The LIFERS Podcast

Matt Radke is more than just the manager/road manager for the rock band Radkey. He’s their dad. And as such, he’s uniquely qualified to not only give some insight into the early days of Radkey — but also the early, early pre-Radkey days of Radkey. Matt also talks to the guys about his pro-wrestling Christian upbringing, home-schooling his kids, the origin of the Radkey logo, doing shows with the F...

It's the last day/night of the tour, the guys are moving along from Milwaukee to Chicago, it's a big night at Metro with a concert and a movie, and, depending on who you ask, Gabe's Birthday! Highlights include: • Scott, Gabe, Ryan and Ben have breakfast and talk shape-shifters and spanks • Jerry Slaughter, 1930s movie mogul • Ryan looks ahead • Justine humanizes Scott • Mark gets kicked out of Sh...

It's the final week of the Local H LIFERS Re-tour. Scott's got three shows to play and a movie to direct, Gabe's got merch to sell, a tambo to bang, and a fiftieth birthday to celebrate. Ben's got a podcast to cobble together all by his lonesome and all roads lead to Chicago and The Metro for a spectacular all-hands on deck conclusion. But first, there are two days and nights in Milwaukee and the...

After an enjoyable day off in New York City, Scott and Justine check in with Gabe and Ben to talk about “Possession”, pizza, movie theater rage, Scott’s childhood home in Zion, severed toes at Trash Bar, Ozzy vs. Dio, being a child of 9/11, the lyrics to “Knocking At Your Back Door”, Mitch Gorman, and we try to get to get at the “truth” of Scott and Justine’s Rashomon-esque “meet-cute” at Mercury...

With negative Covid tests in hand, Local H are set to resume the tour. Before they do, Scott swings by the Metro with director Felix Pineiro to do some location scouting for the LIFERS movie. What better time to talk with Felix? Director of “Adjunto”, the upcoming “Doll Eyes”, and Local H’s “Innocents” video — Felix has been a friend and trusted collaborator for years. We talk about the first time...

Brian Blockinger will tell you that he’s “just a fan”. But he’s a fan who’s put his money where his mouth is. Brian has worked in and owned record stores, been a tastemaker and a scenester, did time as a record label ninja, and hobnobbed with more rock stars than you’ve had hot meals. Brian is that secret ingredient that enriches your local scene. Without him, the scene just wouldn’t be the same....

Our ol’ buddy —and Local H’s original bass player— Matt García finally makes his way onto the show. Matt talks with us about going to high school in Zion, forming Rude Awakening with Scott, being a teenage metal-head, “El Burrito”, being miserable in Madison, batik art, how he ended up in Portland, Matt’s early but lasting influence on the sound of Local H, his record label, and (of course) that t...

Ryan and Scott have got pizza on the brain when they check in with Gabe and Ben from their hotel room in El Paso (after all, the guys hadn’t eaten in several hours). They touch on the official start of The LIFERS reTOUR with Radkey, an exhausting day off in Austin, Ben’s outtakes, Josie’s snoring, “The Grey”, Cliff Burton, and a couple of calls are made to Herb and Jeneen. But really — this one is...

This week we catch our great white whale. After a bit of kicking and whining, Wes Kidd joins the podcast to talk about Rights Of The Accused, his current gig at Red Light Management, his time served as touring guitarist for Local H, Australia, the legendary battle of the Cheap Trick cover bands, and how much fun it is to dress up in a bunny suit. Did we mention that Wes was the singer-songwriter i...

Things move pretty fast on this episode — so try to keep up. This week: Scott vs. Dave Pirner, bassist Jeremy Tappero and guitarist Ryan Smith talk about how they wound up in the Soul Asylum camp, the Risky Business vs. “Risky Business”, the KISS principle, Emo again, Local H’s cover of “Dreaming” vs. Green Day’s cover of “Dreaming”, Jeremy’s dad was in Spooner(!), Tijuana Flats vs. Aunt Helen’s t...

Gabe and Ben check in with Scott on a day off in Detroit as he waits for Ryan and Soul Asylum’s current bassist —Jeremy Tappero— to return from a trip to the local pot dispensary. You can probably guess how this turns out. While waiting, the guys discuss Val Kilmer, challah, “Melrose Place”, the heartbreak of Texas, Iron Maiden’s new record, tour pranks, Cars tribute shows with Michael Shannon — a...

The Samuel Beckett vibes are strong in this one. Scott’s idea to record an episode backstage in Texas —immediately following a show— backfires when the merch line turns out to be longer than expected. Ryan does his best to entertain Gabe and Ben while they wait for Scott to get done selling t-shirts. Will Scott ever arrive?

