As The Story Grows

Chapter 266 - "A Lot of Time to Look In the Mirror" ...as read by Sean McCulloch of Phinehas This week we welcome Phinehas frontman Sean McCulloch to the podcast. Phinehas just dropped their amazing new record, The Fire Itself, on Solid State Records. Sean talks about joining Phinehas and the process of taking over vocal duties, the band’s troubled history with Red Cord Records and being stoked to...

Chapter 265 - "Closing Chapters & Starting New Things" ...as read by Robin and Lela from Venues This week we welcome Robin and Lela from Stuttgart Germany’s Venues to the podcast! Venue’s new album Solace, drops this Friday, August 27th on Arising Empire records. Robin and Lela talk about the German scene, getting signed to same label Robin works for, Lela’s hesitation with joining Venues, and how...

Chapter 264 - "It Takes A Village" ...as read by We Demand Parachutes   This week, Kevin, Ben, and Seth from We Demand Parachutes join the podcast. I talked to the guys back in June, right before they dropped their single “Lost Her Mind.” The guys talk about their musical collaboration, which began at an early age, the long trajectory to get to We Demand Parachutes, how Kevin’s military career ins...

Chapter 263 - "I Took A Lot Of Inspiration From That" ...as read by Frankie Mish of Sleep Waker This week we welcome Sleep Waker drummer Frankie Mish to the podcast. Sleep Waker recently dropped their UNFD debut, "Alias." It’s one of my favorite records of 2021 and I recommend giving it a spin. Frankie talks about his parents working as reenactors, the band’s musical evolution, and using movies as...

Chapter 262 - "You Can Do Multiple Things" ...as read by Lauren Lakis This week we welcome singer and actress Lauren Lakis to the podcast. Lauren talks about her early reverence for music that kept her from writing her own songs, how a break-in helped her pursue acting, and unpacking her role as a daughter through music. Check out more music from Lauren at https://laurenlakis.bandcamp.com/ You can...

Chapter 261 - "It'll Be A Wild Ride" ...as read by Harrison Bormann of Capstan This week, Harrison Bormann from Capstan joins the podcast! Capstan released their brand new LP "Separate" last week on Fearless Records! Harrison talks about moving to Florida and the origins of Capstan and their connection to the midwest, how Covid hurt the band’s Fearless debut, and pushing forward to create to Separ...

Chapter 260 - "It's A Message A Lot Of People Can Relate To" ...as read by Bert Poncet from Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! This week, we welcome Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! frontman Bert Poncet to the podcast! Chunk will release their 4th full-length, Gone Are Good Days, on Friday July 30th via Fearless Records! Bert discusses the hiatus between records, the band’s focus on breaking into the American sce...

Chapter 259 - "We Wanted The Same Energy You Have In A Punk Show" ...as read by Florent and Nicolas of Landmvrks This week Florent Salfati and Nicolas Exposito from French metal outfit Landmvrks join the podcast. Landmvrks released their stunning new record Lost In the Waves back in March on Arising Empire Records. The guys talking about the hardcore scene they grew up in Marseille and how it's ch...

Chapter 258 - "It's Now Time To Do Something Different" ...as read by Aaron Pauley from Of Mice & Men This week I’m stoked to have Aaron Pauley from Of Mice & Men join the podcast. Aaron chats about how the pandemic created a space for Jamie’s Elsewhere to make music again, the difference in his lyrical approach between Jamie’s and Of Mice & Men, and music as an ongoing conversation. Of Mice & Men...

Chapter 257 - "None of This Would Be Possible Without Covid" ...as read by Austin Visser of The Undertaking This week Austin Visser, frontman for Solid State Records band The Undertaking, joins the podcast. Austin and I chat about music and listening to records vs singles. Austin also chats about the influence of P.O.D., the long trajectory of The Undertaking, finding his vocal style, and being in...

Chapter 256 - "It's Gotta Feel Right For Us First" ...as read by Francesco Artusato of Light the Torch This week Light the Torch guitarist Francesco Artusato joins the podcast. Fran chats about moving to and adjusting to life in America, how joining All Shall Perish was a dream come true, the transitions from The Devil You Know to Light the Torch and how Covid delayed the band’s new record, You Wi...

Chapter 255 - "I'm Going To Make A Lot of Weird Sounds" ...as read by Peter Duff This week recording engineer Peter Duff joins the podcast. Peter has stepped out and released his first single as a solo artist called The To Do List. Peter also plays guitar in pop punk band Hard to Hit. Peter talks about his sheltered upbringing, his desire to learn every instrument possible, and his career as an au...

