The Itch Rock Podcast

This week, we're scratching The Itch for excellence! The 2023 Itch Awards are here and, as always, they're accompanied by our collective countdown of the top 20 albums of the year. If your music queue needs refillin', we'll discuss enough albums to keep you busy for the first fiscal quarter of 2024! Join us for LPs, EPs, honorable mentions, and our choices for Debut, Breakthrough, and Comeback art...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to end the year in style! Eva Marie of Eva Under Fire joins us to continue a holiday tradition, and the camaraderie is palpable! She's got stories of her soon-to-debut biopic, contraband merch, the Upheaval hill, and embarrassing herself in front of Gavin Rossdale and Bush! Plus, reflections on our time as friends/co-cheerleaders, and how she embraces imperfect...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for déjà vu! We took a road trip to see a Nonpoint tour featuring multiple past episode guests. Sound familiar? If so, kudos! And thanks for knowing your Itch history. Join us for a recap of our adventure seeing Nonpoint with hed PE , Sumo Cyco , and VRSTY at Chicago's Bottom Lounge . We've got tales of proper mosh pit etiquette, powering through illness on sta...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a tradITCHion! Oh yes, we said it. This year's 12 Pods of Christmas is a chance for us to reflect on the fun we've had in 2023, and to thank you for being part of it. We hope you enjoy this holiday Short Cut. If you like what you hear, you can hear more of us every Sunday night broadcasting rock to the masses from 6-9pm CST on KCLC-FM. If you're not in the...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to satisfy an urge! St Louis' heroes The Urge reunited once again for a holiday show alongside our guys in Tree One Four and the fellas from Wisemary , and we were there to see it. Plus, KC sees another local boy made good, episode 130 guest Sam Bam Koltun and Faster Pussycat , the guys check out Black Stone Cherry , episode 138 guest Giovannie and the Hired Gu...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to travel the world! Well, vicariously, through our guests Calva Louise . Jess, Alizon, and Ben are based out of Manchester, but are originally from Venezuela, France, and New Zealand, respectively. And while they're definitely a band, they're also an all-purpose DIY art project, having created a graphic novel and their own videos for nearly all of their songs....

