gonna lead into. Yeah. lead into all your amazing, unbelievable connections in the music world. So I want to go into I mean, you've been I mean, you've been a drummer percussionist ever since since fourth grade since fourth grade, so I was 10. Yeah. And then, oh, my, oh my god, I just like I'm remembering all I'm remembering all our connections because I almost forgot of the other one. Because first they were the Limpopo was

my high school band. Yep. Yeah.

That was you guys. You guys were so good. I know. I know. So

I listen to that stuff. Now. Because I digitize the tapes. We still have some tapes

you can use. I love the one.

I think about I listened to it now. And it's like, I can't believe we at 15 and 16 years old. All of us. That's what we create.

Oh, it was unbelievable. And you know what, let's give like let's give a little shout out to Dave Chartists who? No longer then so let's share a little bit about Limpopo. So let's let's let's dive into because they you. Okay, so we graduated high school in the mid 90s. And so we were part of the grunge era.

We didn't know did at the time, but we were.

Yeah, so we were Pearl Jam. And I mean, like, let's let's, let's just bring the listeners where we were at and what the Limpopo was was and really truly the power of the Limpopo was.

It was yeah, it was. I mean, yeah, we had our own thing. Your day was a crazy writer. And, and I, you know, I learned a lot from him. We all learned a lot from each other. And Pete and Joe and you know, it was it was,

well, let's just say the names of everybody who was in it. Like, let's like

Pete Marceau, Joe Cole surdo. Rob Smith was in the band in the early days. And if you remember him, he was he was, he was a year older than me. Remember, because I think there was a Rob Smith, who was a who was in migrate? I don't remember. But yeah. Rob was in the band in the early days. And then he was not. And then. Yeah, it was it was the band was very different. I mean, even now, it's like, no, I don't know, we didn't change the world by any stretch. But we changed Sparta for a little while.

Oh, my God. Did you ever and I mean, all the shows we would go to and there was so much fun. And yeah, for what? What did end up happening? I know he passed away, Dave. But what ended up happening with Dave?

Dave passed away? Oh, God, I'm sorry, I don't I want to say it's got to be close to 10 years.

It was a long time. But like, what what actually happened? Truthfully?

I don't know. You don't know. I don't remember. It was something. I remember someone said something to me that I didn't I didn't remember this. And if I did, I forgot. I believe he had heart issues when he was a kid. Oh, wow. I think it had something to do with that. But I don't know. Please don't quote me on that. But Dave was a character. I mean, when he was when we were in our teens, and I used to I actually I saw him and his wife not long before he passed away. They lived in Madison, New Jersey. And I used to play a club there. And like literally one night, Dave and I not this Dave McBride, the gentleman I was playing with. We were coming in to the place as Dave and his wife were leaving. And that was the last time

I saw Well, that's frickin divine irony, don't you think?

I mean, it was It wasn't long. You know, before he passed, it was I want to say a month it was like Yeah,

well, there are some powerful things and I'd love to do so I am an intuitive. I'm an intuitive mentor, where I have these things called Soul sessions and I haven't even really been able to go too much into that with you but I want to do a soul session with you before you before we go into your part two with your surprise amazing guests whereas that will announce at the end of this but like think about that think about how powerful that is that you got to see him before and so I love the fact that unlike Hey Dave you're around we know it we you're here with us in this moment right now because of the energy of what the Limpopo is was so Okay, so moving on. Then there was your next band of God, what was what was little limit?

Oh, the limit? Yeah. With Eric Larsen, who was in my grade, I just actually cut a song forever. He's from me. He's in New York State. I don't talk to him that often. But he's in New York State now. I believe he's in Peekskill, Oh, okay. Okay. And, yeah, but he's there.

Well, the limit. I mean, that was a that was such a different because that was more like spin doctors side.

Yeah, that wasn't my band. If you remember originally, that was Dave Spina and Pete Grossman. Yes. And another friend of mine, Brendan Buckley. Who was the original drummer. If you remember, you know, Brandon. Yeah. You know, Brendan. Brendan, I always say this. God bless him. I love the kid. We're still friends to this day. But you know, Brendan is a bonafide rock star, you know, he plays for Shakira. Oh, yeah. He's been secure his drummer for 20 years.

That's Oh, my goodness. So

it's Brendan. Oh, wow. If you remember him from back then he was such a sweet kid. And he's still like, so humble. And he was because

I remember when it was the original, and then you start I was like, Oh my God. Yeah. When would he?

He went away to college. That's when I joined the band because he was a year older than even me and Eric, and I joined the band because LiPos were done at that point. Dave was off to college. If I remember, right, went to Duquesne, if I remember, right. I can't remember what I had for lunch on Tuesday, but I remember that from 30 years ago. But yeah, so it is so yeah, you know, Brendan is you

know, what's even crazier is that I was With Pete Grossman on we went with a group called performing arts abroad to summer before my senior year of high school, we went to Europe and traveled with 120 kids. And remember that and well see that's why it's funny. We're bringing up all the my ironic connections is like, Here you go. So, Pete, I think I was from the limit because of Eric Larsen. And I guess, Kirsten, when they dated, because I think that's how I got connected to the limit band, whatever.

