Mad Oak Studios
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music recording |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Craig Riggs, Frank Pagliughi |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
Key people | Benny Grotto (lead engineer and co-owner), PK Pandey (co-owner) |
| Products | Recording services |
Mad Oak Studios is a recording studio situated in Boston's Allston, Massachusetts district. Founded in 2000 by Craig Riggs and Frank Pagliughi, the ownership later expanded to include PK Pandey alongside lead engineer Benny Grotto.
History
The origins of Mad Oak Studios trace back to a former woodworking facility known as Mad Oak Wood Working. Craig Riggs, then the lead vocalist of the rock group Roadsaw, established the studio with the goal of offering affordable yet professional recording services to musicians working within tight financial constraints. Together with Frank Pagliughi, they transformed the woodworking space into what became Mad Oak Studios in 2000.
Due to increasing residential construction in Allston in 2013, the studio decided to move locations. That same year, co-founder Frank Pagliughi departed, and Benny Grotto was brought on as a co-owner. The build-out of the new studio began at the start of 2015 and reached completion later that year.
Personnel
Benny Grotto, who serves as head engineer and earned the 2010 Boston Music Awards Producer Of The Year title, is integral to the studio’s daily management.
Facilities
Mad Oak is equipped with a control room crafted by Walters-Storyk Design Group, alongside multiple live room acoustic configurations and isolation booths designed to meet a wide range of recording requirements.
Notable Clients
The studio has hosted recordings by numerous artists including Aerosmith, Ben Folds, Amanda Palmer, Steven Tyler, The Dresden Dolls, Juliana Hatfield, Levon Helm, Joey Kramer, Damian Kulash, and "Weird Al" Yankovic, among many others representing diverse musical styles.
Live at Mad Oak
Live at Mad Oak was a monthly event series that highlighted local musicians for an exclusive audience. Shows were recorded using multi-track techniques, professionally filmed, mixed live to stereo, and made accessible online the following day. The studio fully backed this initiative to support and promote regional talent.