This week, we're scratching The Itch to start a club! Taproot joins fellow Michiganders Eva Under Fire as the only bands with two Itch interviews in the same calendar year! Phil and Stephen join us to discuss the band's new album SC\SSORS and the shows they've been doing in support. Along the way, we get some fun insight on recording their single " Favourite Song " with Elias of Nonpoint...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a Thanksgiving tradition! In honor of our gratitude to our incredible guests and listeners, we've compiled a collection of previously unheard clips from our 2023 interviews. We hope you enjoy this extra insight into artists and the industry. If you listen closely, you'll find hints of two future interviews as an early Christmas gift. Featured in this episod...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to give thanks... specifically, for Weird Al and good pals! Our friends Lauren from the Beer'd Al Podcast and Russ from Infectious Groove Music join us to compile an Itch-style mixtape of our favorite rock(ish) tracks from one of the world's most beloved musicians, the amazing Weird Al Yankovic! Join us for stories of Star Wars, the merits of ska (or l...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to see more legends! Elite-level bassist Les Claypool (with his Fearless Flying Frog Brigade) and guitarist Joe Bonamassa came through St. Louis, and The Itch was there to see them... in one case, up close and very personal! Join us for tales of military marches, wholesome father-son bonding time, and one of the most perfect song titles of all time. Enjoy. If y...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to talk about a ton of Metallica ! The biggest metal band in the world came to St. Louis for a pair of packed house, no-repeat sets alongside Mammoth WVH , Pantera , Ice Nine Kills , and Five Finger Death Punch . And on their day off, the next generation took over, with Bastardane and Fury in Few tearing down a smaller house of their own. Join us for tales of t...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to talk about MORE shows! And this was a big one! For the second time this year, we hit the road to see a lineup full of Itch guests. Taproot 's release shows for their new album SC\SSORS (as discussed in episode 152 ) have been hits, and they capped off a 3-night run of sold out shows at The Machine Shop in Flint by inviting our friends Eva Under Fire and Hear...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to catch up! We've seen a lot of concerts over the past few months, and we finally had a chance to talk about them! And this one's got something for everybody. Three Days Grace , Chevelle , Loathe , Sleep Token , Asking Alexandria , The Hu , Zero 9:36 , 311 , AWOLNATION , and Blame My Youth ! Join us for tales of pandering frontmen, impressive openers, nonexist...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to celebrate All Hallows Evarela! Our friend Joey Varela of VRSTY joins us for his second holiday-timed episode. Their new album Levitate is out now, and we dive into all the details, from single selection and bringing in features to dealing with a label and getting cussed out by the crowd. As always, Joey packs a ton of openness and insight into 30 minutes. En...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to Riot! For the first time ever, Aaron attended all three days of Chicago's Riot Fest , seeing 20 bands he'd never seen before and eating more than one delicious burrito. Join us for the rundown as he discusses first impressions, impressive veterans, and new crushes. Plus, Aaron is finally prepared to weigh in on Dan and KC's long-held conviction that The Used...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get educated! Joe Bonamassa has more #1 Billboard Blues albums than anyone in history, and his time in the music world has taught him a ton about what it means to be an artist, a businessman, and a mentor to the next generation of musicians. Joe was kind enough to share some of his insight with us in a discussion about his new release, Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 ,...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get stressed out. But only a little, because Coco from Winona Fighter , aka our "social media bestie," joins us for a wholesome conversation about meeting your heroes, live show theatrics, and taking your art seriously without taking yourself seriously. Along the way, The Itch learns some new lingo (but absolutely nothing about Coco's upcoming rele...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get inked up! Or at least talk with a guy who just did. Cullen Moore and Paolo Vergara of Sleep Theory join us to discuss the insane and accelerated ride that has been their 2023, starting with a debut single in January that got half a million TikTok views and leading to September's release of their first EP, Paper Hearts . Along the way we'll talk about the...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to double up on shows AND episodes! Following our recent interview with SAUL , we had to see the boys live on their tour with Red . And Aaron never passes up a chance to talk about Local H , so we're talking about that too! Enjoy a pair of concert adventures that include a train station, a next-door neighbor, and way too much smoke! If you like what you hear, y...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a jolly good show! Benji and James of Caskets join us for a truly delightful chat. The lads from Leeds discuss their new album, Reflections , favorite cities from their second US tour, and the key to success on a human level in an industry that can be cutthroat. If you like what you hear, you can hear more of us every Sunday night broadcasting rock to the m...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to expand our musical horizons! Aaron saw indie rock royalty The New Pornographers at Thalia Hall in Chicago all the way back in May, and we've been sitting on the recording for months waiting for the right time to share it. But now, as we continue our recent streak of dropping two episodes a week, it's time to reveal the long-lost final Itch event of KC's birt...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a double episode! Legendary blues rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd joins us to talk about his new album, Dirt on My Diamonds , re-recording his breakthrough Trouble Is... , cover songs (including Five Finger Death Punch !), and adding polarizing sounds to his musical toolbox. Then, KC and Dan recount their experience seeing Kenny alongside King Solomon H...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to see four shows at four venues in two days! That's right, The Itch has been so busy that it's another double episode week. Join us for a recap of seeing Fame on Fire and Kingdom Collapse (at the Old Rock House ), Corey Taylor , Wargasm UK , and Itch favorites Oxymorrons (at The Factory ), Memphis May Fire , Catch Your Breath , and Another Day Dawns (at Red Fl...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a birthday celebration! Aaron may not have had KC and Dan with him for his big day, but he had Eve 6 , and that was enough for a great evening! Join us for tales of ancient automobiles, Yiddish lessons, and a hot tip on bagels as Aaron celebrates a milestone, Dan keeps his lips sealed about prom night, and KC continues his heelish behavior! Enjoy. If you li...

This week, we're scratching the Itch for free beer... and a bonus episode! We've seen so many fun shows lately that, if we publish just one episode per week, we'll perpetually be months behind. So until we're caught up, that means extra episodes for you! In this one, KC recounts his recent experience at a Bud Light-sponsored "pop up" show featuring Dashboard Confessional and Itch favorit...