The Riff Lounge w/ Nick Tello

Branch is a versatile musician involved in three different bands: Ten Times Demise and End of Evergreen, both known for their post-hardcore and metalcore sound, and the Dawson Baker Band, which plays country music. His ability to move between genres demonstrates his deep musical roots and adaptability. Originally from Killeen, Texas, Branch grew up surrounded by country influences, which is reflected in his involvement with the Dawson Baker Band. He is also a graduate of Texas State University. Outside of music, Branch is an avid Houston Astros fan.
 
Nick Tello reconnects with Branch, whom they first met during Easy Fest in 2024, where Branch was performing with his band, Ten Times Demise. During our conversation, Branch shared a memorable story about breaking his leg while moshing at a ‘Thrown’ show. Despite the injury, his enthusiasm for live music and energetic crowds remains strong. They discuss the differences between hardcore and metalcore audiences, especially their approaches to mosh pits. Ten Times Demise recently released a cover of "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter. Additionally, Branch participates in the annual festival hosted by his band, Demise Fest. He shares when he also performed at EMO NAC X, a venue in Nacogdoches, Texas, where the local community appreciates bands making the effort to play in their town, as many acts often bypass the area. Branch explained the process of how bands progress in the Wacken Metal Battle, advancing through regional and state levels, with the ultimate goal of performing at Wacken Open Air. This renowned heavy metal festival has been held annually since 1990 in the rural village of Wacken, located in the Schleswig-Holstein region of northern Germany. Their conversation also touches on Japanese baseball, specifically how the Japanese Posting System has made it easier for Japanese players to join American teams, leading to an increased presence of Japanese athletes in the U.S. today. Among his many unique experiences, Branch shares when he played on the ‘Wall of Sound’ bus built by Noah Orion.
 
 
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@nicktelloguitar/videos
 
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You can listen to the audio version of this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Mark Tomlin is a husband, father, entrepreneur, and audio production engineer. At the time of this conversation, Mark is employed at The Aztec Theater in downtown San Antonio, Texas, and also works as the touring sound engineer for metal bands Snake Father and Left IV Dead.
 
In this episode, Nick Tello sits down with Mark Tomlin. Their discussion naturally explored the unique production characteristics of various San Antonio venues, including Aztec, Majestic, Empire, Stable Hall, Boeing Center at Tech Port, The Rock Box, and Paper Tiger. Mark also touched on Austin’s Come and Take It Live and San Marcos’ Gnar Bar, highlighting the distinct approaches and challenges each location presents. Mark shares secrets from his experiences on rock and metal tours. He recounted both his best and worst moments meeting his heroes, offering valuable insights into the realities of life on the road. During this episode, Mark also mentors how audio engineers can successfully transition into working for themselves in this field.
 
 
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@nicktelloguitar/videos
 
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You can listen to the audio version of this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Sebastian Elizondo is the guitarist for Life Cycles and Darkness Divided. He is also the lead vocalist and guitarist for Porch Dream, as well as the frontman for System of A Brown, a System of a Down tribute band.
 
Nick Tello sits down with Sebastian Elizondo. During this episode, Sebastian reflected of the time he spent in college before making an exit to pursue music. He also talked about his experience recently touring the UK in support of the metal band Sylosis, including missing breakfast tacos, seeing castles, and sharing some of his favorite shows from the tour. Nick and Sebastian also discussed the evolution of Porch Dream’s sound and the continued growth of Life Cycles, including the addition of a giant new banner for their live performances. Sebastian shared the writing process behind Life Cycles’ latest EP, No One Escapes Death, and Porch Dream’s latest single, Members Only. He also explained how he became a full-time member of Life Cycles and talked about his interests outside of music, including modding Game Boys, repainting guitars, where that craftsmanship started when building Bionicles as a kid. Sebastian loves his cats.
 
 
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@nicktelloguitar/videos
 
 
 
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You can listen to the audio version of this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Originally from Ethiopia, Emeshaw is the host of Texas Traxx on 99.5 KISS. He is also the guitarist and vocalist for his metal band, Overlay. At the time of this episode, he is attending higher education, studying Entertainment Business.
 
Nick Tello sits down with Emeshaw Molina for a fun and engaging conversation about music, touring, and the experiences shaping his career. Emeshaw began performing at just 15 years old, playing dive bars with a Godsmack tribute band. Not long after, he started writing original music and went on to form his current band, Overlay. Overlay released its debut single, “Without You,” in February of 2025. The band’s song “Dead Inside” also features Marcos Leal, formerly of Latin metal band, Ill Niño and currently with metal band, Shattered Sun. During this episode, Overlay is prepping to kick off a Texas tour with MiniKiss and Upon A Burning Body from late May to early June of 2026. He is also a fan of Coheed and Cambria, which is permanent enough to be reflected in tattoo form. This episode goes beyond music. Nick and Emeshaw also got into a conversation about how to become a champion-level hide-and-seek player in IKEA and Costco, plus what a 24-hour Walmart challenge might actually look like.
 
 
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@nicktelloguitar/videos
 
 
 
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You can listen to the audio version of this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Mateo Adalberto Lopez is the Guinness World Record holder for becoming the world’s youngest mariachi singer at just 4 years old. Mateo is not your ordinary performer. He plays 10 instruments, represents both the United States and Mexico, and has already shared his voice on some of the biggest stages in the world.
 
Nick Tello sits down with Mateo Lopez, and his father, Albert Lopez. They talk about his journey from singing on a chair at a quinceañera to going viral on TikTok, appearing on México Tiene Talento, Little Big Shots, and The Kelly Clarkson Show, and performing national anthems at major events for the The Savannah Bananas, XFL on FOX, F1, Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, San Francisco 49ers, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Red Sox, and more. Mateo and Albert also open up about the family roots behind his music, the influence of Mateo’s grandfather and sister, and what it has been like to grow up with a gift that has taken him from Mariachi Bar to packed stadiums, including a recent performance at Kyle Field in front of 102,000 people. This conversation goes beyond the performances. Nick, Mateo, and Albert get into the sacrifices, rules, and discipline behind Mateo’s career.
 
 
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@nicktelloguitar/videos
 
 
 
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You can listen to the audio version of this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Miggy Sanchez plays percussion for the Latin American nu-metalcore band Ill Niño and sings for the Christian nu-metal/hard rock/hip-hop band Relent. Salvadore Dominguez plays guitar for both Ill Niño and Relent, and is also a founding member of American metal band, Upon A Burning Body.
 
Nick Tello sits down with Miggy Sanchez and Salvadore Dominguez for a fun, honest, and wide-open conversation. They talk about their journeys into Ill Niño, the stories behind joining the band, and Sal opening up about being kicked out of Upon A Burning Body. They also share what life looks like as they get ready for Ill Niño’s upcoming global tour, from the grind of traveling to sleeping on airport floors. Sal and Miggy get into their recent EP, Suffer, their writing process, and their favorite songs from the Suffer Extended Playlist. Sal opens up about his sobriety, not finishing high school, earning his GED, and later finding redemption by graduating from rehab. Miggy shares about singing at church, his encounter with Jesus in Jacksonville, Florida, and how that moment changed his life and helped lead to the birth of Relent. Both artists also talk about faith, music, fan letters, the impact of Relent’s song “Low,” playing music during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the bands that inspired them along the way.
 
 
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@nicktelloguitar/videos
 
 
 
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You can listen to the audio version of this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Kelsey Hudgens, also known as Yonder Wizzerd, is the head door guy at The Sunset Strip comedy venue in Austin, Texas. Before that, he worked the door at Vulcan Gas Company before the Comedy Mothership opened, after Tony Hinchcliffe helped him get the job. Redban of the #1 live podcast, Kill Tony, brought him over to The Sunset Strip comedy venue, where Kelsey now works and opens as the music act for Redban’s famous 'Secret Show.'
 
Nick Tello sits down with Yonder Wizzerd. Yonder shares he began watching Kill Tony in 2018 and live-tweeting episodes while shouting out the comics he loved. After joining the Kill Tony Discord, Tony Hinchcliffe reached out to ask about the community. Around that time, Redban was livestreaming on VRChat during COVID, where Yonder joined in, nearly got banned, and was later recognized as the same guy tweeting about the show.Yonder and Redban’s connection eventually turned into a real friendship. Redban encouraged Yonder Wizzerd to move from South Carolina to pursue comedy, first in Los Angeles before COVID changed the plan, and eventually in Austin, where the Kill Tony crew helped convince him to keep going. In this episode, Yonder Wizzerd talks about Redban’s AI music project CATBREAD7, Yonder’s late-night streaming routine, his YouTube community, getting pulled from the bucket on the Theo Von episode of Kill Tony, and even a personal story about hanging out with Alex Jones. Yonder Wizzerd also shares the impact Sarah Sloan has had on Kill Tony since becoming Tony’s assistant, how the crew’s morale has changed for the better, and his own experience with sobriety and the social stigma that can come with it. If you’re a Kill Tony fan, into Austin comedy, or curious about the conversation around AI music, this episode is for you.
 
