The Upgrade Podcast

Episode 055 - This week’s guest is visual artist Mike Oviedo. Len & Gary talk a bit about the Marvel Cinematic Universe and why some of the character movie rights were split between different companies, and the new season of Dark Side of the Ring on Vice (This episode was recorded on 5/3/21 before the tragic passing of New Jack). From there Mike joins the conversation and the trio talk about o...

Episode 054 - This week is part two of Len & Gary discussion with Brian Diaz (Tech for Fall Out Boy, ex-Edna’s Goldfish/The Reunion Show). The conversation continues from last week with Brian talking about working together with Gary at Tower Records in the 90s, Brian’s ska band Edna’s Goldfish, his pop punk band The Reunion Show, being signed to Victory Records, starting as a guitar tech worki...

Episode 053 - Brian Diaz (Tech for Fall Out Boy, ex-Edna’s Goldfish/The Reunion Show) joins the show this week (and next) for a two-part conversation. Brian talks to Len & Gary about UFC running a full arena with no capacity restrictions for UFC 261, the Madball show at Tompkins Square Park show and the aftermath, thoughts about reopening after covid, the myth of “social distancing” in NYC and...

Episode 052 - This episode starts with a convo already in progress (this is what happens when you talk before you press record)… Len & Gary talk about defunct movie theaters in NY & NJ (including Amboy Cinemas & Whitestone Cinemas), exploring movie theater history, viewing past aerial photos to compare landscape/building changes, the Bronx’s Co-op City and it’s earlier life as the them...

Episode 051 - (recorded 4/19, the day before the Chauvin verdict was announced) Len & Gary talk about Covid & travel, corporations locking up the residential housing market, “Them” (Amazon Prime) and how it depicts real racial issues of the past (and present), other movies/shows that depict uncomfortable moments in history and how important it is to revisit those moments, the real history...

Episode 050 - The return of QUARANTINE QUESTIONS! Once again Len & Gary spend a few hours answering questions submitted by Upgrade listeners. Of course the answers are intertwined with fun stories and the sarcastic attitude you expect from The Upgrade. Subjects include: the future of hardcore shows post-covid, vaccines, music choices for cookouts & BBQs, musical instruments, discovering ne...

Episode 049 - This week's guest is Cody Clark, the singer of Gloves Off. Cody, Len & Gary talk about the beginnings of Gloves Off, filling in for bands, getting sidetracked by covid, motivation post-covid, pros & cons of the vaccine, social media ridiculousness, tv watching, comic books (Department of Truth, Swamp Thing, Sandman, Scumbag, X-Men, Fantastic Four), Las Vegas, the Grand C...

Episode 048 - This episode is Part 2 of the conversation with Tim “Trashmouth” Mills of The Horror Flicks & Guitar Picks Podcast. The convo continues with the trio discussing the “smart” device takeover, Tim’s roots as a movie fan, the band Frightmare ( https://razorbackrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bringing-back-the-bloodshed ), discovering punk & hardcore through video games, Rammstein as a...

Episode 047 - This episode Len & Gary go free form talking about current events and other random things. Topics include (but are not limited to) the rash of hate crimes against Asians and exploring the determination of a hate crime, social media trend chasers, Sunny Singh (Hate5Six) and his activist work for Mumia Abu Jamal, is Sunny really a cyborg?, New York bagels & pizza vs everywhere...

Episode 046 - Tim “Trashmouth” Mills, host of The Horror Flicks & Guitar Picks Podcast, joins The Upgrade for a big two part conversation! Len & Gary start off Part 1 talking some studio/amp business and then Tim joins the discussion. The trio discuss Tim’s musician background, how music led to podcasting, booking podcast guests, social media punishers, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Elisabeth Shue...

Episode 045 - This week Yohannes Habtu returns to The Upgrade! Len & Gary start off by talking about random sleeping arrangements, fat guys & air mattresses, tour sleeping, and AirBNB. Yohannes joins the conversation and the trio get into hair maintenance, white people anger, myths & facts of financial inequality, the minimum wage, shopping while black, the Real World reunion & how...

Episode 044 - Part 2 of Len & Gary talking about the records released in 1991! The discussion continues with the second half of the year, including releases from (and stories about) Green Day, Digital Underground, Poor Righteous Teachers, Cyclone Temple, Cannibal Corpse, Alice Cooper, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Heavy D & The Boyz, Slick Rick, Geto Boys, Meat Puppets, James, Therapy...

Episode 043 - Len & Gary talk about 1991 - The Year That Changed Music! So many influential and historic records were released in the year 1991 that it took two episodes to discuss them all! And not just rock/metal hardcore, they cover ALL genres! In Part 1 we discuss January to June, including releases from (and stories about) Meshuggah, The Specials, David Lee Roth, Gang Starr, DiVinyls, Jes...

