The Itch Rock Podcast

This week, we're scratching The Itch to multitask! Blake Allison and Joey "Chicago" Walser formed Egypt Central in 2002, then Devour the Day in 2012, and most recently have both become members of Pop Evil . Being together in so many bands for so many years, they've amassed quite a bit of wisdom and experience... and some pretty wild stories. And they're always interested in the next chal...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for sci-fi! Lotta Ruutiainen of LUNA KILLS joins us to discuss her band's new album DEATHMATCH , including a song that came together through a writing practice she never wants to try again. We also discuss her love for all science fiction, the decision for a Finnish band to sing in English, her literal rock star tattoos, and the joy of discovering Deftones for...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to be quitters! Gio and Jerrod of Giovannie and the Hired Guns join us to talk about their new album Quitter . We discuss the making of the record, Gio getting responsible, how Jerrod became a Hired Gun, and what is easily the most entertaining dream tour we've heard so far. Plus, Dan fears for his life, a venue still struggles to win us over, and The Itch sees...

March Bandness is live! The 5th Annual Itch Invitational Tournament features 8 first-time entries who dropped excellent albums in 2024. Vote here (or at the link in our IG bio) for your first round favorites and send 'em all the way to the championship! The winning band gets an episode dedicated to them, but you get the bragging rights for supporting the artists you love. The polls won't be open f...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to talk with the Captain! Alan Koenig, founder of ASK4 Entertainment and its flagship event Shiprocked (see what we did there?) joins us to discuss the past, present, and future of The Itch's favorite festival at sea. Join us for some fascinating insight into how the festival was born out of a working relationship with Vince Neil, the excitements and challenges...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get sick! Disturbed 's all-time nu metal debut album The Sickness is 25 years old, and the band is playing it in full on tour. Alongside a now dual-fronted Three Days Grace and an always earnest Sevendust , the tour came through the Enterprise Center in St Louis... and so did The Itch. Plus, Aaron revisits an experience from last year, seeing a screening of...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for reggae metal! Nathan Aurora 's band Aurorawave released one of our favorite albums of 2024, and he's putting the finishing touches on the exciting follow-up. Nathan joins us to talk about straddling the line between his reggae roots and his metal aspirations, the Crossed Heart Clothing company he runs with his wife, how he got guest features like Brandon Sa...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to take off our masks. Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire and Anberlin joins us to discuss the new Memphis album Shapeshifter , which looks internally to how we can become better versions of ourselves by unmasking our shames and shortcomings. We'll also discuss how he got his favorite band to appear on the album, balancing the responsibilities of two bands (and...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get Chains'd! Aaron and KC returned to The Hawthorn in St. Louis to see Jerry Cantrell and Filter on the "I Want Blood" tour. Join us for more Itch Etiquette, an all-star backing band, and Aaron (somehow) seeing a middle school friend's uncle live for the first time. Plus, many questions are answered, including: -Would(?) The Hawthorn redeem itself...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for some world building! Eric Bass of Shinedown joins us to discuss his outstanding debut solo album Eric Bass Presents... I Had A Name . It's a thrilling rock opera of sorts featuring a cast of characters battling against villainous forces,... and sometimes their own minds. Eric speaks candidly about the fascinating process that led to the album (in between Sh...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to read a book! Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D. is releasing his autobiography, Son of Southtown: My Life Between Two Worlds on February 25th. He joins the show to discuss his story of God's faithfulness, band drama and reconciliation, and the changes and challenges of the music industry. Plus, Aaron has his long-awaited chance to ask about the cover art of The Fundam...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to fight! Coco from Winona Fighter returns, and this time she brought the boys! Join her, Dan, and Austin as they break down the origins of some of the songs on their debut LP My Apologies to the Chef (out Feb 28), their choice to hand pick the opening acts for the corresponding Yes, Chef tour (including our mutual friends Fury in Few ), and their commitment to...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to keep celebrating! Our Shiprocked coverage continues, as the guys wrap up the week with 80s covers, a pair of epic sets on the beach, a slippery stage, a late night call to Halestorm, and ... Ace Ventura? Plus, Dan goes snorkeling, KC is rewarded for resisting the soft serve machine, and Aaron meets a brother in curls... who also happens to be in Kid Kapichi....

