Rockin' the Suburbs

The August 2026 New Music Train is down in upstate South Carolina today, picking up Harris and Rachel King on the platform. They each have a parcel of new music picks under their arms and they might even throw in a bonus pick. Hit play for all the info on songs from Wild Pink, Westside Cowboy, Julia Holter, Son Volt and Mitch Easter. Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast pl...

Crossing the Atlantic twice is on the agenda for the August 2026 New Music Train today, since that’s the only way to get Kevin Porter and Roger Grace together. And when they are together, the new music picks are juicy and plentiful. Kevin and Roger fill us in on new music from Le Ren, Dinosaur Jr., Stephen Steinbrink, Maple’s Pet Dinosaur, Merrowfolk and Bob Marley and the Wailers.  Rockin' the Su...

It’s time to turn the August 2026 New Music Train over to the listeners and that means heading to Scotland, where Steven Routledge is waiting on the platform…and who is that with him? A special guest? Oh yes, listener, a special guest!  Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, Stitcher and TuneIn. Or lis...

Jim gets the New Music Train rockin' with music released in August by Basht., Grumpy and Beabadoobee. Get with Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, like audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com . Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends. Visit our website at SuburbsPod.com Em...

For back-to-school season, Jim inducts "We're Going to Be Friends" by the White Stripes into the Perfect Pop Pantheon. Get with Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, like audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com . Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends. Visit our website at...

The first of a new series designed to introduce listeners to bands they have heard of, but might not know where to start with their catalogue. We begin with the Mountain Goats and a series of episodes recorded at Suburbs Fest with Scot Isom, Aaron Houx, Matt Carlson and Patrick. Scot and Aaron came up with a bonus track to close the series, choosing “Jenny III” from the 2023 album Jenny From Thebe...

The first of a new series designed to introduce listeners to bands they have heard of, but might not know where to start with their catalogue. We begin with the Mountain Goats and a series of episodes recorded at Suburbs Fest with Scot Isom, Aaron Houx, Matt Carlson and Patrick. We have reached the fifth song, which comes from the band’s 2022 album, Bleed Out.   Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcas...

The first of a new series designed to introduce listeners to bands they have heard of, but might not know where to start with their catalogue. We begin with the Mountain Goats and a series of episodes recorded at Suburbs Fest with Scot Isom, Aaron Houx, Matt Carlson and Patrick. We push ahead to the fourth song, the gripping composition ““The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton.”   Rockin' the Su...

The first of a new series designed to introduce listeners to bands they have heard of, but might not know where to start with their catalogue. We begin with the Mountain Goats and a series of episodes recorded at Suburbs Fest with Scot Isom, Aaron Houx, Matt Carlson and Patrick. The third song on the list is “No Children” from the band’s 2002 album Tallahassee. Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcast...

The first of a new series designed to introduce listeners to bands they have heard of, but might not know where to start with their catalogue. We begin with the Mountain Goats and a series of episodes recorded at Suburbs Fest with Scot Isom, Aaron Houx, Matt Carlson and Patrick. The second song, like the first, is a selection from the 2005 Album The Sunset Tree. It’s called “Dance Music.”  Rockin'...

The first of a new series designed to introduce listeners to bands they have heard of, but might not know where to start with their catalogue. We begin with the Mountain Goats and a series of episodes recorded at Suburbs Fest with Scot Isom, Aaron Houx, Matt Carlson and Patrick. First up, “This Year.”  Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Sp...

We talk with J. Hunter Bennett, longtime friend of the pod, about his new book "More Punk Than the Public Library: The Adventures of a Little Free Punk Rock Bookstore." Hunter talks about how his little library project during the pandemic morphed into a passion project in publishing. Many of the writings featured in his regular communiques are collected in this book. Buy "More Punk Than the Public...

As Labor Day rolls into view, most people’s thoughts turn to the coming autumn, unpacking your hoodie collection and all things Pumpkin. Here at Rockin’ the Suburbs, Labor Day means it’s time to figure out what was the Song of the Summer. We sent Patrick to find the 2026 Song of the Summer, but he stumbled onto something else that he thought he would share with you, dear listener.  Rockin' the Sub...

Patrick recently had occasion to look through his books on legendary writer Lester Bangs and before he returned them to the shelves, he shares his thoughts on three volumes: Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung , Let it Blurt and Main Lines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste . Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazo...

Mark Neese takes on Second Album Syndrome, linking two bands who changed singers after their debut albums. Both Jefferson Airplane (“Surrealistic Pillow”) and Fairport Convention (“What We Did On Our Holidays”) made big artistic strides on their second efforts. Hop in the wayback machine with Mark and learn all about them!  Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, i...

Episodes 2439-2433 were dedicated to Matthew Sweet’s 90s albums and Kevin Clement, Niklas Nygards and Justin Steiner hosted while Jim and Patrick were on summer vacation. It’s a great listen and friend of the show David Lee (who has also contributed to Joe Ely and Greg Kihn episodes) wanted to share his thoughts. Take it away, David!  Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast p...

50 years ago this week, a debut album was released that changed the face of rock and roll. Tom Scholz recorded a series of tracks in the basement of a house outside Boston and named his makeshift group for the city. It went on to sell millions of copies. Patrick is joined by George (formerly of Hong Kong, now of West Virginia) to discuss this landmark LP.  Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTu...

American musical icon Dolly Parton passed away on August 25, 2026 at the age of 80. Patrick takes a look at four different musical periods of Dolly’s career – her early songs, her 1970-1975 classic albums, her duets with Porter Wagoner and her trio work with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris – as a tribute to her amazing talent. Rest in Power, Dolly.    Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes...

It's a double caboose on the New Music Train! Jim talks about songs released in July by the Goods, the Tubs, Billboard Style and Dinosaur Jr. Get with Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, like audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com . Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends...

Jim is in the caboose of the New Music Train this month, with songs released in July by Stef Chura, Jawdropped, Freak Slug and Valerie June. Get with Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, like audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com . Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends....

The July 2026 New Music Train is close to the end of its journey, but not before Harris and Rachel King and Sunny Varney hop on board with a bevy of fresh tracks. The trio will bring you up to speed on new releases from Parker Barrow, The Dead Reds, Black Sites, Low Cut Connie, Swampmeet, The Reds, Pinks and Purples, Son Volt and Sharp Pins.   Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other...

The July 2026 New Music Train makes a classic musical journey, travelling from near Kansas City to the Big Apple. That puts Scot Isom and Jason Goebel on board, both with three-packs of musical delights. They bring you tunes from The Mountain Goats, Lacey Ann Johnson, The Wiggles with Jesse Welles, Low Cut Connie, Twisted Teens and Madonna. Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other pod...

After just returning from Scotland, the July 2026 New Music Train fancied another trip to the land that gave the world Rod Stewart and Orange Juice. Roger Grace hops aboard with a pack full of tunes, dishing on new music from Lucia and the Best Boys, Kris Barras Band and The NaNaz. Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcast...

The July 2026 New Music Train is prowling the heartland in today’s episode, with Bob Peterson (Wisconsin) and Paul Hayden (Illinois) on board. This pair of new music mavens discuss July releases from Babe Rainbow, Adrian Younge, Panda Bear and Sonic Boom and Emma Swift. Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, i...

Scotland is where we find the July 2026 New Music train and that means Steven Routledge, the new music OG, is on board. He’s joined by Kevin Porter and the pair dish on new releases from Hurry, Matt Berninger, Ian Sweet, The Royal Firecrackers and Finn Wolfhard. Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, S...