Take the Reins performs/eats tacos on ‘I’m At Your Door’ release day (Episode 747)
Take the Reins returns to Car Con Carne the day of their new release, “I’m At Your Door!” The band talks about how they ended up on a new label (it involved a late night and YouTube), their hands-on experience…
Unlocking creativity and opening Sketchbook beer with Steve Dawson (Episode 746)
Chicago songwriting treasure Steve Dawson (Dolly Varden, Funeral Bonsai Wedding) is performing highlights from his superior “At the Bottom of a Canyon in the Branches of a Tree” at Pravda Fest this weekend. He joined me at Sketchbook in Skokie…
Josh Caterer/Hushdrops share an episode (Episode 745)
As we head toward PravdaFest weekend, Josh Caterer (Josh Caterer Trio) and John San Juan (Hushdrops, Josh Caterer Trio) join me at Sketchbook in Skokie after hours to talk about music, beer and pop culture. And what’s this they’re saying…
Apocalypse Hoboken: Don’t call it a reunion (Episode 744)
Chicago punk favorites Apocalypse Hoboken return to the stage for two shows at Chop Shop this weekend (details below). Before those shows, ⅗ of the band (Tod, Andy and Scott) joined me at mutual favorite restaurant Epic Deli to talk…
Summer grilling tips from Happy to Meat You’s Scott Fischer (Episode 743)
As I type this, the weather has completely turned around in Chicago and it’s essentially PERFECT SUMMER WEATHER OUT. Which means it’s the time to get that grill firing on all coals. Odds are with it, there are things you…
Boom Hank revisits past while planning for the future (Episode 742)
Boom Hank released one of the 90s best “sleeper” albums, “Nuisance,” on Pravda back in 1995. With only days away from Boom Hank kicking off Pravda Fest at Sketchbook Brewing in Skokie (4901 Main St.), I sat down with…
From ‘Inglorious Basterds’ to darkwave auteur: Omar Doom (Episode 741)
He’s Private First Class Omar Ulmer from Inglorious Basterds… and as an actor, you probably know OMAR DOOM from that movie, Death Proof and Grindhouse. Omar started out as a musician, and music is what brings him here… his new…
From Screeching Weasel to the ‘Basement’: John ‘Jughead’ Pierson (Episode 740)
John ‘Jughead’ Pierson is probably best known as a founding member and driving force of Screeching Weasel up through the beginning of the 21st century. These days, he’s well into the triple digits of his long-running podcast, Jughead’s Basement. We…
Whatever: The Slugs return for Pravda Fest (Episode 739)
The Slugs are one of Chicago’s most enduring indie rock bands, and they’re reuniting for Pravda Fest at Sketchbook Brewing Co. (4901 Main St., Skokie, lineup below). Dag and Gregg Juhlin came together to talk about the band’s long history…
Creating a Branded Podcast (Panel) – Chicago Podcast Day (Episode 738)
Small businesses… big companies… entrepreneurs… it seems like the demand for branded podcasts is at an all time high. In a panel recorded at Chicago Podcast Day in May, 2022, I was joined by Patrick Brower (Contest of Challengers) and…