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a birthday celebration! Our radio show was born 21 years ago this month, and to celebrate that milestone (and 250 episodes), the guys spent a wild week on the water with 31 bands on Shiprocked ! Join us to kick off a new "season" with tales of broken lights, budding friendships, on-stage pranks, and the game show that created an unlikely legend. O...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for bass! Emma Anzai , co-founder of Sick Puppies and more recent addition to Evanescence , joins us to discuss Wave the Bull , Sick Puppies' first new album in nine years. We discuss the prominence of her bass guitar in some of the tracks, the Beastie Boys influence in their recent single "Going Places," their upcoming tour with Metallica, handling j...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get educated! Shiprocked sails along, we bring you the second part of the 2022 conversation that introduced us to Oxymorrons . And this is where it gets serious (while somehow remaining silly). Dee, KI, Jafe, and Matty dive deep on the authentic vs the performative, the futility of social media, the cheapening of art as content, and putting Black faces in ro...

This week we're scratching The Itch to ... not be here! The boys are back on a boat enjoying Shiprocked , but while we're out partying with Oxymorrons , we thought we'd post a pair of throwback episodes to when we first met them three years ago, kicking off a genuine friendship. This two-part conversation remains quite possibly our all-time favorite. And when you listen, you'll understand why. Enj...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for Sno! It's not only in St Louis and Chicago, but in Scotland as well! Janine Shilstone of VUKOVI becomes The Itch's first Scottish guest as she joins us to discuss "Sno," the newest single from (and a character in) her band's new album My God Has Got a Gun , out January 25th on SharpTone Records! It's a vulnerable discussion about the various thing...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for awards season, baby! The fifth annual Itch Awards are here, honoring the best rock releases of 2024. We've got albums galore, featuring a plethora of past and future guests. Who were our favorite debuts and breakouts of the year? Who dropped the best EP and LP? And what are we looking forward to in 2025? This is a big'n, so grab your pen and paper and take...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to send the year out in style! Official fourth member Eva Marie of Eva Under Fire joins us for another holiday tradition (and to continue building her lead as our most frequent guest). Despite not releasing much in the way of new music, 2024 was still a year of firsts and gains for Eva and the boys, and we're here to talk about all of it. Well, most of us anywa...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for Christmas cheer! As a follow-up to our recent conversation with Nick Wheeler of The All-American Rejects , The Itch venture out to see the band on not one, but TWO shows of their holiday run... and we weren't alone! A special guest host joins us, bringing a fresh perspective to a rare singularly-focused Concert Catch-up. Enjoy, and merry Christmas from The...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get choppy! The excellently facial-haired Brandon Yeagley of Crobot joins us for a conversation full of industry insight, artistic excitement, and... giant eggs. We were introduced to Brandon in a quite memorable way at Upheaval 2023, and when you hear this conversation, you'll understand why he's endeared himself to us even more. Enjoy, and check out Crobot...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a tradition! Jason Zeilstra of Nonpoint continues introducing us to his bandmates one by one. one year at a time, this time joining us alongside bassist Adam Woloszyn ! The fellas recap another eventful year for the band, compare stories of on-stage injuries, share their memories of Nonpoint's upcoming anniversary albums Statement and To The Pain, and talk...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for rejection! Well, in a sense. Nick Wheeler , guitarist and co-founder of The All-American Rejects joins us for a freewheeling discussion (see what I did there?) that covers his history with the band, his current studio work, and ... his favorite rewatch podcasts? Plus, Taco Bell talk, Aaron declares a Perfect Pop Song, and Dan finally finds a context to brin...

Today we're scratching The Itch for a post-Thanksgiving tradition! To show our gratitude to our incredible guests and listeners, we've compiled a collection of previously unheard clips from each of our 2024 interviews. We hope you enjoy this extra helping of conversational goodness as you recover from your food coma. If you listen all the way through, you'll find previews of a few future episodes...