(Don't) Quit Your Day Job

In this episode, Sir Richard Dean Girt III of The Sneaky Heat Missiles talks about creating stage and band names, the current wave of ska, creating objectives when starting a band, the difficulty in finding and keeping horn players, and the challenge of getting honest feedback on songs and performance. Plus, having family members in the band, pay to play shows, performing at a haunted prison, and...

In the first episode of 2023, we talk to our friend Mark Tremalgia (Little Caesar) about what it really means to be famous, the "normal" life of a musician, Cherry Pie and Jani Lane, and practicing as a new years resolution. Plus, guitarists on Cameo, the fluctuating desire to play, staying positive in the face of disappointment, and becoming YouTube famous. Mark is a working musician in LA, playi...

In this episode, Trev Allen of the Struggling Artist Podcast talks about the music scene in Worcester, MA and New England, the importance of true support in any scene, podcasting versus storytelling, and creating and managing an engaging podcast. Plus, the importance of interacting with other people, the differences between having conversations and writing, how ideas are generated, and deciding wh...

In this episode, we talk to our friend Mark Tremalgia (Little Caesar) about the annual Spotify statistics flurry, gauging the value of streams from a business perspective, validation as a songwriter in seeing high numbers of streams, changing songs from recorded versions, and the use of backing tracks when performing live. Plus, legacy bands changing members, sounds and clothes falling out of fash...

In this episode, most of the Arizona based band Vacant Skies talks about releasing full length albums despite shorter attention spans, the live scene in Arizona the financial difficulties of touring in the west, the importance of technical ability, and combining different styles of music. Plus, UFOs in Arizona, songwriting and band dynamics, and the importance of setting goals. You can check out V...

In this episode, we talk to our old pal Mark Tremalgia about being inspired or discouraged by other musicians, the dream of being a rock star versus being a musician, and the frustrations inherent in learning and practicing. Plus, is practice enough or is there a gift, where inspiration comes from, middle aged rock star wannabees, and musicians with heydays in the past. Mark is a working musician...

In this episode, Rob Huddleston of Ann Beretta talks about the difficulty of band names, being the "driving force" of a band, getting your music heard pre-internet, the importance of touring and playing live, and resurrecting a band after a hiatus. Plus, the evolution of creating goals, the experience of signing to labels like Lookout, the scene in Richmond VA, Star wars preferences, and putting o...

In this episode, Vincent Tweten of Phobophilic talks about the challenge of writing lyrics for metal, the importance of a message, organic versus modern production techniques, signing to a bigger label as a marker of success, and clichés in metal including logo design. Plus, the live scene in North Dakota, how waiting for success doesn’t work, and day job freedom. You can check out Vincent and Pho...

In this episode, Daniel "Chewy" Mongrain of influential metal band Voivod talks about joining the band after being a fan from age 11, the challenges of replacing Denis "Piggy" D'Amour, writing new music versus playing catalog, studying music and now teaching, and being the only metal band to ever play a jazz fest. Plus, being a freelance musician and managing different projects, the influence of J...

For gigantic episode number 150, we chat with old pal Charlie about getting into podcasting, trying to grow audiences when creating art, attempting to be a musician to make money and trying to break through the noise, and the importance of focusing on yourself. Plus, frustrations with lack of opportunity, the concept of fair treatment, developing a gimmick, and wondering if all press is good press...

In this episode, Scott Pasch of the label DCxPC Live talks about the positive and negatives of Florida Man, what it means to get a PhD in Education, the value of the punk rock community, and trying to lose as little money as possible when starting a label. plus, managing time, making money and being creative, choosing projects to take on, and dealing with social media. You can check out DCxPC Live...

In this episode, we talk to our old pal Mark Tremalgia from Belgium where he is on tour with Little Caesar. Mark talks about Illness while on tour and getting "stage health" to play, mixed emotions when reaching tour end, giving away 250 picks, and people wanting stuff as a measure of success. Plus, restroom etiquette, the mental impact of technical difficulties, swallowing hair, and the "shredder...

In this episode, legendary vocalist of The Dwarves, Blag Dahlia talk about the persona of Ralph Champagne and releasing an outlaw country album, aliases, writing novels and the creation of characters, and exploring different avenues of expression. Plus, desires for commercial success, signing with Sub Pop,  notoriety of The Dwarves impacting projects now, and how being the bad guy can be prof...