A million years ago. This

is a million years ago. We're 45 here. You're you know, you're 47 girl. Yeah, you're 47 you're a little bit older than me, but we're only a year apart. But here's the thing. I somehow I Pete was the one that told his choir director because it was what Roxbury high school I believe Roxbury did I believe Roxbury. Roxbury did this program Sparta did not. And without even auditioning peds. Like she can sing and I got in. And so I traveled around Europe. For that, yeah, it was the crazy it was the craziest thing, how I got in and traveled around for like three weeks going to Belgium, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Holland and France. We were actually in Paris on Bastille Day. Yeah. And so then, so then now you became part of that band. Okay. So,

yeah, I haven't seen Pete or Dave Spina in 20 years. I can't remember the last time I saw either of them to be honest. Yeah. I see. Eric. Let me see Eric from time to time. He was at my old studio in Milford, Pennsylvania, before I moved down here, right before I moved, actually, so probably about three years ago, I think. And then I think I saw Eric and Sparta one time I was rolling through and me and him and Pete had lunch.

It was funny, you know, I remember seeing the picture. whatever social media, Facebook, Instagram or something like that, which is so funny. Crazy. It's so It's so crazy when you start a diner. Oh, I missed this bar at a diner.

Oh my God, the more you know, it's totally different.

I know. The really great one Jefferson diner.

Oh, that's still awesome. Jefferson is still badass. We used to just

go shoot pool and just we had so much fun. So much fun. Okay, so moving along in your musical Byronic story here. Okay, so after that, what was your next band? What was your next move? Oh, God. I know

I'm after the limit and you like at a high school and blah, blah, blah. I was studying music in New York dramas collective. I had some great teachers. Um, oh, I joined a band called Steel grass.

Those guys steel grass. bunch of times.

Yeah, it was I was like, 18

I mean, that was really good. I learned a lot

from those guys because they were like stellar musicians. And they were like, nine maybe 10 years older than me. Yeah. So that was like a life lesson thing. And musically and I was studying and no, that was a great experience. I really enjoyed it. I still keep in touch with them guys to obviously you know, it's crazy. But yeah, I did that band for a while. And that hooked me up ironically going back to Sparta

gotta start using the word not ironically. Oh my ironically I didn't even knew I said it. Just came as was so funny. I love everybody has had this so yeah, so my ironically from

that. Well, that would steal grass. That's how I hooked up with from good homes. You remember those guys? Yeah. When I used to go see those guys. Oh, God. You know, what? 13 years old?

Was it from good home? They used to travel Dave Matthews right? What's?

Yeah, either of them? Yeah. They actually got signed by the same guy to the label. RCA Records The same guy signed Dave Matthews sign from the homes.

Were you at the were we together when? What was it? Oh, the hoard festival when Dave Matthews Dave Matthews. Like there was. precedent was a sideshow band. Dave Matthews was there. It was like 50 Oh, this was way before anybody knew Dave Matthews.

Yeah, big. Big Head. Todd was on that bill too. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And the first time I saw Dave Matthews My life changed forever.

And that's I was with you has actually,

I don't think that was the first time I saw them. But that was a cool show. That was a cool day. And Blues Traveler was on that bill too. Well, right because Blues Traveler was part of the Horde tour. Which, you know, you know, my association with those guys. Were hold

on hold on. This is why we're so the idea. So the idea with my irony is that divine design that interweaves us together so I want to have the listeners hear the level of interweaving that goes along with your storyline. Even believable.

I mean, even just look at out the you know, the timeframe that you're talking about when we were in high school when you and I were 16 and 17 years old. I'm not friends, but they Dave Matthews. I've met Dave Matthews. No, no, but But um, he's a character by the way, but just look at just those. You said spin doctors. Blues Traveler. You know, I'm friends with those guys now.

I know. So let's keep going.

Sorry. It's my ironic it's not fun. Yeah. Ding ding ding ding. Oh,

speaking of Ding ding ding your nickname for me.

Oh, Danny. Yeah, I haven't used that recently, though.

Where did dinghy come from? I mean, am I a dumb blonde or something that you're like, Oh, dang. Oh, I don't know. It was a term of endearment for funniest thing. I mean, listener. It was like 30 years

ago. Give me a break.

I know. But your life changing? Well, most people would. People would take offense. I did take offense in the beginning. Oh, you

I remember the look on your face was like, what?

Because I'm like, Am I stupid? Thought I was like

thinking, I don't remember. explanation.

I will admit, you're the only one that can call me dinging and you still can to this day and probably until we're all may have to recycle that right. Bring it back. But that was really funny that you said Ding ding ding Yeah, I already knew I was gonna bring in Danny but you you really probably

did. I thought about that. I was gonna let that go. Because I did some things out.

