A local podcaster invites listeners to a game of musical chairs.
Chris Guerra, who opened his audio video studio CG Broadcasting in the former Simplex building on School Street in November, is the founder of The Musical Chairs of Music, a podcast dedicated to spotlighting New England musicians. He is the host of “Massachusetts''. their story.
“One of the things I always enjoyed watching as a kid was the 'Unplugged' series that aired on MTV back when they were playing music,” Guerra said. “We thought it would be a great opportunity to really get to know the musicians behind the music, and there aren't many opportunities like that these days. So we wanted to create a show that would really connect listeners with local musicians.”
Currently in the midst of recording a 10th “teaser” episode ahead of the podcast's official first episode premiering on May 3, Guerra's show features local music, including Rt. Artists are performing. 2 Revolution, Morgan Alice, Fern Parker, Jukebox Jake. He said the response to the podcast from both listeners and guests has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
“We've had a lot of big-name musicians with record labels contact us about appearing on the show, and we've booked some,” Guerra said. “We had to jump through some sort of legal boundaries in terms of getting releases from labels and looking into licensing in case a label wanted to play a cover song.
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Guerra said the podcast's co-host, Nikki Cross, was a key factor in the show's success.
“She is the backbone of the whole piece and brings the interview process to life,” he said. “She's a huge fan of musicians and music, and has helped us attend events and discover future guests. She's a booking agent, helps produce shows, and does a lot of marketing and branding. They are cooperating.”
A podcast aimed at showcasing local musical talent
Guerra said he appreciated the opportunity to share behind-the-scenes stories about the local music scene while giving listeners a chance to experience their talent.
“It's really great to see and hear these musicians perform live, and I really hope that translates to the audience,” he said. “I don’t know if people realize how many talented musicians there are in this area.”
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Guerra created Coffee House, a music show livestreamed from the Gardner Area League of Artists' gallery space as a way to support local musicians and provide a venue for live performances during the pandemic shutdown. He said he was keen to interview musicians during the “Session.” .
“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “At first I was using my phone, but then I upgraded to using streaming his camera. It was a great experience, and (the podcast) is a way to recreate that.”
The podcast's name pays homage to Gardner's manufacturing heritage.
Guerra said the podcast's name is a nod to Massachusetts' manufacturing history, and the show's logo's color palette is based on the state's flag.
Podcast episodes are released every Monday and can be listened to on several platforms including Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, and Apple Podcasts. The show is also available on YouTube and Facebook.
The Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for the studio on Friday, May 3rd. Guerra said the event will resemble a Hollywood-style movie premiere, with bright lights and a red carpet in the studio. Entrance is at 205 School St. Click here to register for the event.
