PASSING THE TORCH TO A NEW GENERATION

In 1980 our brand-new recording console, custom-built by Al Bierman.

FORTY-FOUR YEARS AGO, I embarked on a journey that would define my professional life, building a recording studio in the heart of rural northeast Iowa. At its core was a recording console, a mammoth piece of equipment measuring 9 feet wide and 4 feet deep, custom-built by local craftsman Al Bierman. This console was the hub of my all-analog setup, housing two analog tape recorders, a mixer, two patch bays, a gooseneck talkback mic, 15 rack-mount processors and two power amps. For decades, it served me well, capturing countless sessions on reel-to-reel tape.

However, as technology evolved, so did my studio. About 20 years ago, I transitioned from analog to digital, moving to a computer-based system and selling off most of my analog gear. Despite the transformation, the beautiful console, a relic of my studio's past, remained—unused and gathering dust, a testament to the bygone era of analog recording. Realizing that this magnificent console deserved better than to sit idle, I decided to offer it for free to a deserving musician somewhere out there. I listed it on Facebook Marketplace and was overwhelmed by the response, receiving hundreds of inquiries from, literally, around the globe. After painstaking consideration, I narrowed the field down to four potential recipients. Ultimately, I was most-impressed by Cameron Seeders, a young musician in a band called Sideburns Till Sundown, located just 30 miles from me. Cam's respectful and sincere application, coupled with a video showcasing his band's flawless Led Zeppelin covers, sealed the deal.

Cam Seeders flanked by drummer, Collin Ricchio.

Seeing the console find a new home with Cam and his band was incredibly fulfilling. It is a privilege to support the next generation of musicians—ensuring that this piece of analog history continues to inspire and create music.

Sideburns Till Sundown - (l to r) Alex Smith, Cam Seeders, Collin Ricchio, Devon Pint and Cameron Barker doing a spot-on rendition of Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean."