The City's Backyard

The City's Backyard

The City's Backyard with Matt Zako. A Podcast For New York City's Backyard or any city's backyard across the world! Covering Arts, Entertainment, music and the community!

Episodes

May Pang is our guest this week on The City's Backyard Podcast! Few people knew John Lennon as intimately as May Pang. Pang was Lennon’s lover during the infamous “Lost Weekend” which lasted 18 months. During this creative time for Lennon, Pang took candid photos of Lennon in a comfortable, relaxed environment.

Matt Zako interviews May about her relationship with John Lennon, her documentary called The Lost Weekend and the May ...

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We check in with our friend Dan Halen from MULLETT! He talks about what makes this 80's tribute band fun and why they stand out from other tribute bands out there! They are playing locally in Old Saybrook, CT and Norwalk, CT soon!

Since 2010, Mullett has stood as the nation’s definitive 80’s rock-and-roll powerhouse! This isn't just a tribute; it’s a high-voltage time capsule. By fusing iconic "big hair" aestheti...

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Prognosis The American Pink Floyd has been performing the  music of Pink Floyd with incredible album accuarcy for 15 years both in the USA and internationally
Known for their elaborate lights, lasers, and video projections Prognosis The American Pink Floyd is considered to be the best and most accurate ​Pink Floyd experience.

On this episode we talk with keyboardist Rob Russell from Prognosis! 

UPCOMING SHOWS 2026 Tri state tour ...

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 We are going out to TENNESSEE to chat with Chris P. James is their front man. He plays keyboards and guitar and harmonica. Writes great songs too. He wound up with the Burrito Brothers in 2009. He was offered and accepted a record deal to make a new Burritos album in 2010 by the group that would trademark the name “Burrito Brothers” and would enable them to continue performing and recording as The Burrito Brothers, thus, continuin...

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  • Comedy Night @ The VFW Westport - Friday  FEB 13th! Doors at 6pm Show at 8pm! PLENTY of Free parking! Featuring 4 great comedians! Paul Taro, Autumn Harvist, DAVIN who is the headliner and JOE PONTILLO!
  • Location: 465 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880
  • Laughing Gas Comedy and The City's Backyard Podcast present another night of pain free comedy at the VFW Westport. We are back following our wildly successful comedy shows!! ...
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BEYOND PURPLE performs a showcase of the biggest hits from Deep Purple and Whitesnake, as well as Rainbow and Dio; all born out of the Deep Purple family tree. The band faithfully re-creates the vivid experience of live, high-energy music from what many consider to be Rock’s greatest era.

 ​Beyond Purple consists of elite musicians with national ties, including guitarist Jimi Bell (Autograph, House of Lords); his amazing skills and ...

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2025 was a great year at The City's Backyard Podcast! We had so many great guests in the arts from musicians to comedians to actors it made it hard to narrow them down to THE YEAR IN REVIEW Part 1 and Part 2 "Best Of" episodes. We loved all our guests from awesome tribute bands to theater executives to a ton of funny comedians and we appreciate every one of them! 

In Part 2 of THE 2025 YEAR IN REVIEW you will hear edi...

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2025 was a great year at The City's Backyard Podcast! We had so many great guests in the arts from musicians to comedians to actors it made it hard to narrow them down to THE YEAR IN REVIEW Part 1 and Part 2 "Best Of" episodes. We loved all our guests from awesome tribute bands to theater executives to a ton of funny comedians and we appreciate every one of them! 

In Part 1 of THE 2025 YEAR IN REVIEW you will hear edi...

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Most musicians would only dream of opening for Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin on tour but for Rosie Flores the dream came true! Rosie drops by The City's Backyard Podcast on this episode to talk about her music, career, and new album called Impossible Frontiers with her band The Talismen! Plus she speaks about what it's like to be on the road opening for Robert Plant with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian.

Rosie Flores, triple-th...

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This episode we are talking "FLEETWOOD MAC" with Diane Lutz and Andie Baldwin from STEVIE MAC... the Fleetwood Mac tribute that is lighting up the stage all over the country! Diane and Andi are the Stevie and Christine McVie of the original iconic band and talk about their passion for the music. 