Chapter 254 - "We Wanted To Create an Identity" ...as read by Josh Barbee and Josh Peavey from Revisionist This week Josh Barbee and Josh Peavey from hardcore outfit Revisionist join the podcast. The band recently released their new ep, The Emptiness Of Gravity. The Josh’s talk about the collaborative nature that makes Revisionist an ego free band, how working with Aaron Gillespie shaped the songs...

Chapter 253 - "We All Have A Really Personal Song" ...as read by Felicity This week Drew, Cory, Tyler, Mike, and Damien from Felicity join the podcast. Felicity has been releasing singles and music videos leading up to the release of their Adventure Cat Records debut full-length. The guys talk about their various musical influences, how a Craigslist ad helped form the band, the origins of the name...

Chapter 252 - "I Hope This Is The Last Angsty Thing I Put Out" ...as read by Jordon Ronan of belated This week Jordon Ronan aka, belated joins the podcast. belated is a new pop act with Common Ground Collective. Jordon talks about the influence of christian pop punk on his early years, not wanting to be a guitar guy, and hoping to leave angst behind him. Connect with belated - https://linktr.ee/be...

Chapter 251 - "Its Going To Be Really Hard" ...as read by Trae Roberts of Mouth For War This week we welcome Trae Roberts from Mouth for War to the podcast. Mouth for War just released their debut record, Life Cast in Glass, on 1126 Records. Trae talks about his first attempt at being a hardcore frontman, Bruise and the move to Colorado that broke that band up, and the tragedy that is at the heart...

Chapter 250 - "I Wasn't Going To Stop" ...as read by Diamante This week we welcome hard rock artist Diamante to the podcast. Diamante’s independently released sophomore full-length record, American Dream, came out this past Friday. Diamante talks about how musical theater inspired her career, choosing to go solo over being in a band, finding co-writers to help her rock and roll dreams, and moving...

Chapter 249 - "Every Time We Do This It's A Miracle" ...as read by Leanor Ortega Till from Five Iron Frenzy This week I’m excited to have Leanor Ortega Till from Five Iron Frenzy on the podcast. Five Iron released their 7th full-length record Until This Shakes Apart back in January. Leanor and I chat about the early days of Five Iron Frenzy, the band’s relationship with Mxpx, the Ska Documentary,...

Chapter 248 - "It Couldn't Happen For Me" ...as read by Taylin Wills of least This week we welcome Taylin Wills from least to the podcast. Least’s debut ep, Folding My Hands, Accepting Defeat, is out now on Friend Club Records. Taylin talks about choosing guitar over drums, how people get stuck in Florida, the influence of Laura Jane Grace, and her metal side. She also deep dives Folding My Hands,...

Chapter 247 - "I'm Not Going to Stop Writing Songs" ...as read by Devon Kay from Devon Kay and Solutions This week Devon Kay from Devon Kay and the Solutions and Direct Hit joins the podcast. Devon chats about dropping out of college to play music, the lack of joy he finds working in traditional studio settings, and the lightbulb moment that led to the band trying a new way of releasing music. Mak...

Chapter 246 - "You're Hearing It As We're Writing It" ...as read by Lys Mayo and Patrick Hills from Death Tapes This week we welcome Lys and Patrick from Sacramento screamo band Death Tapes to the podcast. Lys and Patrick chat about the influence of Green Day in their early years, the desire to play heavy music that led to getting in a room and writing the Death Tapes ep, and what the future of th...

Chapter 245 - "The Dynamic Range of the Human Experience Being Done Musically" ...as read by William Goldsmith This week I am so excited to have William Goldsmith join the podcast. Will has a new band, Assertion, and they’re releasing their debut record, Intermission, this Friday, April 9th on Spartan Records. Will chats about growing up and his love for the Beatles, the formation of Sunny Day Rea...

Chapter 244 - "Do You Guys Want To Do This" ...as read by Kevin Athas and Chris Dileso from Oh the Humanity This week we welcome Chris and Kevin from Massachusetts punk band Oh the Humanity to the podcast. Oh the Humanity will release their new self-titled LP on April 16th on Hellminded Records. Kevin and Chris chat about the musical history, including Kevin’s transition to frontman, the long road...

Chapter 243 - "I Always Wanted To Write Music Like That" ...as read by Stephen O'Sicky of Fake Lives Real Demons This week Caterpillars’ drummer Stephen O’Sicky returns to the podcast to chat about his new project, Fake Lives Real Demons. Fake Lives Real Demons will release their debut ep, Becoming the Phantom, on April 9th digitally with cd’s and cassettes to follow. At the end of this week’s cha...

Chapter 242 - "I Was Always Aiming For Something I Never Quite Achieved" ...as read by Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric This week I’m excited to have Ronnie Martin join the podcast. Ronnie’s been on my list for the show ever since I took over as host and I want to thank Jeff Cloud for connecting us. This was a fun chat as Ronnie talks about his love for synthesizers and electronic music, the struggle...