The LIFERS Podcast

Scott's in Arizona on a night off of The Toadies tour, doing laundry, so he asks Ben and Gabe to contemplate the true nature of "all you can eat". Gabe is in Florida, and man is he acclimating! He asks Scott and Ben to contemplate the true nature of "line dancing". Ben is in Madison, where he still can't remember much at all about "The Odyssey". PLUS: What's The Best Opening Line of a Beatles Song...

Joe Swanberg’s feature debut, KISSING ON THE MOUTH, premiered at SXSW in 2005, which turned out to be a real vintage year. It was at that festival that Joe met many of the filmmakers who would become key collaborators and fellow travelers navigating the world of low budget moviemaking. Somebody started calling it “Mumblecore” — and the fairly perjorative moniker stuck. But here’s the thing: That t...

It’s been quite a summer for our buddy Tanner Dane — he and his band Hollyy have successfully turned the Belmont beach at Lake Michigan into a mini-Ravinia with their increasingly popular monthly pop-up shows that are only advertised at the last minute through their Tik-Toks and Instagrams. Except it’s not so mini anymore —thousands of people are showing up— and that’s driving the park district cr...

Dolly Rebecca Parton, R.I.P.

The second leg of Local H’s tour with The Toadies has ended — prompting much reflection on the realities of life on the road. The physical toll. The psychic costs. The riggies. PLUS!: What are the BEST(?!?) EPs?

Clark Vogeler is the guitar playing Michael Corleone of rock. Every time he thinks he’s out —somehow!— they manage to pull him back in. Clark never had any ambitions to be a rock and roll lifer — he figured he’d record a couple records with his band Funland, tour the country for a few years, then grow up and get a real job. And then in 1996, he joined the Toadies. That was 30 years ago. So you see...

The guys relive old glory days in front of the TV set, fight over “Frere Jacques”, wax rhapsodic about “Straight Time”, pit M. Emmet Walsh against Robert Prosky, marvel at the absence of Beatles deep cuts, get nostalgic for fake game shows, ponder the paradox of Sisyphus, and bid a fond, tearful farewell to Lionel Messi. So, you know — business as usual.

Back by popular demand — it’s Deanna Belos!!! For the FOURTH TIME! Her band Sincere Engineer’s 4th record (PROBABLE CLAWS) was released a couple of weeks ago and, well, it certainly sounds like a breakthrough. It’s the kind of well crafted, undeniably catchy collection of songs that tends to push bands to the fabled “next level”. The work of somebody at the top of their game — confident and ready...

To telemarketers and family members he’s Mark Reznicek — but to us, he’s Rez. Drummer extraordinaire for The Toadies and perpetual winner of “The Most Laid Back Guy In The Room” award. On this episode we talk to Mark/Rez about the Toadies’ new album THE CHARMER, finally working with the late Steve Albini, shoveling his dad’s driveway in Iowa, relocating to Texas, the highs and lows of being signed...

"MMMBop" is a song written and performed by American pop rock band Hanson. It was released on March 24, 1997, by Mercury Records as the lead single from their first full-length studio album, MIDDLE OF NOWHERE (1997). The song is the band's most successful single to date and was originally titled “MMMBappe” in honor of the Hanson brothers’ favorite soccer player: Kylian Mbappe. Mercury records —who...

It's the end of the tour as we know it and Scott feels fine... about everything other than the merch trolls. That’s okay, because he’s got World Cup fever. Speaking of bandwagons, Ben is on a Knicks high that the boys are determined to bring him down from — and Gabe is now a LIFERS podcast listener?!? Something smells. Plus!: Human centipedes, In & Out customers, scary t-shirts and WHAT’S THE BEST...

Scott’s in the Wisconsin Dells, but too tired to go to a water park. So Ben invents a rift between Scott and Gabe that only he can mend. Not to say that there isn’t a difference of opinion between the two: Gabe insists that the customer is always right — while Scott KNOWS they’re not. But since he has Noel Gallagher on his side, Scott remains steadfast in his refusal to sell the new 30th Anniversa...

“You’re listening to SONG IMPLODER — where musicians take apart their songs piece by piece and tell the story of how they were made. And then talk shit about those songs and make you embarrassed you asked about them in the first place. On this episode we finish our two-part examination of Local H’s 2nd studio album: AS GOOD AS DEAD. Released in April of 1996, the album would prove to be the band’s...