 
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@nicktelloguitar/videos
 
 
 
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You can listen to the audio version of this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Clay Hollis is a Texas country artist from San Antonio whose music blends catchy hooks, true country grit, and a modern honky-tonk sound. Since releasing his debut EP in 2017, Clay has built a name for himself across the Texas country scene with multiple projects, charting singles, and a live-show schedule that keeps him on the road for more than 100 shows a year. His songs reflect the lifestyle he lives: country music, Texas roots, offshore fishing, coastal weekends, and good-time stories that connect with fans. Clay has worked on music written by respected Nashville songwriters and has released songs like “Beer’s Better on a Boat” with Jesse Raub Jr., “Blue Collar Prayers,” and “Regular Guy.” When he is not performing, Clay is usually connected to the water, especially offshore fishing in the Gulf. His story is rooted in hard work, Texas pride, and a love for music that has taken him from local honky-tonks to stages alongside respected names in country music.
 
Nick Tello sits down with country artist and former high school classmate Clay Hollis for an honest conversation about music, touring, fishing, and the realities of today’s country music industry. Clay talks with Nick about the making of his music video for “Beer’s Better on a Boat” with Jesse Raub Jr., what a typical week looks like while traveling and playing shows, and the real grind that comes with performing for a living. The conversation also gets into the business side of music, including the rise of door deals, where artists may not have a guaranteed payout and their income depends heavily on ticket sales. Clay explains how that risk impacts artists and why marketing individual shows has become more important than ever. Nick and Clay also discuss Clay’s San Antonio roots, why Port Aransas feels like a second home, his love for offshore fishing, his favorite fishing-geared boats, and the story behind skipping junior and senior prom for fishing and lake trips. Clay also shares his gratitude for Randall King giving him the opportunity to sing on stage with Willie Nelson, while giving Nick a memorable singing critique and a quick cowboy hat 101.
 
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@nicktelloguitar/videos
 
 
 
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You can listen to the audio version of this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Zach is a music fan, fan of the show, family man, barback, ice cream man, and bass player with a deep connection to the San Antonio music scene. He is a longtime supporter of the metal band Life Cycles and has known their guitarist, Chris Buckner, since high school. Zach loves going to shows, is looking forward to Sick New World in October, and brings a genuine fan’s perspective shaped by bands like Down, Pantera, Staind, Life Cycles, Korn, Snot, P.O.D., Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Porch Dream, A Perfect Circle, and Darkthrone. Outside of music, he shares stories about his favorite drinks, favorite ice cream, his love for Six Flags, the time Wemby visited the bar where he works, and how missing a hair appointment led him to start growing out his hair.
 
In this episode of the podcast, Nick Tello sits down with Zach for an unconventional but meaningful conversation about music, fandom, local shows, and the experiences that brought them together. They talk about how Zach first recognized Nick at Paper Tiger before a Life Cycles show, how they crossed paths again at an Upon a Burning Body show, and why Zach was curious about the significance of the dinosaur skull logo. Throughout the conversation, Nick and Zach discuss Zach’s favorite bands, his love of live music, playing bass guitar, San Antonio metal, ice cream, drinks, Six Flags, Sick New World, and the everyday stories that make Zach’s perspective feel honest, personal, and memorable.
 
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@nicktelloguitar/videos
 
 
 
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Jarred Taylor is a United States Air Force veteran, entrepreneur, media creator, and musician best known as a co-founder of Black Rifle Coffee and for his work in veteran-driven media and entertainment.
 
In this episode, Nick Tello sits down Jarred Taylor for an honest conversation about military service, creativity, music, business, and the unexpected paths that shaped his career. Jarred talks with Nick about serving 11 years on active duty in the United States Air Force, including his time as a Tactical Air Control Party Specialist and Munitions Systems Apprentice, and how that experience eventually led him into entrepreneurship and media. The conversation gets into Jarred’s work as a co-founder of Black Rifle Coffee and Hard AF Seltzer, his involvement with Article 15 Clothing and Leadslingers Spirits, and his role in producing the veteran-focused film Range 15 alongside Mat Best and other military content creators. Nick and Jarred also dive into a side of Jarred that some people may not know as well: his life in music. Jarred shares stories about playing acoustic guitar in Florida, working on music and video projects after work, and eventually joining the pop-punk band This Saturday after the group transitioned from its metal roots as Drayton Sawyer. He talks about meeting the band at a battle of the bands, making them a music video because he liked them so much, and later becoming their singer in 2020. The episode also covers Jarred’s philosophy on building the ideal setlist for an audience, taking all five members of August Burns Red to the shooting range, his background as a skateboarder, and the story behind writing “Deep Scythe” in just 24 days.
 
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@nicktelloguitar/videos
 
 
 
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