Emo Dad Podcast

Season 9 Episode 5: Bananas and secret shows (Feat. Sum 41, Silly Goose, AFI and more) Matt and James are back for an episode of music chat and nonsense. This week, Matt has to explain his facial hair change before we dive straight into another pointless band guessing and ranking game. James needs answers about bananas and Matt reveals how he managed to work out who was headlining a secret show (i...

Season 9 Episode 4: Blind ranking emo bands (Feat. Thursday, Glassjaw, Funeral for a Friend and more) This week, Matt has a fun blind ranking game for James to play, much to James’ dismay! This takes way longer than you can ever imagine as we get distracted (surprise!) by golf, wineries and zoos in some obscure town in California. We also discover some new bands from all over the world… Tokyo, Ghe...

Season 9 Episode 3: Basement deep dive (Feat. Basement, Title Fight, Fiddlehead and more) Fresh back from being blown away from them at a show in London, Matt and James sit down to discuss WHY Basement are so good. We look back at the show in question, before taking a journey through the mysterious path of this hiatus loving band. We discuss their greatest releases, and examine where exactly they...

Season 9 Episode 2: Avoiding THAT band, with other bands (Feat. Seahaven, Good Hangs, Daisyhead and more) Matt and James are offering a public service this week. Our aim? To fill your ears with awesome bands that sound like a certain unnamed band but aren’t that certain unnamed band who will forever remain unnamed but is actually pretty obvious despite remaining unnamed. Got that? Turns out there...

Season 9 Episode 1: Preseason (9) training (Feat. Pool Kids, Arm’s Length, Higher Power and more) We’re back!!! That’s right, we don’t even finish season 8 but the rules of life do not apply to the Emo Dad Podcast so we’re gonna ignore that minor fact and start season 9! Summer is done and we are back with yet more nonsense for your listening please. Not much has changed, or has it?? We have BIG p...

Season 8 Episode 14: Emo Dad chats New-Nu Metal! (Feat. Gridiron, Slope, Cherie Amour and more) Matt and James take you on a little discovery tour of what is new and hot in the Nu Metal world, plus other nonsense chat. This week we begin with more apologies, this time from James. We offer an update on the ‘No Safe Haven’ project, as our new song starts to take a bit of shape. We then discuss a loa...

Season 8 Episode 13: Emo Dad talks to Coco Kinnon (Winona Fighter) Matt and James were super excited to sit down and have a chat with the lovely Coco Kinnon, from the brilliant Winona Fighter . We discuss how the band began and what it is like playing the scene in Nashville as a punk band. We chat recording and live show routines, and we of course chat about the band’s incredible new album, ‘ My A...

Season 8 Episode 12: Emo Dad at Slam Dunk (Feat. Hot Mulligan interview, Movements, Finch and more) This week we are joined by a very special guest, friend of the podcast, Andy Kleeman. The reason? Andy recently joined Matt at the awesome Slam Dunk Festival (because James couldn’t make it) and we’ve invited him on to help Matt explain all to James. We discuss all the important issues that you woul...

Season 8 Episode 11: Are Turnstile still hardcore? (Feat. Turnstile, Sleep Token, Skrillix and more) Matt and James sit down to discuss a variety of issues that are on their minds from the world of music. Matt compares turnstile to No Doubt and we discuss their impact on the hardcore scene, and the logistics of their free open air hometown concert, did they really not have any security? James brin...

Season 8 Episode 10: Slam Dunk Festival preview (Feat. Finch, Winona Fighter, New Found Glory and more) Matt and James are back to discuss the upcoming Slam Dunk Festival and more. Massive thank you to Slam Dunk for hooking us up with some press passes… in this episode we discuss the lineup in detail, deciding who to see and who to miss. We look at the dreaded clashes and get sad that it’s not pos...

Season 8 Episode 9: Tony Hawk Pro Skater special with The 900 (Feat. Fu Manchu, Destroy Boys, Backchat and more) Matt and James are joined by the awesome Harry and Jon from the UK’s number one Tony Hawk Pro Skater cover band… The 900 ! That’s right, this week we are chatting all things THPS and explore what it is like to be in a cover band these days. We discuss the awesome music from the franchis...

Season 8 Episode 8: An absolute shambles! (Feat. Millington, Calva Louise, cleopatrick and more) Join Matt and James for another episode of complete nonsense and madness, with a lovely ongoing theme of emo and post hardcore music. This week we decide to SPIN THAT WHEEL on our discussion, we have a list of bands that we’d like to talk about, and we use the wheel to decide on where the episode goes....

