The Itch Rock Podcast

This week, we're scratching The Itch to officially close out 2025! We've got reports on a pair of holiday shows, because of course 'twas the season to see concerts. First, KC and Dan saw Itch guest and arguably the world's greatest living blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa at Thanksgiving. Then, the entire crew (plus Dan's family!) continues our tradition of seeing our boys in Nonpoint in any stat...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to explore some new horizons! We're joined Riley Breckenridge of Thrice , who just released their excellent 12th studio album Horizons/West . It's almost unheard of for a band to be this consistently good this far into their career, but Riley and his bandmates made it happen with a little patience and a penchant for... being a bit boring? Join us for an explana...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to start the year with joy. Micah Bournes returns to the show to discuss his new protest album Til We All Free , the first non-rock record to ever make The Itch's Top 20 list. Born out of a sense of urgency after America's sociopolitical climate changed again last year, the album is an exploration of abolition, the difference between legality and morality, and...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to end the year in style! It's time for the sixth annual Itch Awards and our collectively agreed upon top 20 albums of 2025! Tune in to hear what records caught our ears the most, as well as a few of our favorite EPs, our Comeback and Breakout artists, our most listened-to interviews of the year, and what albums we're most looking forward to in 2026. Thank you...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to put a Christmas wrap on our 2025 interviews! Per tradition and unenforceable contract, Amanda Lyberg of Eva Under Fire makes her second appearance of the year (and within a month!) for the return of Christmas Eva! And believe it or not, things have happened since we spoke in November! Join us for a conversation that's very much in the holiday spirit, where w...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for an early Christmas present... and a seasonally appropriate one at that! Aaron checks off a pair of wish list guests as Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller of Sleigh Bells join us to talk about their latest record Bunky Becky Birthday Boy , how motherhood, sobriety, and a full band have tour life looking different these days, and the work that goes into their ene...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for tour support! Kate Steinberg has built a career as a touring and recording vocalist and keyboardist, a voice teacher, producer, and arranger, a songwriter, and... if it seems like this list keeps going, that's because it does. Kate is a multi-talented musician who caught Aaron's attention with her boundless on-stage energy as. she rocked keys and BGVs on Sl...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to see what all the hype is about when Dan heads to Orlando for the revived Warped Tour and Aaron sees Tom Morello for the first time! Dan's adventure included expensive-but-satisfying food, a broad definition of punk, a happy wife, and an absurd step count. Meanwhile, Aaron was treated to some surprise guests, the future of socially conscious hip hop, a strang...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for gratitude! Once again, we had a record number of interview episodes in 2025, and we're treating you to a true buffet of bonus clips from them with our annual Leftovers episode. Enjoy them while you recover from Thanksgiving, while you celebrate (or mourn) your football team's performance, or while you shop (or don't, which we love even more). Thank you so m...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to celebrate. And who better to invite to the party than our most frequent guest and honorary co-host, Eva Marie of Eva Under Fire ... except this time, she's reclaiming her own name and introducing the industry to Amanda Lyberg. She's been through some things in the past few years, and boy does she have a lot to say about it. Join us for a celebration of not o...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to call it a comeback! Revis was one of the first new bands The Itch played on the radio in our college years. Now, 22 years after their first LP, Places for Breathing , they've finally released their second, Killing Time . Following a quick chat at their recent Delmar Hall show (more on that here ), Justin Holman and Robert Davis join The Itch to talk about th...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for All Hallows Eva (our idea, not theirs) and Grannyween (their idea, not ours)! KC and Dan saw a pair of shows in St. Louis featuring Itch guests [Eva Under Fire](https://evaunderfire.os.fan/), [Buckcherry]( https://www.buckcherry.com/ ), and [Grandson]( https://grandsonmusic.com/ ), plus the stylings of [Drew Cagle & The Reputation]( https://drewcagle.co...