P is For Punk

After an eight-year gap between studio albums, Hot Water Music returned in 2012 with Exister , bringing their signature blend of gritty vocals, melodic guitars, and emotionally charged punk rock back to the forefront. Recorded with Bill Stevenson at The Blasting Room, Exister finds Chuck Ragan, Chris Wollard, Jason Black, and George Rebelo picking up where they left off while bringing some new inf...

This week on P is for Punk , Nate, singer and bass player of Milwaukee ska-punk band Something To Do, joins the show! We dive into the band's new album, A Little Misdirection , breaking down the tracks, the stories behind the songs, and the creative process that brought the record together.  A Little Misdirection is available now on all streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. You c...

The Menzingers and Hot Water Music are hitting the road and thankfully making a stop at the Sylvee in Madison, Wisconsin. I preview the show by talking about my connections to the bands, pick where to start if first listening to them, and share why Wisconsin should always be a tour stop for bands.  The "Everything I Ever Saw" tour continues in November. 

This week we're breaking down The Matches 2006 album Decomposer ! From unconventional instrumentation and bizarre vocal styles to experimental production, we dive into each track and explore what makes this album stand out from the mid-2000s punk scene.

C is for Chuck ! This week we dive into Sum 41's 2004 album that took the band far beyond their pop-punk roots. We go track by track through the Metallica and thrash influences, face-melting guitars, alternative rock detours, punk burners, and quieter moments that made Chuck such a diverse record.

This week on P is for Punk, we're dropping into one of the most influential video game soundtracks of all time: the original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. From the Dead Kennedys' "Police Truck" and Goldfinger's iconic "Superman" to Suicidal Tendencies, The Suicide Machines, The Vandals, Primus, Unsane, Speedealer, Even Rude, and The Ernies, we're going track by track through the soundtrack that introduc...

This episode of P Is for Punk dives into Brainless God , the 2013 punk rock opera from Milwaukee's Direct Hit! We go track by track through the album's interconnected apocalypse featuring serial killers, suicide cults, doomed lovers, questionable religion, the afterlife. 

Skacore band Offend Your Friends joins the show to talk about their 2026 release, Almost Didn't Make It . The band breaks down the album track by track, talks about how their sound has evolved over the 20 years since their last release, and dives into the mix of ska, punk, and hardcore that drives the record. Hailing from small-town Wisconsin, Offend Your Friends proves they're better than ever—an...

Pickle Juice joins P is for Punk to break down their EP The Whiteroom track by track. As a new band that's already hit the ground running with a steady stream of music, they talk about the songs, the making of the EP, and how they're building their sound along the way.   All things P is for Punk: Here

This week we hit the letter Z and dive into Hüsker Dü's ambitious 1984 double album Zen Arcade, a chaotic mix of hardcore punk, melody, acoustic folk, psychedelia, and experimental noise. We go track by track, break down the lyrics and sounds, and look at why Zen Arcade became such an influential punk record. All things P is for Punk: Here  

Andy of The Eradicator joins the show to discuss You Can Hate The Eradicator . After believing The Eradicator had come to an end, Andy found himself inspired to keep the project alive and create another record. We talk about what sparked that decision, the journey behind You Can Hate The Eradicator , and break down the album track by track, exploring the songwriting, lyrics, and how the legacy con...

Davey Havok and Jade Puget traded AFI's melodic sound for a full-on straight-edge hardcore assault with XTRMST. In this episode of P is for Punk, Drew explores the band's origins and break down the 2014 self-titled album track by track, diving into its lyrics, musicianship, and message. Follow P is for Punk on Instagram: @pisforpunk All things P is for Punk: Here

Mike (MV) Wells joins the show to dive into his new solo album, Le Dauphin . Mike and Drew go track by track, discussing the stories behind the songs, the album artwork, the musicianship, and the creative process that shaped the record. They also take a look back at Mike's musical journey and the experiences that led to this release. Follow Mike on Instagram: @mv_wells Listen to Le Dauphin at mvwe...