No, no, I try to be as transparent as authentic and I don't let anything not be told. So I'm totally good with whatever. But yeah, that was a funny and then remember our other thing if you oh

no, no, no, no. Oh my god, like like the last like 29 years of my life didn't happen. It's crazy.

That's our connection. Like even when we get together you know when I was

just gonna say so funny. You say that? Because it's not ironic. Ironic. When you the first time you came down to the NAMM show. We hadn't seen each other and how many frickin years Oh my God and I was in Anaheim. And you were where were you living at that point? I remember

that day where I still am. Yeah, and you came down

and we just it was like we left off you know, we didn't know time.

I mean I still have not met your wife or your kids. I know is that crazy? make this happen I need to make a trip to Florida and I need to come meet them because you're I mean you got you're one you're one of the lucky ones you you got you know beautiful amazing wife super supportive maybe supported and like like that's awesome but you know it's so interesting because your story as a musician and or well as a drummer percussionist now and musician of course but you are one of the few people who didn't necessarily make it big but was able to create truly create a career doing what you love more than anything? Yeah, very grateful for that. And I will never forget how excited you would get over a symbol or a little all your little baby snare drum. I can see your drum kits in my back you can you see them. I can I can. I remember there was the sunburst like red or

that one's gone. Unfortunately. Yeah. Okay. First Pearl kit. Yeah, actually, ironically, that kit ironically, that kit. I sold that kit to Kurt Ludwig. Are you serious? And then I bought it back. I kid you not. He's not going off on this bike. Because he got to that timeframe. You know Kurt was in your grade I think and yeah, this was Tiffany was in migrate. But yeah, I sold he was working in Chicago at the time, I believe for the Blue Man Group. This was 20 years ago. Oh my goodness. Yes. And he bought that kit from me. And then like two years later, I bought it.

But I will like just for the listeners like I remember you got this little piccolo snare. And you were so excited about this piccolo snare and then you would you would talk to me about all your all your drum equipment. Like I have any fucking clue what you're sorry. I would just listen and I'd be like It's totally cool because I saw the passion was a mean and it's crazy that I remember the names of all your drum equipment like

seriously should see the crap I have now it's you think I had a lot of stuff back then? Seven drum kits back here seven

okay well let's get back on. Sorry. No, it's I know how much you love your drum kits and your Oh god, I literally can see the excitement of like when you receive something and you just be like, Oh my god, I just remembered one of your cars that

oh, the Chevette Yeah. Yeah, I got that car thing from my brother, even when I was like you're younger. And I remember I had that little green car.

Okay, so for the listeners. So one of the things was, Alan was like, I'm going to come pick you up in the vet. But Shiva gold pizza crap.

It was that was a cool car though. And it was a it was a four door Chevette even it wasn't even a cool two door.

So you had names for all your car. So then yes, you had the green.

I remember even what that thing was, but I called

the green blue green color. And we played with Bob.

And then once I got once I got to Jeeps though I never turned back. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 30 years and I'm on Jeep number God knows 10 at this point.

Yeah, I'll never forget that Chevette. And Bob was the way you said it. You're like, Hey, I'm gonna come pick you up in the vet.

I stole that from my brother too, because my brother had

a Chevette back so you weren't

I never I never claimed to be clever. Never. Not then not now that.

Okay, so. So moving on to getting to this interweaving of how all these things happen. So okay, so we want to go back because we did go on a tangent but good homes introduced you so they traveled they were big. They were really big.

We did a bunch of shows with them. Yeah.

from good homes was really big and like they were one of the opening bands for Dave Matthews. I do they open

for a lot of people you know, they had a lot of they did take Matthews Blues Traveler. Jones was born.

Oh, that's right. Because they were just part of that style of style music is it? I don't even know. I mean, it's like oh, I don't know. What would you call it? What did you learn whatever. Okay, so

the gym the gym ban saying? Yeah, the spin doctors.

Yeah, fish. I remember our fish concert. Oh, yeah. Did didn't we go to sea fish at Waterloo? Yeah, should I tell my fish story because it's pretty damn funny.