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to play catch-up! The Itch saw so many shows in September and October that we're still recapping them in November! This work is exhausting, but it's worth it when you get to see legends, modern stars, and triumphant returns. And that's just what we did. First, Aaron and KC visited the Family Arena to see Everclear on their Sparkle and Fade anniversary tour alon...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to join the Coffin Crew! Halloween is almost here, and what a more fitting guest than the man who puts the "fun" in "funeral," Lee Jennings of The Funeral Portrait ! After toiling for years, the band has built momentum following some door-opening tour pairings and their excellent 2024 album Welcome to Suffocate City . Now, in the middle of t...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get buried... by the weight of good music. (That works, right?) Caskets frontman Matt Flood joins us ahead of the release The Only Heaven You'll Know , an album Matt has described as "the sound of me falling apart in real time." The new record finds him broadening his skills as a vocalist while the band explores heavier sounds and the lyrical theme...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for some favorites! We're covering three more shows from our stacked September run. First, Aaron cements his change of heart about Wargasm and experiences the energy of Black Cat Bill and Dropout Kings . Then Dan introduces his sons to Chevelle , the redemption-seeking Asking Alexandria , and Itch guests Dead Poet Society . And finally, all three of the guys ca...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to jazz it up! Morgan James , whose path has taken her from Broadway to collaborations with Postmodern Jukebox and, most recently, Brass Against, joins us for a change of stylistic pace to discuss her new album Soul Remains the Same . On it she tackles legendary tracks from Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, and more, using soul, jazz, and R&B s...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to talk Forever! Riot Fest 2025 is in the books and it was a ripper. Aaron joined the full house of performers and attendees for three days of great shows, bucket list bands, reunions, and, finally... a properly buttered up John Stamos . Check out his recap of finally seeing Green Day , Blink-182 , Jack White , and Rilo Kiley , as well as a fresh add to his eve...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to go Beyond the Breakdown ! Tori Kravitz, publicist, podcaster, and pit reporter extraordinaire, joins us to talk all about the off-stage side of the music industry! From working as one of Atom Splitter PR 's all stars to spotlighting some of the coolest women in metal on She's With the Band to bringing back Warped Tori for this year's Warped Tour , s...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to check off some bucket list bands! The reborn Linkin Park came through St. Louis with Jean Dawson , and the reclusive System of a Down came through Chicago with Avenged Sevenfold , Polyphia , and Wisp ... and the full Itch squad went to see them! Plus, the legends in Nonpoint and Heartsic k came to Pops with Upon a Burning Body in celebration of their albums...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get Canadian! Raine Maida of Canada's rock royalty Our Lady Peace joins us as the band continues its 30-year celebration. We discuss the fan-inspired push that led them to reclaim the song " Whatever " as a mental health anthem, the tricky task of using technology to connect with your audience, and the decision Raine and his wife Chantal Kreviazuk...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for community. Our friend Jay Scott , host of The Hook Rocks Podcast and one of the first music podcasters to welcome us into this world, is facing a long health struggle. In response, more friends of ours, who you may have heard us refer to as "The Groove Council" in past episodes, recently put together a benefit show for Jay's recovery. Aaron was ab...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to play DED . As in, we've played DED's new album Resent (out September 19th) so much that we had to have frontman Joe Cotela on to talk about it. Joe talks about the perhaps unconscious decision to go heavier after a more melodic turn on 2021's School of Thought , how he prefers to use heavyweight guests like Chad Gray , Chris Motionless , and Danny Leal on mo...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to bring back the boys! Oxymorrons return for the first time since 2023 to tell us all about their new EP, Create. Destroy. Rebuild. Repeat. Life is very different for Dee, Jafe, and K.I. since their last appearance on the show, but they never cease to apply their lessons learned to their art and to their lives, or to share them with anyone who's willing to lis...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to make waves! Nathan Aurora of Aurorawave joins us for the second time this calendar year to discuss the band's new album Monument , how his vision for the year has become reality, and how The Itch played a role! It's a fun conversation that touches on genre-crossing guest spots, goal setting, and splitting time between two very different musical worlds. Plus,...