Episode 042 - This week drummer Moe Watson (Cipher, Shai Hulud, Vagus Nerve, John Ginty Band) joins The Upgrade. Len & Gary talk about the new upgrades at Landmine Studios, and then Moe joins the conversation. The trio talk about Moe’s band history and shared paths between the three of them, how he started playing music and his earliest influences, discovering alternative and getting into heav...

Episode 041 - Joining The Upgrade this week is Louis Gino, singer for the London hardcore bands Ironed Out & Last Orders, co-host of the Everyone But Us podcast and partner in the Ready Eye Collective promotion company. Louis talks to Len & Gary about his musical journey, pop music, new jack swing, nu metal, hip hop, Ozzfest, pay to play, covid, London in lockdown, government assistance du...

Episode 040 - This week Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves/Vagus Nerve/ex-God Forbid) joins The Upgrade! Len & Gary chat with Doc about guitar & studio techniques, Doc’s guitar beginnings, bass players, Doc’s podcast, God Forbid, full albums and live shows as a snapshot, the present and future of Bad Wolves, dealing with haters, insecurity, how the pandemic has changed the way people think and how it f...

Episode 039  - This week is Part 2 with Filmmaker Jeff Stewart (recorded 1/18/2021). Jeff talks to Len & Gary about his creative work, discussing Paranormal Adventure Hunters Supreme, King of Nowhere, The Velvet Elvis & more, drunk auditions, Amazon film contracts, camera equipment, trying to disconnect and enjoy content vs analyzing as a content creator, The Mandalorian & the Star War...

Episode 038 - Another bonus episode talking about recent politics! Len & Gary cover a lot of the recent happenings around the country and the history that got us here… Trump with no bully pulpit, their appreciation of Bernie Sanders, brainwashing about “socialism”, AOC doing real work, elected officials being irresponsible with their firearms, the aftermath of the Capitol Riot and why there mu...

Episode 037 - John Wren returns to the show for more talk about tv & movies. John talks to Len & Gary about The Stand, The Mandalorian, Marvel, why the MCU succeeds where other movie “universes” fail, comic books, zombie movies, scary scenes, The Exorcist, Hitchcock, the Twilight Zone, Creepshow, Hereditary, SLC Punk, ranking the Halloween movies (and which one determines your dick size),...

Episode 036 - Another 2-parter! Just 2 days before the inauguration (recorded 1/18/2021) Filmmaker Jeff Stewart joins The Upgrade. In part 1, Jeff talks to Len & Gary about presidential pardons, the non-musical genius of Snoop Dogg, kids not knowing about shit, Melania’s exit strategy, Four Seasons Total Landscaping & the Trenton guy, naked subway guy, party politics, cancel culture, the i...

Episode 035 - This week we continue with Part 2 of an interview with Malone Ranalli from Billy Club Sandwich. Malone continues his conversation with Len & Gary talking about hitting bottom, entering detox and then moving to rehab, where “the journey really begins”. Malone & Gary talk about the death of Little Gregg, BCS performing at the tribute show for Gregg without Malone, and Malone’s...

Episode 034 - Friend and regular listener Tony Corrado joins Len & Gary for a jarring discussion about the Capitol insurrection and the final days of the Trump administration. The trip touch on racism, insurrection tourist groups, no fly lists, self-snitching, social media, the dumbing down of America, and much more. #theupgrade #theupgradepodcast #podcast #landminestudios #billyclubsandwich #...

Episode 033 - This week is Part 1 of a special 2-part episode with Malone Ranalli from Billy Club Sandwich. Len & Gary talk with Malone about the history of BCS, from high school friendships to the formation of the band, lineup changes, the Castle Heights scene, Superheroes at Leisure, the progression of the band into the 2000’s, and the chemistry of the current lineup. From there Malone pulls...

Episode 032 - The end of 2020! Andy Lavine joins Len & Gary for a wrap up of this terrible year. The show starts with a long discussion about The Mandalorian and the Star Wars franchise in general. From there the trio gets into most of the big subjects of 2020 leading into 2021, with some personal experiences mixed in: The Nashville RV bombing, the Illinois bowling alley shooting, Qanon, trave...

Episode 031 - Matt Bennett from Iron Price is this week’s guest. After some food talk, Matt talks to Len & Gary about the history of Iron Price and then the guys get into a long conversation about guitars, amps and recording gear & techniques. There’s also some talk about pop punk, the Warped Tour, Helmet, Orange 9mm and grunge mixed in. And a random 5 records discussion. https://ironprice...