I don't know if I remember that. But okay, let's

go back. It was probably because, I mean, I saw Lollapalooza too, with when Pearl Jam with like the whole like everybody, like we were all at Lollapalooza two together with Pearl Jam and ministry. And I remember I was in I think you were the one that saved me. From the mosh pit. I'm almost positive you I was in right in front of Pearl Jam. And you're like, you was it you? Oh, that was really funny. I'm trying to remember who it was. I thought maybe it was you but one of the guys was like, oh, you should I get out. You're going to get killed. I was like, No, I want to see why you don't want to be in there. No. And then I started when I started getting tossed around a little bit and I like but I was on the outskirts. I was like, who got saved. Okay, so that was really funny because fish this actually connects to Pete Marceau. Okay. So I can't remember everybody that was involved. But I do remember where you came into this. So we were at Waterloo village. Er, and I was a pretty I have to admit, I wasn't like I was a pretty good girl like I wasn't in high school, drinking a lot or anything like that. And but this one time, we we go to this concert, and I forget who you were with. I remember her name was Heather. But we were drinking screwdrivers. And we ran out of orange juice. And so she and I are walking through the tailgating trying to find orange juice. So we couldn't find orange and we were boosted. And it did not take a lot for me to get wasted like half a beer and I was wasted. So I had fog cut to the level of what it was. That's a funny story listeners. So get ready. But we get back to everybody and there was a bowl of fruit. So we start dousing the fruit with vodka and eating the fruit and then whoever I was with and I believe her name was Heather. She starts throwing up and I was like, Oh, are you okay? And then there's me dying. I was like her and then knee. And literally to the point I just pass out, and everybody is like, we're gonna go into the concert. Pete doesn't have a ticket when you wake up fine. Pete. So, so I wake up in a field of cars. Just absolute mess. vomit, like, just unlike what happened, you know, I'm 16 years old or so I think I was 16 at the time. And it's a good thing. My parents are passed because, you know, story. Because it's so funny. The story gets even funnier and funnier. Is is one of definitely one of my best worst stories ever. So. So I wake up, I find pee. Thankfully, in somebody's car, there was another shirt I could change into. I'm so wasted. And Pete's like, you got to go find everybody. So I'm walking through and because it was Waterloo, and what how far is Waterloo? from Sparta? Like 20 minutes, like, yeah, so there were a lot of smart people. And I was like, Alicia, you okay? And I'm like, I gotta find my friends. That's all I kept saying. I gotta find my friends. I gotta find my friends. I somehow found all of you 1000s of people. Yeah. Oh, because we were with Kathy from Newton. Oh, Kathy Taylor. Yeah. I'm so glad you remember people's names because I saw

her. I saw her a few years back at the Rockaway Mall. Probably. Five, six years ago. She's married as a kid now. Yeah.

Ah, well, yeah. So Kathy, because that was actually the first day I smoked pot, too. This was this was a this was a big one for me. So anyway, I find you guys out of 1000s of people. And then I remember we're driving back and we stop at Dunkin Donuts. And I get like some something to settle my stomach. I'm like laying I don't know who's lap I was laying on like Joe's about to die who drove Oh, breeds me. I don't remember there because there were so many of us. I mean, it was it was a whole crew, like crew of people. And but we all stopped. It was like three cars worth and we all stopped at Dunkin Donuts and everybody was like getting you know, bagels crazy. What? But what's even funnier is I get home and my mom's still awake. And she's like, Oh, how was the concert? I was like, Oh, really good. But I'm really tired. So I'm gonna go to bed. So I wake up in the middle of the night have to run to the guest bathroom. I'm puking my guts out. I find grass up my nose. Like it was it was bad. It was really really, really bad. But what's even worse is the next day I had to work at the bird store, remember? Yes, I do. So listeners my first crazy job. So if you haven't heard I've had a lot of crazy things is I worked? It sounds really wrong. But an exotic bird store. Yes, you did. Not an exotic store. An exotic bird store. But hey, but those fuckers were like going off and and and Mrs. emerling knew that su emerling That was her name. Sue knew that we were all at this concert. So she had no she was just laughing at us who had to work because I mean, you think you have a hangover will add hundreds of birds squawking at the same time. So I think I had to work

the next day too. But yeah, but you didn't work in a bird store? No, I worked at I worked I worked at the marina with my dad. So

yeah, okay. Okay, so fun little side story that I think that's a funny story. Like I don't know how I found you guys. I'm so glad I did because otherwise I would have been stuck in

I don't remember being I don't remember being in really bad shape at that show. I remember being pretty even keel maybe I drove I don't know.

Yeah, I don't know. But I do know Kathy was it was somebody was had pot and it's like, oh, here try this and I took a hit so yeah, it was just a bad bad. You know, but when you're teenagers, you do fun crazy things. So live to tell about it. Yes. At least I survived. Yeah, moving on. So after that, where was your next move musically?

Um, after that, because that was the whole thing. And that's actually a little segue here because at that point with steel grass, that's when I actually started making my shift over to production. That's when I started doing studio stuff. I went into the studio with steel grass, and then I that's when I met on it mix Lydian studios because I started doing more original stuff steel grass was the original band. And I started that's where I realized that I had a knack for to do stuff, and so did other people. So I started playing drums on their records and stuff, which is what I still do here as you know. But next band wise I'm trying to think, because it's before I got involved in all the Buffett stuff and the truck rock stuff. There was some jam bands that I did some stuff with. I did a I did a hip hop thing. Did you ever meet Jai Dillon? Did you remember that name? He played bass with Bobby sidebars. You remember him? I played with him? He was a jersey guy. He was in Jefferson, I believe? Well, I've just thrown out some names. Yeah. But I'm still doing original stuff, doing more records and stuff. And then that's how I got into into the production thing. And then, you know, is kind of it's never, you know, inevitably going to get here is when I got into the Buffett stuff. I got hooked up doing, you know, the trap rock thing as they call it. Jimmy Buffett music I was in, you know, I played in a Jimmy Buffett band for 16 of 19 years before I moved down here. And I kind of still do that I work with a band down here now. Does a beach boy show does a Jimmy Buffett show.