About StevieMac

StevieMac authentically and flawlessly pays tribute to the legends of Fleetwood Mac. In this mesmerizing theater ...

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Tri state area Comics Helaine Witt, Michael "Motts" Pelazza, and Rich Carucci  have fun chatting it up on this episode talking about their love for comedy, the arts, and what to expect from their upcoming shows in the  area and their show together coming up soon in WESTPORT, CT!  To purchase tickets for Westport, CT click here:

-Comedy Night at VFW Post 399 on Friday December 12th.  Doors open at 6pm. Show at 8pm.  Plenty ...

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 NEW YACHT CITY from New York and New Jersey, a tribute to Yacht Rock returns! On this episode we chat with Manish Nag  singer and keyboardist as well as  singer Megan McCafferty about the genre of what Yacht Rock means to it's fans!  If you love Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross, The Doobies, Ambrosia and more you will love this band! Check them out for a fun time you and your friends will always remember!  For more info on...

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Laura Budzelek is a multilingual singer-songwriter and actress. Her music sounds like classic rock with hints of today and lands from far away.  Listeners often reflect on soul and folk elements as well, yet Laura's operatic background makes her stand apart from other singers. Her sophomore album, Timeless Turquoise, is scheduled for release this December! Fans will be pleased to discover fresh tracks that experiment with new ...

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Black Dog proudly pays tribute to the mighty Led Zeppelin with an extensive catalogue of songs comprised of classic masterpieces like "Dazed and Confused", "Heartbreaker", and "Stairway to Heaven", as well as the less heard  B-sides to satisfy the more discerning fans.

  A complete acoustic set recreates an intimate setting with mandolin and custom tuned guitars played on stools, bringing to life songs ...

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Special Guest Brooklyn-based singer from North Carolina, who's music roots began in church! WALLETTE debuts her rework of Judy Carter's "Listen To The Music" out now via TuneCore! 

 After nearly 150 participants and almost 20 new entries each week, the Rabanne and Miraval Studios has officially crowned the winner of the #RabanneRemix challenge: WALLETTE, a rising singer-songwriter from New York City.

With her powe...

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Greg Walker, son of famous cartoonist Mort Walker drops by to chat about the new book out called 75 Years Of Smiles commemorating Mort Walker's long and dedicated commitment to cartooning!

Greg Walker studied at Syracuse University and has worked in film, commercial photography, newspapers and graphic arts. He started his cartooning career writing and drawing comic books, including such well-know titles as Rocky and Bullwinkle,...

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We interview 3 of the candidates  that are running for Mayor of Norwalk! Each of them answers the League Of Women Voters Questions with a closing statement! Find out about what each candidate has to say! First up in alphabetical order: John Kydes, Vinny Scicchitano, and Barbara Smyth! 

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Our guest is classic rock legendary drummer "Corky" Laing from Mountain! Mountain performed at Woodstock and the legendary Fillmore East! In this episode Corky shares some Mountain news...and he tells The City's Backyard Podcast first! This is an episode that Mountain fans do not want to miss! 

Laurence Gordon "Corky" Laing is a Canadian rock drummer, best known as a longtime member of the pioneering America...

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Our guest this week is Blues keyboardist, recording artist, composer, and record producer Mark Naftalin. He entered the musical scene in 1965 as the keyboardist with the popular and influential Paul Butterfield Blues Band.  He is internationally renowned among blues fans for his contributions to the band's sound. Mark was a band member on the first 4 Paul Butterfield Blues Band albums from the mid-1960’s. He was inducted into ...

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New York Comics Ellen Karis and Chris Monty have fun chatting it up on this episode talking about their love for comedy, acting, and what to expect from their shows in the tri state area and their show together coming up soon in WESTPORT, CT!  For more on their bios and shows check out their websites are below! To purchase tickets for Westport, CT click here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/october-17th-comedy-extravaganza-the-vfw-west...

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