Going Off Track

Benny takes time off from The Gaslight Anthem's U.S. tour to shoot the shit with the band's guitarist, Alex Rosamilia and bassist, Alex Levine. Of course Roger Federer comes up but so does sex, drugs, rock & roll! True backstage banter.

Benny takes a backstage break during The Gaslight Anthem tour to really get into the shit with buds, Chris Farren and Brian Fallon. Oh boy, this one is nothing but fun!

Epic frontman for Lagwagon, guitarist for Me First & The Gimme Gimme's - Joey Cape is worth bringing back for a Flashback Friday! Sorry Benny fans, this one was pre-B in GOT history.

Hardcore filmographer/music archivist, Sunny Singh of Hate5six has been called by Billboard, "the biggest factor" for the popularity of hardcore in the late-2010s. To Benny's chagrin, he also denies the existence of central Jersey. What!? Website YouTube

Pizza genius and owner of Razza Pizza Artigianale in Jersey City, Dan Richer has always had laser focus on whatever his current love might be, which is why his pizza rules and he's no slouch on guitar either. He may have been pushing it a bit though by watching that loooonng Beatles documentary seven times! Razza Pizza Artigianale

Midtown and Senses Fail guitarist, New Jersey native, star-electrician and all around great guy, Heath Saraceno joins us to talk about Somerville-NJ, Eddie & The Cruisers and getting kicked the nuts in Australia.

For this flashback episode, we go back to December 2019 for our very first, return episode #305, after a long hiatus. It's a pleasant conversation between Benny and Laura, sitting outside of the venue where they both were playing while touring together that previous fall.

Singer/songwriter/comedian Will Wood goes deep with Benny this week on social media, mental illness, and Wikipedia's view of his skillset. He also throws a little praise to Billy Joe and stumbles in on a naked Eugene Hütz of Gogol Bordello.

Today's episode first appeared in Aug. 2017 - the dynamic Gogol Bordello front-man(iac), Eugene Hütz talked with Benny and the entire old gang. It's a great time to bring it back as he has just released a single with other former guest, Jesse Malin “ Fall from Grace with God “ in support of Ukraine. Check out all of it and stand with Ukraine! 🇺🇦

onelinedrawing, singer/songwriter, Jonah Matranga joined us this week from quarantine to vent about getting Covid on his very first, post-pandemic show. Maybe that's why he also goes on to explain how The Office is like a perfect pop-song. Jonah's website

Hardcore screamer/frontman for School Drugs, Josh Jurk joins us this week to award some Hardcore Olypmics gold medals. He also promotes mental health and therapy for all which could be related to his belief in band dictatorships.

Daily Show writer, comedian, and artist Josh Johnson talks about his prolific pandemic which culminated in doing standup in the park. He helps us define true friendship and explains why you shouldn't eat a cheeseburger on the stairs of the subway. Check out Josh's podcast ...and his website

One of the many distraction this week that kept Benny & Brad from recording a new episode was... they both went out to see Jawbreaker! So why not go WAY back (can it really have been that long ago?) to episode# 85 with the legend himself. Thanks Steven Smith for the tix! -Brad

Hidden in Plain View guitarist, record producer, Rob Freeman tells us about playing drums in his dad's cover band as a kid, Jersey shit-talk and the horrors of Warped Tour. He also has a wonderful story of how the band finally got signed to Drive-Thru Records. Audio Pilot Studio

Vice, Netflix, HBO documentary director Ryan Duffy joins us for our 400th episode! He explains why Elon Musk has too much money, The Daily Show's huge impact, coming to NYC at 18, and his historic, super-surreal visit to North Korea with Dennis Rodman.

New Age Records owner & Freewill bassist, Mike Hartsfield talks about running all aspects of the record label out of his house even merch, which his daughter helped him kick-start in 5th grade. Of course, he was publishing his own zine, "Universal Brain Basher" (and interviewing King Diamond) at 13 himself, so no surprise there. We talk about all variations of hardcore thru the decades and fin...

Oceanator's Elise Okusami gives Benny some help with his upcoming knee surgery. She details how the choice between basketball and music got made for her and we also dig into some Fugazi, Dookie and electronics recycling.

Guitar repair master and road-dog, Kyle Roggendorf joins us to discuss becoming a metal-head in kindergarten. He also reminisces with Benny about letting The Gaslight Anthem rehearse in his basement and explains why he still buys CDs. Raritan Bay Guitar Repair

Hot Water Music bassist, Jason Black joins us to discuss how many times he's knocked out Chuck Ragan with his guitar's headstock. He can't help Benny with his goose-problem, but has a lot of nice things to say about Mike Watt, Fishbone and Metallica.

Broadway Calls guitarist-vocalist, Ty Vaughn checks in from the rugged Pacific Northwest to tell us of the cool uncle who inspired him to play guitar, recording with the mighty Bill Stevenson and how he's really just a hardcore kid killing time.

Singer and guitarist for None More Black and Kid Dynamite, Jason Shevchuk joins us to tell how he screamed his way to a hernia. We also get into the time he covered Dave Hause in fake blood and reveal a very pertinent secret about his latest project.

Best friends from youth, Josh Grabelle and Carl Severson started Trustkill and Ferret Records respectively. They join us to talk about meeting in math class 30 years ago then going on to found two of the seminal hardcore labels of the last 20 years.

Sincere Engineer, the delightful Deanna Belos checks in from out chilly Chicago-way to discuss research mice, driving with no window in minus-60° weather, and all the cool emo shows she saw with her mom, whose car she wrote her first album in.

Silverstein frontman, and Lead Singer Syndrome podcast-host, Shane Told joins us this week to talk sports (Raptors/Bluejays fan) and how hearing Metallica for the first time at ten years old, on his older sister's CD player inspired his punk-rock career.

We're kicking off 2022 with our second annual "Optimist Club" special. First up: Benny's old pal and spiritual alignment aid, Professor Neel. Also on board, the talented solo-artist, Kayleigh Goldsworthy and we cap it off with a VERY special guest.