“You’re listening to SONG IMPLODER — where musicians take apart their songs piece by piece and tell the story of how they were made. And then talk shit about those songs and make you embarrassed you asked about them in the first place. On this episode we examine Local H’s 2nd studio album: AS GOOD AS DEAD. Released in April of 1996, the album would prove to be the band’s commercial and artistic br...

The great Jack Douglas passed away earlier this week and we over at the LIFERS podcast —much like the rest of the world— have been thinking about him and all the wonderful records he helped to make. Scott was lucky enough to work with Jack on Local H’s fourth record (HERE COMES THE ZOO) and one of the last conversations they had with each other was actually an interview recorded at Gman Tavern in...

Scott is in Texas. Texas sucks for cellular coverage. It is May 1st. Gabe is eating pizza. Ben is growing a beard. Scott is in a van. Movies are discussed. Texas is discussed. Pantera is discussed. Will this episode stay up on Spotify? Doubtful. Will this episode stay up anywhere after today? Doubtful. Listen while you can, but don't worry if you can't. In the meantime, come see Local H on tour wi...

Scott’s stranded way up in the northwoods of Wisconsin (again) and his internet sucks (again). So you’re all gonna have to wait — because there’s a delay worse than a transmission from the Artemis ll. Nevertheless, Scott powers through his cabin fever, Ben navigates the fog of 4/20, and Gabe deals with another crushing loss in our Rock & Roll Hall of Fame draft. These guys are total champs! Except...

It’s Gabe’s favorite time of year AGAIN! We pick over this year’s crop of nominees for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame and decide which ones we love, which ones we hate the least, and which ones we’re not touching with a ten foot pole. Is this Iron Maiden’s year? Will Ben ever get over Joy Division being lumped in with New Order? Who keeps nominating Billy Idol? And who gives a shit?...

It’s been a couple of weeks since we heard from Scott. In that time there’s been a change of vans, disgruntled fans, pizza pans and road dog bans. Tune in, turn on if you can.

After having to last-minute cancel a podcast recording plan earlier this week, the guys make a spontaneous decision to quickly record an episode over Gabe’s lunch hour today (Friday, March 6th) and then just toss it up, unedited for ya! Scott is in a sprinter van heading to Colorado Springs, Ben is manning the Wisconsin Film Festival box office, and Gabe is WORKING, so apologies in advance for thi...

Balthazar de Ley has a show with Menthol tonight. He also had a show with his other band Lightfoils last Friday. Plus — he makes his own amps with his own name on them (that you can buy, by the way). And if you pay him enough, he’ll even fix your broken non-Balthazar amps. The point is — he’s a busy guy. But he made time to sit down with us and talk about the BEST!?! debut albums of all time. What...

Scott’s back from his vacation and if you think that means he’s going to be all mellow and well-rested — well, then you don’t know Scott. This week’s episode is going scorched earth as we cover all the drama around the 30th Anniversary AS GOOD AS DEAD reissue debacle — which means plenty of rants about major labels, indie labels, and bootlegger bootlickers. But that’s not all! Scott is mad as hell...

Saxophones. Am I right? Some people hate ‘em. Some people tolerate ‘em. Join us as we welcome returning champion John McCauley (of Deer Tick!) back to the podcast to discuss the BEST sax solos to ever sex up a rock song. Warning: This episode could get you pregnant.

Picture the scene: It’s 1983 on the East side of town in Zion, Illinois! You’re hanging out at your buddy Russ Spice’s house. Playing Judas Priest songs on your Harmony guitars and watching “The Song Remains The Same” on MTV. Instead of James Dean in “Rebel Without A Cause”, our movie idol is Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli (is it still playing at the Dunes?). Maybe later we’ll ride our bikes down to th...

Selena Fragassi publishes more books before 9am than most people do all day. Just last year, the always hustling music writer and journalist wrote and published books about Alanis Morissette, Sabrina Carpenter, Greta Gerwig AND her latest:  PEARL JAM LIVE — a hefty and thorough tome covering the band’s 35 year history as one of the world’s best live acts (it also features a forward written by Scot...