That's so cool. And I know I got to see I mean cuz I saw you like Ocean City. Right? That's where? Oh, that's right. With Trisha with my girlfriend, Trisha

came to figures Island. Where? What year was that?

That would have been I mean, I was living in Baltimore. Yeah, probably. Yeah. Probably because I moved out here in 2012.

Wow, that's right. I remember that. Yes. You saw a pair of beach.

Yeah,

I did. Yeah. I'm actually going to do some shows with them this summer. Oh, really? I feel it. I did that last year, too. And, and you never saw this, of course. But you know, I got involved with the nerds to play with those guys. Sometimes those guys. That interview even knew that.

I told me that actually. I mean, I've seen a picture with those glasses.

I mean, I used to go see those guys at the Boulevard pub on my fake ID when I was 17. And you know, and they're, you know, now I'm a grown man. I get to play with them. It's

fun. Oh, my goodness. Okay, so then you I mean, let's talk about all the companies you're you know, you're you're sponsored with like your Vader drumsticks or your Oh yeah, I'm very, very blessed. Yeah,

I'm very blessed with that. I mean, I play I play some of the absolute best equipment in the world. And I have deals with almost every company I use.

Yeah, I'm like, you want to put a plug on all your people that all your

data could try GMs drums which of those guys are in Long Island, Tony Rob make great drums. I have seven kits and 15 snare drums back here. Ultimate ears which are my monitors. You see them in my ears? Evans drumheads Vader drumsticks. I can just look there right here. Suspect Solomon Mike's sim peds, drum tacks, Porter and Davies. I have a lot of companies I endorse like, I'm very blessed. Yeah, empirical Labs, which is a really cool company that you can't see it here. But under my buddy Dave, they're actually when I went into record with, with the band in I think 93. I got to work with Dave and his studio. He was the one who said to me, Hey, you got a good ear for this production thing. So I always say I have. I have Dave dare to thank and blame that I have 100 grand would have equipment in my studio. But yeah, yeah, with all the deals I have with all those companies. It's, uh, you know, because I can say this. We're being you know, I'm not exactly a rock star. You know, I have friends who are

friends who are not, and like Brendan

Buckley. Like I say, you know, Brendan is absolute, you know, he's a monster, you know, he travels the world. You know, I'm so proud of him. And he has, you know, deals with all his companies, obviously. But these companies have been so good to me and so kind to me, you know, maybe they think I'm gonna be a rockstar one day, or maybe they just don't care. I don't know. But

I still think you're gonna be I think, just having gotten known to the level but like, well, now. Yeah, exactly. Because there's a

lot more going on a lot of records. I mean, right now, I'm working on, you know, a record for clients in the Midwest. Jersey, Michigan. So,

I mean, that's a fun thing about podcasting is you have no idea or YouTube, you have no idea who's actually going to see it. So that's why I'm like, Yeah, let's give a shout out to whoever we can give a shout out to. But now I want to go into like how you are connected to as many people as you're connected to.

Well, some of it is the is the drum thing. And, you know, the drum, not the brands, obviously, but you know, just as a drummer, you meet people, and then it happens to be, like I said, you know, it's some of it is,

well, I like to say it's not what we know, or even who we know, it's who they know, that allows these bigger connections to keep opening up more. Right? Yeah. So, so like, who was one of the first, like, really famous people that you met that you were, like, beyond starstruck when you met them?

Oh, God, what are the first are like,

yeah, like you? Yeah, like when you're first getting into, because I know, you know, so many people. And I just want to show this timeline.

But that's cool to think about that. Because I don't think of it that way. Because I'm here now. But if I go back, I remember when I met Warren Haynes, he played at the bottom line. Remember the bottom line? It was, it was in New York. It was by NYU, there was

ever Yeah. Okay. It's been

closed for many years. But I saw I met Warren Haynes, and that was,

I mean, you know, he's one who is wealthy. I don't know who Warren Warren

Haynes was with the Allman Brothers. He's a legend. And he's a super nice guy. But that was a show we went to

and so he was a drummer of you know, he's

guitar player.

Oh, he's a guitar player. Okay, so you gotta you gotta explain people who wouldn't know. Sorry. No.

A lot of people's no warnings. But yeah, we went to that show. It was an acoustic show. It was Warren Haynes. Edwin became member and well,

yeah, I'm

friends with Edwin still too. You know, I love Edwin is a super nice guy actually was funny. He just did a show the other night with Zac Brown in South Carolina.

