{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Your Dark Companion Podcast","title":"The Life of the Wayward Keyboard Traveler | Chad Stockslager","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/16c1a0d4\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3305,"description":"In this episode of Your Dark Companion, Mike Rhyner welcomes Dallas music staple Chad Stockslager — better known as Mr. Chad — for a wide-ranging, funny, and deeply musical conversation about a life spent chasing the right notes.\nChad traces his journey from a childhood epiphany sparked by The Wizard of Oz to becoming one of the most in-demand keyboard players in North Texas. He shares stories from his early Terrell and Deep Ellum days, tribute projects like Buick Six, and playing legendary Dallas rooms including the newly revived Longhorn Ballroom.\nAlong the way, Chad reflects on the giants who shaped him — Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Floyd Cramer, Nicky Hopkins — and explains why vintage soul and 50s rock still live inside his playing. He tells the unforgettable story of Booker T. Jones sitting in on his slightly “well-loved” keyboard rig, the technical dance of modern MIDI programming, and what it takes to replicate classic piano tones without hauling a 900-pound instrument.\nThere’s also talk of Dallas’ ever-evolving music scene, Pedigo’s Magic Pilsner, Bastards of Soul, soul nights at the Longhorn, and the unpredictable joy of song swaps at the All Good Café.\nIt’s a conversation about craft, community, and the strange beauty of being “everyone’s go-to keyboard player.”\nAnd yes — the magical musical thing makes an appearance.\n⏱️ Chapters\n00:43 – Introducing Mr. Chad04:50 – The Buick Six and playing Dylan like the records09:08 – The “Magical Musical Thing” origin story16:07 – From Terrell to Deep Ellum22:00 – Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis & early influences26:54 – Rediscovering the Longhorn Ballroom33:15 – Eric Nadel Birthday Benefit & Grant Halliburton Foundation34:42 – CBD House of Healing sponsor read37:24 – Valentine’s Song Swap at All Good Café42:12 – The evolution of keyboard technology46:02 – Booker T plays Chad’s “well-worn” rig49:08 – Pedigo’s Magic Pilsner & future projects51:07 – Pandemic variety shows & creative survival\n#YourDarkCompanion #MrChad...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/MY5pcsVq0QCXSElEJXNsUEiC8gyrgEoWfpnhiVr9GdU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hZTA1/ZjBmZGFkOTk5ZDdi/YWRmMDQ3NGZjY2Ex/ZjgxYS5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}