On this episode of P is for Punk, J Navarro of The Suicide Machines joins the show to take a deep dive into the band's album, War Profiteering Is Killing Us All . We discuss the political climate that inspired the record, working with Bill Stevenson at The Blasting Room, the band's return to its hardcore roots, and the stories behind the track. Drew and J reflect on the album's legacy more than tw...

This week on P Is for Punk, I'm joined by Jon Lewis of The Dopamines for a track-by-track breakdown of the band's album,  Vices . Jon reveals that he originally wanted the record to be an EP before growing into one of my favorite full-length releases by the band. We dive into the stories behind songs, the songwriting process, the recording sessions, and how Vices formed.  Follow The Dopamines on i...

n this special interview episode of P Is for Punk, I sit down with Gabriel Rotello, author of The CBGB Conspiracy , for a deep dive into one of the most legendary eras in punk history. Gabriel shares firsthand stories from New York City's 1977 punk scene, reflects on the lasting legacy of CBGB, and discusses what it was like playing the iconic venue during its heyday. We also explore his writing p...

This week on P Is for Punk, we cover The Falcon's Unicornography . We break down the band's Chicago punk roots, the album's bizarre artwork, and every track from this "supergroup".  Follow on instagram @pisforpunk

On this episode of P is for Punk , we're tackling one of the most influential and divisive punk records ever made: Refused's The Shape of Punk to Come . When the Swedish hardcore band released the album in 1998, it confused fans, sold poorly, and was followed almost immediately by the band's breakup. Yet over the following decades, it became a blueprint for modern post-hardcore, metalcore, and exp...

This week on P is for Punk, we're taking a deep dive into Somewhere in the Between by Streetlight Manifesto. We explore the band's history, how they helped evolve ska-punk beyond its third-wave roots, and why this 2007 album remains one of the genre's defining records. From the explosive energy of "We Will Fall Together" to the emotional depth of "Forty Days" and the title track, we'll break down...

On this episode of P is for Punk, we dive into Against Me!'s legendary 2002 debut album, Reinventing Axl Rose. We break down the history of the band and how Laura Jane Grace transformed Against Me! from a raw acoustic folk-punk project into one of the most influential punk bands of the 2000s. We explore the evolution of songs from Crime and the Acoustic EP into the louder, more explosive versions...

Drew takes a trip through  Quality Soft Core by Mad Caddies, one of the most genre-bending records to come out of the punk and ska scene of the late 90s. Mixing punk energy with ska rhythms, reggae grooves, jazz influences, and surprisingly emotional songwriting, the album carved out its own weird little lane. Track by track, Drew breaks down the sounds, lyrics, and themes that made Quality Soft C...

This episode sits down with Jay from Punk4Kids, a musician turning punk energy into something bigger than music. What started as a fun project for his son has grown into a movement focused on creating original punk songs for kids, while highlighting the powerful connection between music and children with disabilities. We talk about how Punk4Kids began, the impact music can have on communication, b...

This episode dives into the comeback EP from The Lillingtons. After more than a decade away,  Project 313 hits fast, catchy, and way darker than expected, blending sci-fi themes with anxiety, isolation, and mental unraveling. We break down all four tracks: "Until the Sun Shines," "Rubber Room,"  "Project 313," and  "It's On."  We dig into the lyrics, guitar tones, structure, and how this EP quietl...

On this episode of P is for Punk , I sit down with Blag Dahlia of The Dwarves to talk about their upcoming album Jenkem . With pre-orders available now and the record dropping June 5, we get into the band's writing process, how their chaotic energy turns into music, and why The Dwarves continue to thrive as a collaborative, ever-evolving creative force. From raw punk ethos to the madness behind th...

On this episode of P is for Punk , we sit down with punk rock legend Greg Norton ( Hüsker Dü ) and Ryan Smith ( Soul Asylum ) to talk about their new band, UltraBomb . We dive into their upcoming record The Bridges That We Burn , unpack the new single "No Cap," and explore how they're building something that stands on its own. Greg and Ryan get into their writing process, the intention behind crea...