Season 8 Episode 7: The Emo Showdown Round 2! (Feat. Dashboard Confessional, The Get Up Kids, At the Drive In and more) Matt and James move the great Emo Showdown into the next phase, as we bring you the quarter finals, semi finals and the GRAND FINAL!! Who will take the most coveted prize in music? Forget the Grammys, or the Kerrang! Awards, THIS is the prize that ever band has always dreamed of,...

Season 8 Episode 6: The Emo Showdown Round 1! (Feat. Finch, My Chemical Romance, The Used and more) Wow, do Matt and James have an episode for you today!!! This week, after a quick update on how we are gettign on with writing a song for our new band; ‘No Safe Haven’, we dive into something very special. With the help of the quizmaster, Mr ChatGPT, we bring you the greatest Emo Showdown of them all...

Season 8 Episode 5: Gigs, imitation and creativity (Feat. Bloom, Thursday, Poppy and more) Matt and James sit down to chat more nonsense about alternative music and other random things. After a dodgy start which caused discussion over whether or not we should re record the intro (we don’t….obvs) and an instant random thought which creates at least 5 minutes of non music related chat, we get back o...

Season 8 Episode 4: The state of the music industry (Feat. Greg Holden, Revenant, Wretch32 and more) Matt and James actually bring you some insightful content this week. That’s right, we have an episode which has been considered and researched, don’t get used to it. This week we discuss the state of the music industry in 2025, inspired by our good friend Greg Holden, who has taken the bold move to...

Season 8 Episode 3: The start of the band (Feat. The Movielife, Crucial Dudes, Stray From the Path and more) Matt and James officially announce their project for season 8 (and maybe beyond). What’s happening? Listen in to find out what ridiculous idea Matt has come up with now, and learn how we plan to proceed with the project going forward? We don’t want to give too much away in this awkward blur...

Season 8 Episode 2: Emo Dad talks to Joseph Grillo (Garrison, Her Heads on Fire, Gay for Johnny Depp and more) Matt and James were delighted to sit down with hero of the post hardcore and emo music scene, Mr Joseph Grillo from Garrison, Her Heads on Fire and many more bands! We discuss the early days, how Garrison started and how they got signed to Revelation Records. What it was like to be in a b...

Season 8 Episode 1: Preseason (8) training (Feat. Daggermouth, Living with Lions, Arcy Drive and more) Matt and James are BACK! That’s right Emo Dad fans…we have returned and we are here for SEASON 8! As it tradition, we start with preseason training and we really need it, we both try to remember what it is we do and why! In this episode we discuss good intentions for a new year, James has some ne...

Season 7 Episode 14: Big fat Emo Dad quiz of the year (Feat. Members of Symposium, Her Heads On Fire, Say Anything and Buds.) We are back for more Christmas fun and games with the big fat Emo Dad quiz of the year. Matt and James are excited to welcome the following courageous contenders… Joseph Grillo - Her Heads on Fire, Judas Knife, Garrison, instruction Ross Cummins - Symposium, Big Spin Meg Bo...

Season 7 Episode 13: Album of the Year (Feat. Common Sage, Green Day, Foxing and more) Here we go again, Matt and James discuss the albums that they enjoyed more than most this year. We also introduce a new member to the Emo Dad Podcast, who reveals their top 5 albums and some fun facts about the people involved. We discuss Christmas silly season, the correct Christmas attire to wear to a hardcore...

Season 7 Episode 12: Unexpected albums that shaped the legends that we are today V2 (Feat. Beastie Boys, Weezer, Manic Street Preachers and more) Matt and James are back for volume 2 of our unexpected albums which shaped us as legends. After taking forever to get through just 3 albums last week, we need to up our game and smash out 7 albums in total for this week, so get ready for a high speed epi...

Season 7 Episode 11: Unexpected albums that shaped the legends that we are today V1 (Feat. No Use for a Name, Skunk Anansie, Incubus and more) Matt and James have put their thinking caps on, and start considering the albums that have shaped their musical tastes over the years. You know, the albums which hit you like a freight train and change you life forever. The albums that mean so much to you....

Season 7 Episode 10: Late 90’s nostalgia train (Feat. China Drum, Cable, Terrorvision and more) It’s time for some lovely nostalgia, as Matt and James take you back to the late 90’s, a time of no mortgages, no school runs, no full time jobs….just bumming around in our baggy jeans, going to shows and causing mischief. We take you through a speedy tour of the great, and the not so great, bands of th...

Season 7 Episode 9: Noodling in insane costumes (Feat. Hi-Standard, Band-Maid, Babymetal and more) This week, James takes us on a journey to the Far East, and the weird and wonderful world of Japanese music and culture. After a bit of random chat about the rap rock band, Silly Goose. James introduces Matt to the Japanese alternative music scene. He explains how the scene took off and how bands suc...