GUITARIST MIKE RUGGIRELLO returns to video podcasting with a new program, Riff Review. Showcas- ing gear, musicianship and songwriting, Ruggirello previously hosted Theory Thursday, with more than 160 episodes online. Though the focus is on guitar, guests have included the likes of violinist Alicia Previn and drummer Jake Najor, amongst acclaimed guitarists such as Jimmy Patton, Israel Maldonado, and Anthony Cullins.
The new show uses the old Theory Thursday studio, though with updated interior, with Ruggirello as host, Jason Thomas as co-host, Daniel McNair the engineer and Amanda Thomas providing graphics support. Each episode is a six camera shoot.
“The new show was inspired by our desire to revitalize our brand. After our short hiatus, we felt it was best to completely revamp the way we produce the show to allow us to really focus on quality and consistency,” said McNair.
Why the name change? How will it be different than Theory Thursday?
“Theory Thursday was a great show and we’re not deviating from the core of what made that show great,” McNair said. “We wanted to break free from the confines of a one-day-a-week go-live shooting schedule, to give us more freedom to create a show that can reach a wid- er audience. At its heart, this is still a guitar show, we will still talk about theory, we will still be jamming with our guests, interviewing them and carrying on like we always have. What’s new is our ability present our show in a more contemporary way. The changes that we’ve made open us up to significantly more creative freedom to experiment with new ideas to make the show more fun.”
“We’ve put in about 30 hours of pre-production in the last two months,” noted Ruggirello. “Like Daniel, I felt the name Theory Thursday was confining for our new vision. Riff Review better represents our goals and what we’re trying to do.” Upcoming guests include Jonny Tarr, Anthony Cullins and Charlie Rohlfs (King Whisker), but guests don’t have to be from San Diego. “If you’re on tour or have a release, we want you in our room,” Ruggirello commented. For him, collaboration is the key to the new show. “I love collaborating and I have a lot of friends in the music business. Affecting the San Diego music scene, interviewing talent, and playing guitar with all of them is what excites me. Whether it be singer-song writer, pop or country, all the way to metal, I love having an opportunity to be associated with all these fine guitar players.”
In addition to Riff Review itself, look for live segments shot on location, “Riff Review Presents…”
What’s McNair’s favorite thing about Riff Review? “It’s having the opportunity to highlight local artists, help curate and affect the local scene and give a platform for them to reach a wider audience,” he said. “Our goal is to uplift the artists we love in our hometown. We get to breakdown their creative process and dig into the rea- sons why they make the music they do. I think there’s something beautiful about that.”
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