Sounds like we need to ask if Edwin McCain will be on the show.

I can do that.

All your friends be like, cool with that. Sorry.

But since you asked one of the first people, you know that Warren I think was one I like the first famous people I met like if I just go back in my head, and then there were drummers of course, I met you know, started getting into that thing was I was whether it was because I was studying in New York, or friends I had or gigs. I was doing, you know, started meeting famous drummers. And that's a whole nother thing. But um, yeah, but Warren Haynes, I think was like the first big one. And Edwin, you know, back before we were, you know, acquaintances, we were just like, Wow, I love that guy.

And so what, what age would you say you were then?

Probably 19 Maybe 20.

Okay, okay. Yeah. So we're gonna just keep showing this. Unbelievable. My ironic connection to where you are now because, okay, you have to follow this to be able to connect to our surprise guest in your part two.

Okay, so what we're doing okay, so I wasn't thinking about this timeline. But um, and then, of course, when I met Dave Matthews that was that was

when Dave Matthews Band. Oh, Gods. I'm trying to think. So while you're thinking, probably like 99 Okay, so they were already like under the table and dreaming. Yeah, they were Yeah, they were like huge because for people that don't know Dave Matthews Pan was so was such a fascinating story, because they have to do the college circuit like they were, you know, we didn't have we didn't have means to get music out there. Like it is now. Like people could not just go viral just to go. They didn't even know what there was no such thing as viral. You had to go play. Yeah, you have to play and so everybody would choose the college scene. And I will never forget Dave Matthews Band Played at the stone balloon where I went to school. I remember where I played that. Yeah. I thought you did, actually, but a while ago. Funny thing is is you know, when? My ex boyfriend Dave Feldhaus. He

remember quiche. Yeah. quiche.

Wow. So funny, right? But he was he was a couple years older than me. And I wasn't I wasn't 21 I didn't have a fake ID. I couldn't go see Dave Matthews. However, I got to see them at the TLA in Philadelphia, and there was like, maybe like 300 people saw watch them then. And that was right before it was October and then streaming came out, I think in January. So I had the privilege of seeing them. Oh, yeah. For they were big. And you know, it's so funny because people like, oh, I don't like seeing them because you know, they've gotten too big. And it's like, it's unfortunate, because it's not that they're anything different. It's just that they're just, you know, they got big.

I saw them in 2019 before we moved down here up at Bethel woods in New York where they had Woodstock. It was fourth row and it was it was I You've seen him in a while, you know it's different now you know Boyd's not in the band anymore. The fiddle player is gone. Really, there's a really dark story behind that, if you don't know, look that up. He's alive, but he's just. And of course, Le Roy passed away,

right. 15 years ago, I forgot about that.

But my kids didn't get as much that week that we went to a bunch of shows that summer before we moved, like kids didn't get as much out of that as they did from Zach Brown because they know Zac Brown songs.

Now they don't know Dave. Now I don't even know who's who's Zac Brown.

Zac Brown is he's he's a country star. He's a huge country star.

Oh, okay. Yeah, okay. Yeah. My kids got, if I don't know it, I'm just gonna ask you. I don't know. Okay, so famous country star. Okay, cool.

He's a big deal. Yeah, he's

a big deal. Yeah. Well, I'm not into country I like I like country music. I just don't know, artists names. And I'm actually really bad with people's names. So anybody who's listening, that's where I'm like, I don't know who you are. As soon as you start talking about like, oh, yeah, maybe I do know who that is. But, anyway. Yeah. Okay. So Dave Matthews. I mean, yeah, like back then. Holy jeez. Like, that was that was huge.

He's a he's a weird, dude. He's a weird guy. Like, you know, like you like those weird sounds he makes when he's on stage, because he does that just in everyday life. Like he walks around doing it. He's a character. But he's, yeah. Did I even tell you the story about that the funniest experience, not like I hung out with him a lot. But he said to me in the room in a green room. It's quick. I promise. He goes, he listened. I got the secret. He says, I got the secret. The key to a happy marriage. He says, I'm like, Okay, I'm intrigued. He goes, separate bathrooms. Any any grabs his drink off the table and walks out the room. And I'm sitting there talking to Carter Bouvard, who was legendary. And it's like God,

for those that don't know who Carter is he was the drummer or is he's the drummer for Dave. Phil, the drummer for Dave Matthews. He's

one of the few I can say this, because it's true. He's one of the few drummers of our generation, who was is really going to be remembered and did anything different. And it's not simply because of Dave Matthews Band, the dudes just an animal. But yeah, he just separate bathrooms, grabbed his drink and walked out. Carter just goes to shake his head moves on. Yeah,

I do. Remember you telling me that story. But I'm so glad we have it recording. Awesome. So okay, so moving along from Dave Matthews. What was next because I know you're connected to Blues Traveler. So let's, uh, yeah, Miss traveler for a second.

