Ascot-wearing Radio Buzzkills frontman readies punk holiday comp (Episode 499)
As the world is slowly transitioning to nonstop holiday music, so too is the pop punk community. “A Gutter Pop Christmas,” a compilation of pop punk bands doing holiday songs, comes out on Cyber Monday. Zac Buzzkill of the Radio…
It’s OK not to be OK: Smashing the stigma of talking about suicide w/ Hope for the Day (Episode 498)
It’s OK not to be OK. Hope for the Day makes its fifth pandemic appearance on Car Con Carne, as I’m visited by HFTD Director of Education Mike Vinopal and Director of Public Policy Joel Frieders Car Con Carne is…
Hayley Crusher Cain of ‘Poolside glitter trash trio’ Hayley and the Crushers (Episode 497)
“Like Bazooka Joe bubble gum stuck to the bottom of your combat boot.” That’s the perfect way to describe Hayley and the Crushers (not my line, though I wish it was). I also enjoy the band’s self-description: “Poolside glitter trash…
‘Graveyard Sex’ takes the prolific Chris Connelly down a deeply personal road (Episode 496)
Chris Connelly is one of the most prolific artists of our time. Beyond his early work in the 90s with Ministry and Revolting Cocks, his solo discography now stretches well beyond 20 releases. His new album, the Goth AF-named “Graveyard…
Hot Doug talks about life after Hot Doug’s (Episode 495)
Legendary Chicago restaurateur and sausage man Hot Doug returns to the show to talk about the future of his meat, life after Hot Doug’s, his new-ish podcast, Taylor Swift and the pandemic’s impact on independent restaurant owners. “There are no…
The multi-continental siblings in experimental art rock band Jack of None (Episode 494)
The experimental, dark, arty and poetic sounds of Jack of None challenge me and inspire me. The three siblings that comprise the bi-country band (Philippines and U.S.) join me on the release day of their new EP, “The Purpose of…
DAMMIT, JERRY! A chat with the wonderful Jim O’Heir (Episode 493)
DAMMIT, JERRY! Sure, 2020’s been a crap year, but it did give us a Parks and Rec reunion. The wonderful Jim O’Heir (Jerry on Parks & Rec) joins me tonight from L.A. for a truly memorable episode of Car Con…
Say ‘hello’ to ‘So Long,’ the solo debut from Shannon Candy (Episode 492)
Shannon Candy’s first solo album, “So Long,” was released last week, and it’s a fuzzy, buzzy collection of indie rock greatness. Shannon joins me tonight to talk about the album and her life and times in the Chicago scene. Car…
Martin Atkins (PiL, Pigface, Killing Joke) spearheads ‘scratch and sniff’ music conference (Episode 490)
Musician Martin Atkins (Pigface, PiL, Killing Joke) is also an accomplished educator. This weekend, he’ll be leading the Midwest Music Expo… with a twist. It’s the world’s first “Scratch and Sniff conference,” which made me curious enough to have him…
Triple Fast Action celebrates ‘Michael Jordan anniversary’ of ‘Cattlemen Don’t’ (Episode 489)
If there was a Chicago music yearbook for the 90s, Triple Fast Action would have been voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” They had the songs… the talent… the rock swagger. Everything. Alas, there are no sure things in music. Their…
