Category: Episodes
Are we living through another 90s comics crash? Market thoughts w/ Patrick Brower of Challengers Comics (Episode 1143)
Is the modern comic book market spiraling back into the speculator madness of the 1990s? Patrick Brower, co-owner of Chicago’s award-winning Challengers Comics + Conversation in Bucktown, joins James in the car to break down today’s comics retail landscape. Together,…
2026 Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony set for 9/27 (Episode 1142)
In this episode, Car Con Carne heads to Joliet for a special live conversation from inside the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 (9 W. Cass St.). Founder Ron Romero joins me to preview the 2026 Illinois Rock…
The rapid and deserved rise of Dogs With Hats (Episode 1141)
For this episode, I caught up with Dogs With Hats founder/frontman Sam Shrier outside Beat Kitchen to talk about the band’s rapid rise, creative evolution, and upcoming plans. Sam details how Dogs with Hats grew from a solo bedroom recording…
Breakups and breakthrough songwriting moments – Savanna Ruth (Episode 1140)
I sat down with singer-songwriter Savanna Ruth outside Dunkin’ Donuts over iced caffeinated beverages to talk about her forthcoming album, The Baseball Diaries. After years performing as Burr Oak, Savanna decided to wipe the slate clean and step into a…
The shapes of ‘Wrath’ – Zak and Alex of Bleached Cross (Episode 1139)
Chicago post-punk outfit Bleached Cross (Zak and Alex) joins James VanOsdol to break down their latest album, Wrath. Episode Highlights Radio Nostalgia & Cassette Tapes: Zak brings in his childhood box of handwritten cassette radio rips from late-’90s Q101 broadcasts,…
Somebody put a Ramone in my podcast: Richie Ramone (Episode 1138)
Former Ramones drummer Richie Ramone joins the show at Beaumont’s (2020 N. Halsted) in Chicago to talk about his Ramones days, live shows, solo albums, acting pursuits, and what keeps his creative sparks lit for him. Thanks to Beaumont’s for…
Arcada Theatre/Des Plaines Theatre owner Ron Onesti (Episode 1137)
In this episode of Car Con Carne, host James VanOsdol sits down with Ron Onesti of Onesti Entertainment (OShows.com). For decades, Ron has been a fixture of the Chicago-area music scene, booking hundreds of shows a year at the historic…
Coyote Man is back and still (mostly) an instrumental band (Episode 1136)
In this episode of Car Con Carne, James VanOsdol catches up with Ian from Chicago post-rock/metal instrumental powerhouses Coyote Man. Parked outside Noon Whistle Brewery in Naperville where a record and comic book show was coincidentally (?) happening, they dive…
Chris Otepka reinvents own Troubled Hubble songs with Heligoats (Episode 1135)
Chris Otepka of Heligoats joins me to talk about Neat New Monuments, a new album reimagining songs from Troubled Hubble’s 20-year-old record, Making Beds in a Burning House. In this interview, Chris breaks down: The origin of Neat New Monuments:…
In praise of ‘slut rock’ – Naked Brunch at Rattleback (Episode 1134)
This episode was recorded in front of Rattleback Records in Andersonville with Naked Brunch lead singer Michael Hanna and Rattleback Records owner Paul Ruffino. Topics discussed: Naked Brunch’s origins via Craigslist and their self-described “slut rock” sound. The band’s recent…
