Emo Dad Podcast

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...

Season 7 Episode 8: Matt and James go to the Emo Exhibition (Feat. Taking Back Sunday, Hawthorne Heights, House of Protection and more) This week, Matt and James are out in the field, as we make our way to the Emo Exhibition in London. Having been sent the info by approximately 14 people, we decided to go and see what the Emo Exhibition is all about, join us as we discuss our experience, and attem...

Season 7 Episode 7: Emo Dad talks to Julian Rosen (Common Sage) Matt and James were buzzing to sit down with frontman of the incredible Common Sage , Julian Rosen. We discuss Julian’s youth and how he got into bands such as The Beatles and Blink 182, stealing his father’s records, starting bands in high school and learning guitar. We chat about the highs and lows of being in a band, the reality of...

Season 7 Episode 6: Jason Aalon Butler deep dive Pt 2. Matt and James are back for part 2 of our Jason Aalon Butler deep dive. This week we are focusing our attention and dodgy research on the Fever333 years. Of course we get distracted again and start discussing pretty much everything else there is to talk about. We do find some time to talk about the band and the ever evolving lineup of musician...

Season 7 Episode 5: Jason Aalon Butler deep dive Pt 1. In an effort to actually be on brand for once, Matt and James are back on the deep dives. To celebrate the release of the new Fever333 album, we decide to focus our attention and questionable research skills on the mighty Jason Aalon Butler, front man for the likes of Letlive and Fever333, as well as political activist, insane frontman and lov...

Season 7 Episode 4: James’ birthday surprise interrogation. This week, Matt and James recorded the episode on James’ birthday. Regular listeners will not be surprised to hear that James doesn’t enjoy birthdays, and he hates surprises, so Matt decided to surprise him with some birthday fun. Join us as Matt quizzes James on everything from the 1980 Reading Festival lineup to his dream gig lineup. We...

Season 7 Episode 3: AI vs human podcasters. This week, Matt and James decide to plug their silly podcast musings into an AI podcasting black magic machine and live react to what they get. This stuff is crazy and will blow your mind and do us out of a job at the same time. We also discuss American Football (band or sport?), new bands Father of Peace and Death Lens, the return of the Warped Tour, pr...

Season 7 Episode 2: Summer gigging good times. In this weeks episode, Matt and James sit down to discuss the gigs they attended across the summer hiatus. We chat about the various venues we’ve visited, our favourite moments from watching bands such as LS Dunes, Sweet Pill, The Armed and many more. We also exclusively reveal why we didn’t attend any festivals this year. We also remember being celeb...

Season 7 Episode 1: Preseason (7) Training. WE ARE BACK from our emo hiatus. That’s right, Matt and James are back with a brand new but kinda the same Emo Dad Podcast. We are officially pivoting, and this is our pre season experiment episode. Join us as we get to grips with some new technology, we work out how we will be doing the podcast going forward, we struggle with live producing and so much...