Blues Traveler might my best my closest friend in that band is Brendan Hill. He's the drummer. Okay. Brendon. And I met Believe it or not in 94 when I was when I was studying music in New York before they even hit they were out. But they didn't have you know, run around yet. They were it was like they had that first record the second record. And then

they were big, but they weren't what they were

about when four came out. Yeah, those guys I think Brandon told me last year when I saw that they've sold 20 million records. But I think 16 of that was that record for

Wow, that but those guys are

super, super nice guys. I got to you know, just got to we met there We kept in touch and then a number of years back for and yeah, John's John's a character. He's not he's he's not real warm and fuzzy. But he's a good guy. But now they're they're a fun band. I mean, my poor wife has been thrown into the mix of these things like that fine day. The first time she ever met them was at a Hershey Park. And actually, ironically, they were doing strangely enough a show with Zac Brown. It was a festival. So it was like, you know, I couldn't walk five feet without seeing somebody I knew it was exhausting. My wife's like,

I think you actually told me about that trip to Hershey Park.

But she's at Hershey Park for 20 minutes. And we're, you know, we're backstage and five minutes later, she's on the bus with blues travel, you know, she's kind of overwhelmed. Me, she's used to this crap with me. Right? But it was still kind of overwhelming. You know, they're, they're their frickin bonafide rockstars you know, you're just like, Oh, come on, in, sit down, have a drink? Can I get you a beer? You know, they're just very, they're just people.

Well, we have to remember that with celebrities of all heights.

There's I can't speak for all of them. But I I mean, in the sense

that if but really, they're just people that have been given amazing opportunities. And then it depends on what they do with it and, and their talents and right, and they can either be cool or they can be completely the opposite way. And hopefully, you know, people choose to be cool and recognize where they came from originally, and that, you know, they're not anything greater. They may have some gifts, which is wonderful, but they're just people and we're all just people and we can just connect and have a conversation. You know, no one's better or worse than anybody else. You You know, and that's, that's what I love with all your connections. It's like it's just unbelievable how many people you're connected to because we haven't even scratched the surface yet. No. Going to be like multiple you're going to be my musical. That's fun. Yes, coho so we can bring on some really cool people and have some fun conversations and just go in a totally different direction. Yeah. Because music will start with them.

Absolutely. And then my kids are so spoiled. My my kids, like probably seriously don't have it in their head. They don't understand the fact that most people don't get to hang out with the artists they get to go see. Right. And you know, exactly, you know, they get to go to Jimmy Buffet shows and hang out with Jimmy's band, they get to meet, you know, blue Sadler and Zac Brown, but they don't understand that that's not what happens when you normally go see a show.

Right, exactly. Well, I now want to go into your connection to Atlantis Morissette because you know what I'm asking of you to ask of her, Mars. Yes, but first share what I share how you got connected to Atlantis Morissette, please.

I didn't realize we were doing this but that's okay. I'm not alone.

But I did ask you oh yeah, no. Is there anything? I'm honest,

and I met her her drummer at the time back in the mid 90s. His name is Gary you know back and he was an acquaintance of mine through the drummer friends and Atlantis and I met at one of her shows that I went to see him and let's just say we hung out for a couple of months. So no oh, well lives. Our lives are very different now hers in mind, but we don't really keep in touch but I am I have been getting in touch with her through the property.

I hope that you can share this episode with her she chooses to listen because she she's very connected in the spiritual. She's connected a spiritual sense that like Neale Donald Walsch have conversations with God. She, it's almost like he's, I hate to say a mentor without knowing her. But it seems like that really made a big impact. And here I am literally, I had conversations with God, part two. And she one of her most famous songs. Isn't it ironic? And I'm wanting to see if she'll rewrite something called Isn't that ironic? on a spiritual level?

I'm gonna work on it.

How cool would that be? So I'm just putting it out there. Just, you know, we're just making that but you know, it just But see, that's the whole thing. It's like, if we don't ask or we don't put it out there. We never know I like to say, you know, when doors open, we have to walk through, we have to take we have to seize the moment, you know, so that's what we're doing right now. So let's see what we're about to announce. Actually, that's what we're gonna do.

Yeah, we're gonna start here and build up to that.

We're gonna be we're gonna be doing seriously this is gonna be fun. Like, you know, maybe once a month, we're gonna do a music version and that way or, or whatever is on your schedule that it works, but I would love to just bring on your cool friends and see where they're, like see how their journey happened? You know, because like, everybody has one. Yeah, exactly. But how many people get to share it where they're like literally connecting the dots of how it happened in their life. Yeah, and if you don't believe that there may be a higher power somehow guiding it. We're kind of proof that you can't make this shit up. Have you tried? Yeah, so So going back to we're gonna share a little teaser for our part to this episode because then in the future you'll be you know, a guest co hosts but part two is we are going to have would you like to share who your friend he's who's agreed at whatever he can do it.