In this episode, the founder of BYTA, Marc Brown talks about building a platform specifically for audio, early days of the internet and newsgroups, moving from Canada to England to Sweden, and how the lack of barriers to entry in music is a good thing. Plus, working at Creation Records, what getting signed to a label actually means, living and working in Sweden, and what happens when a band blows...

In this episode, RATH of RATH & the Wise Guys talk about living in Florida as a positive or negative, recruiting band members, collaboration, the required drive to achieve success, developing a musical identity, and the importance of connections. Plus, using social media as a resource, playing live, the different Florida scenes, and breaking through consumer noise. You can check out RATH &...

In this episode, we talk to our old friend Mark Tremalgia from Spain where he is on tour with Little Caesar. Mark talks about tour itineraries and playing festivals versus headlining shows, being star struck versus feeling like a peer on the musician level, breaking strings, and a puppet show interview in France. Plus, new music from legacy bands, the aesthetics of an amplifier stack versus a comb...

In this episode, Rob Courtney of Little Elephant Custom Vinyl tells us everything we need to know about the creation of lathe cuts, including the machinery, sound quality, and establishing a successful business. Plus moving from punk rock to audio engineering to lathe cutting, the difficulty of being a music major, the Toledo, OH scene, and being the worst bass player in the orchestra. You can che...

For this episode, in addition to our friend Mark Tremalgia, we also have a special co-host in Alec (AJ) Blume. Mark talks about learning and understanding music theory, understanding how to be a good guitar teacher, developing a playing style, and the importance of live performance and the rush of a crowd. Plus, Little Caesar on tour in Europe, touring back in the day versus now, tour rider requir...

In this episode, Tim Nave talks about being the Governor of Appalachia, whether or not being "southern" is positive or negative, having a chip on your shoulder, the connection between the "Bitter as Hell" songs, and strategies for releasing physical copy. Plus, not being understandable at a McDonalds due to accent, building an audience, making a living playing music, and other bands named Takat. Y...

In this episode, Jonathan Kent of This Is Just a Record Label and This Is Just a Phase Podcast talks about the virtues of living in Ohio, the Youngstown, Akron, and Cleveland music scenes, podcasting and developing a show, and the importance of developing positive relationships. Plus, the idea of collaboration vs competition, participating in communities, gatekeeping in punk rock and getting older...

In this episode, Mike Jacobs from On The Cinder talks about the pros and cons of being a fan of ska, scenes getting older and attracting new fans, the key to success is not breaking up, and the inevitability of gear breaking on tour. Plus touring in Canada, the logistics of creating an indie tour, playing Fest, selling things besides vinyl or t-shirts, and recording new material and looking for op...

In this episode, we catch up with Marcos Mena of the instrumental prog/math rock band Standards while on tour supporting the new album Fruit Town. Marcos talks about math rock, taking lessons from Nick Reinhart and evolving stylistically, music evoking the feeling of playing video games, the clash of art and commerce, and juggling the responsibilities of being in a touring band. Plus guitar endors...

In this episode, we talk to our old friend Mark Tremalgia about working on TV sets and his new gig on a sitcom, the possibility of being "discovered" by virtue of working on studio lots and becoming an actor, the cyclical nature of music, and getting ready for the upcoming Little Caesar European tour. Plus, musical Hot Takes part 2. Mark is a working musician in LA, playing in Little Caesar and Th...

In this episode, Shahab Zargari of Geykido Comet Records talks about the Las Vegas scene and the impact of large sports franchises, running and maintaining a label for 22 years, the positives of the early days of file sharing, and working at UNLV. Plus, day job pros and cons, making videos and films, meeting your heroes, and the Kevin Smith connection. You can check out Shahab's projects here: htt...

In this episode, Rachel Blume of Rebel Chef cooking talks about starting your own business from the ground up and the freedom and stress that comes with it, the importance of local music scenes when growing up and the corresponding impact on adult life, and measuring success. Plus ska, getting tattoos of your favorite band, the importance of hobbies, and creating D&D characters. You can check...