On the road, a day off can be a life saver. Two days off, though — can feel a little unnecessary. It tends to mess with your momentum. But three days off? That’s fucking MURDER! After a cancellation in Springfield, Massachusetts— Local H found themselves sucked into the vortex of the forced three day vacation. This week’s episode is what happens when two bands are cooped up in a hotel by the highw...

Seems like we’ve been talking about the Minneapolis music scene an awful lot lately. First with Dave Pirner. Then last week with Ryan. And now? A true Minneapolis legend: Michael Bland. Since the beginning of his professional career —when he was drafted into Prince’s New Power Generation— Michael has been one of the most sought after drummers in popular music. He’s played with Chaka Kahn, Maxwell,...

After 17 months of being sidelined, Local H are back on the road — and they’re taking the podcast with them! Gabe and Ben check in with Scott and drummer Ryan Harding as the band heads to Virginia Beach to play the first show on their first post-Covid tour. Nerves are on edge as the guys grapple with the knowledge that the tour could be shut down at any time (again!) — so they proceed to do what a...

Everybody loves Jill Hopkins. And with good reason. She’s fucking awesome! An influential DJ and personality at Chicago’s WBEZ sister station Vocalo (that’s 91.1 on your FM dial, babies), Jill is also a writer, a club DJ, and host of a slew of excellent podcasts (“Making Beyoncé”, “The Opus”). She also fronts a kick-ass Hole cover band. Topics discussed: Chicago pride, teenage blowies, movies feat...

In the history of prickly pears, Scott’s got nothing on Dave Pirner. The guys talk to Dave about Minneapolis, touring in the time of Covid, bullshit Rolling Stone interviews, and jazz. There’s also a few games of Fuck, Marry, Kill. Whatever. Dave’s a national treasure. Dig this episode. Companion Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6siN8onvmPwMowb0iEbx9A?si=dbb79dfa27dc4494

In honor of its new bubblegum vinyl pressing, the guys (along with producer Andy Gerber) flip the record over and continue their rambling dissection of HEY, KILLER. For side 2, the conversation gets looser, funnier —and definitely drunker. With plenty of extended digressions concerning REM, John Waite, bad reviews, and Scott’s guilt over the inherent narcissism of spending two episodes talking abo...

Spurred on by Gabe’s track by track rundown over on Facebook (and feeling like it’d be impossible to top last week’s interview with Jeff Murphy), the guys decide to take a deep dive into the making of Local H’s 8th record: HEY, KILLER. The album’s producer, Andy Gerber, makes a return to the show to share his memories of the recording sessions (and to keep Scott honest). This one might be for the...

There are two kinds of pop music. There’s the pop music that wins Grammys and soundtracks teenage Tik-Tok videos. And then there’s the kind of pop music that Zion, Illinois’ SHOES plays: Pop music as a concept. A lost but golden ideal that bears little relation to what “popular” means in the real world. Reality be damned. SHOES would create their own reality. Virtually willing their band into exis...

A lot of balls in this one. Depending on who you ask — Herb Rosen is the owner of Liar’s Club, the bass player of Rights Of The Accused, the mayor of Chicago, the bass player for Beer Nuts, or a huge fan of podcasts. Herb talks about his college days in Madison, being the O.G. of the cowbell, KISS, that time Brian St. Clair beat him at his own game, the pros and cons of acid, broken femur bones, g...

The second part of our interview with Deer Tick’s John McCauley is not so much an interview as it is a peek into an alternate universe where John is the fourth member of the podcast. On this episode: John’s time working at a movie theater, the relative greatness of Shemp, more “Mind Games”, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, Joe Walsh as John’s spirit animal, Jason and Freddy as twin gynecologists, celery...

Our good buddy ol’ pal John McCauley (from the thoroughly excellent Deer Tick) is the guest on this week’s episode. John is so near and dear to Scott that we had to cut this episode in two. Part 1 has the guys talking about Gabe’s dismissal of Indiana Jones, John’s time fronting Nirvana, Spoon, a forthcoming remix of DIVINE PROVIDENCE, and most importantly — John Lennon’s “Mind Games”. Deer Tick o...

Expletives, accusations and soggy wedding invitations. Emotions are running hot at the start of this episode of The LIFERS Podcast. But never fear, the Zen-like James VanOsdol is on hand to lend his calming influence. James has been a constant fixture on the Chicago media landscape since his tenure at Q101 during the alternative boom of the 90s. A lifer and a survivor, he’s put in time (up and dow...

Scott finally gets around to interviewing the LIFER he’s known all his life: his dad. Inspired by his own dad, David Lucas decided to be an artist when he was a teenager (sounds familiar) and has been refining his very regional brand of “north-woods” outsider art since he started doing it professionally in his mid-twenties (also pretty familiar). Getting straight answers out of Mr. Lucas can be li...