Transforming ‘painful reminders’ of gang life or human trafficking enslavement into beautiful art: Ink 180 (Episode 618)
Victims of human trafficking are often “branded” with tattoos of pimps’ names or bar codes. Gang members’ tattoos are proof of allegiance. But what happens when a human trafficking victim escapes enslavement? When a gang member leaves the life? Those…
The FEW Spirits distillery tour and conversation with Paul Hletko (Episode 617)
Evanston was a hotbed for the temperance movement and remained a dry town for many decades. These days, it’s home to one of our favorite distilleries, the very-local and very-excellent FEW Spirits. We went onsite to the distillery for a…
Launching the podcasts-to-vinyl ‘Phonation’ project (Episode 616)
What is Phonation? I’m chatting about the podcasts-on-vinyl crowdfunding project with my co-conspirators Giorgio Reyes and Zach Spangler. We had plenty of video mishaps as we recorded (it’s been a long time since I did car-based podcasts on a regular…
‘PHONATION’ wants to put Chicago podcasts on vinyl!
Help get Chicago area podcasts pressed onto vinyl!
Rancid tribute and 924 Gilman St: Alex Botkin from Lavasocks Records (Episode 615)
Alex Botkin of Lavasocks Records joins me to talk about the rerelease of 80s punk comp “The Thing That Ate Floyd” and the forthcoming Rancid tribute “And Out Come the Lawsuits.” Sponsored by Siren Records McHenry
Letdown joins us for hot dogs as we RETURN TO THE CAR! (Episode 614)
Letdown is the next band to break big out of Chicago. Half a million TikTok users can’t be wrong… Blake Coddington of Letdown returns to Car Con Carne just as the podcast makes its return to recording in the car!…
State of Sound: A World of Music from Illinois (Episode 613)
The music of Illinois is on display in Springfield at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in the “The State of Sound: A World of Music from Illinois” exhibit. I made the trip there to record a special episode of Car…
Throwing the Game’ 20 years later: Lucky Boys Confusion (Episode 612)
Has it really been 20 years since Lucky Boys Confusion released their breakthrough album, “Throwing the Game?” As the band readies a live stream performance for Thursday at 8pm, they join me to reflect on Throwing the Game.
‘Situation Chicago 2’ benefit album arrives this week (Episode 611)
The first “Situation Chicago” benefit album is out of print, and a new one is on the way! Trey Elder of Quiet Pterodactyl returns alongside Shawn and Brian of Miirrors to preview Situation Chicago 2, a benefit album of Chicago…
Band in Austria/Banned in America: DeeCRACKS (Episode 610)
Ramones song structures collide with Motorhead rock swagger, and the result is glorious. Meet Austrian punk heroes DeeCRACKS Sponsored by Siren Records McHenry