We'll get it done.

Get it done? Is it okay if we share who it is?

I think so. He said he'll do it. It's just a matter when we got to do it. I'm saying or should I tell a little story

I want to hear go back a little bit go a little bit we're doing a little teaser. We're not telling too much. But we're sharing who is going your first

if I say though it's going to have to be

but the whole thing is this is going to be you as the first like guest co host and we're going to be you know, sharing this is the first the first one to be able to come on But this story is unbelievably my work. It's cool,

and you get it more than a lot of people but I'll explain that I'm back in my in my teen years. We're getting to one of my favorite bands and this whole thing kind of rolls together. You know this, you know and a lot of people know who know me know this, which is an always preface discussion being from Sparta is odd for A young white man from a very, you know, out there little spot in Sparta, I got extremely turned on to you through the drumming world to a band called Living Color. Will was one of my absolute favorite drummers and still is to this day, and we're friends now. I met well, and

we're gonna say well, Calhoun,

welcome Oh, sorry, sorry. Yeah, he's like, my favorite drummer. And like, you know, like, we're boys we hang out now, like, we text and stuff. It's cool. I've studied with him over the years. And, and, but

Well, it sounds like we should try it at some point get will. And yeah, there we go. Maybe we can make that happen at the same time. You know, it's whatever we're able to create and CO create together.

Yeah. But probably for well, well over 30 years now, because I started going to see those guys when I was probably 15 years old. I still get to see them hanging out. I brought my kids to see them a couple of months ago down here. And it was it was they'd never seen quite anything like that before. You know, it's a show. But a couple years ago, the segue here is this a couple years ago, a gentleman walked into my studio by the name of Joe ferry. And he is a Grammy Award winning bass player, producer, artist. novelist, and he is also has a doctorate in education. And he was the I think he was the overseer of the music department at SUNY, and purchase. Now I was gonna say new bowls purchase. But Joe walked into my studio, and we hit it off. And he's kind of reggae ska guy. And I got my background with that. And he for many years has had this band called The Big ska band. So he decided because of me that we met this musical thing and we lived in the same town and we're he's going to rehash the big Scott band again. So we started doing the record. And one day sitting on my couch in my old studio and Milford, Pennsylvania, we somehow came on the fact that we both know, Corey Glover from living co the singer. Everybody knows who Cory is. He's the cult of personality. It's him. Everybody, I don't care who you are. Everybody knows that song. So Joe picks up his phone sitting on my couch and calls them you know, Cory knew me really through we'll probably just I hate to say it probably just like, you know, the big white guy hangs out will will was fine. You know, does talk strong stuff. So needless to say, then the next thing you know, Corey Glover is in the big ska band, and he's on the record. So you get this trippy thing. I'm in my 40s and I'm in a band with Corey Glover. You know, if you would have told me that back on when I was 16. I would have told you you were Plumb Crazy?

Yeah. And I will I can actually attest that when I remember when you went and saw living color for some reason. I wasn't able to go to that concert. I remember you asking if I wanted to go. Okay. It was probably the one at Rutgers, right? Yeah, I think so. And I wasn't able to go and I remember how excited you were and just how much you loved that band. I still get excited to go see well. Yeah, I want to go see them. Let's I want to know when they're playing because I want to go see them for sure. But here's the thing. What are the freakin odds that you would end up in a band with like one of your idols? I know, it's crazy when he was 16 years old. You know, it was 17 years old. Like that's insane. It was crazy

enough that I got to be friends with will and study with him and just you know, but but then when this whole thing came? It's like yeah, no, exactly.

Concept of my reading. I mean, that's freaking my irony. Yeah, to think. Yeah, and as

I was little to my router.

There you go. There you go. But anyway, I know we have so much we're gonna have so much fun with us, Alan, we're gonna have a lot of fun. I'm super excited for you to be a another part to this podcast because it's just telling these stories and connecting the dots. So speaking of connecting the dots, how can people connect with you?

Ah, my website on Jack's powers.com We can always put that on the thing I guess.

It's gonna be in the show notes. So if you want to just say how you have how you spell Allen Jack's

ala NJX Pow, ers, sol,

sol, Alan Alan? Dax bowers.com. You can connect with Alan there and you're gonna hear and see Alan a lot more. And so our next episode with us together is going to be hopefully with Corey Glover and who knows maybe even William Howell who and that was

Yeah, may get him I may be able to get him to chime in to your glorious hysterical

that would be so much fun to have everybody together. Other right? Oh, yeah, you know. So anyway, this is just the start of something unbelievably my ironic on the musicals on the musician side on the rock, like, oh my god, I'm so excited, like, I'm beyond excited because I know all the like, Y'all, I'm gonna be the one that gets to be starstruck this time. So I'm like, yay. Anyway, thank you so much, Alan, for joining me today and to the listeners. I'll see you next time.

Thanks. Thanks for having me.