Brian Ives: Do What You Like

For more than thirty years, Brian Ives has kept the music news coming on Sirius Radio, Loudwire, CBS VH1 and MTV, where I met him more than twenty years ago.

Brian currently runs digital content operations for Beasley Radio’s 40+ stations, and hosts a new podcast called, “How You Play Your Hand” about musicians and resilience.

Because: Music. 

This is a guy who listens to entire bodies of work – say, Miles Davis – studio albums, live albums, compilations, outtakes, b-sides – from “At Last” to “Doo Bop.”

This is a guy who (along with his rock photographer wife, Maria) is at shows nearly every night.

Encouraged by his father to “Do what you like,” Brian has spent over a career building rapport, extracting insight, and sharing scoops on on everyone from Santana, The Who, CSN&Y. You name ‘em, he’s interviewed ‘em. Or reviewed their show. Or written their liner notes.

Above all, Brian’s a terrific friend, concert going partner, and free swag sharer; perhaps no one’s given me more Neil Diamond ephemera than Brian. Moreover, he’s been one of very few people, friends or colleagues with whom I can share open, and cynicism-free discussion on all things music.

Whether he having a conversation with Paul McCartney, Jimmy Paige, or, well, me (see “An Essential Conversation, Part I”), Brian is humble, patient and enthusiastic.

He probes the depths and the edges, and respects the process – the “essential invisible.” He celebrates it in all its forms: Top 40, Heavy Metal, Blockbusters and Indies alike.

Brian’s not about the numbers. He’s about the moment.

As Fred Rogers reminds us, the most important thing is that we are able to be one-to-one, you and I with each other at the moment. If we can be present to the moment with the person that we happen to be with, that’s what’s important.”