The LIFERS Podcast

Horror business abounds on an episode that Gabe has waited almost 3 years for: Episode #138! — featuring a feisty round of “What’s The Best?!?” where we invite Herb Rosen from Liar’s Club to help us pick our favorite Misfits songs. We also have viewing picks for your Halloween movie parties, a WHOLE lotta smack talking, and Herb ruins his sister’s laptop. Happy Halloween!!!

Not all talent buyers are nice guys. To be honest, it’s a profession that seems to attract more than its fair share of bastards. But that’s not the case with our good buddy Marc Solheim — who went from being a welcome fixture on the Milwaukee concert scene to being a big-cheese booker for Chicago’s own Riot Fest without ever losing an ounce of his good humored charm (not to mention a single strand...

The guys had a busy week and so decided to delay the recording of this week's podcast and do it LIVE on Friday afternoon, over Gabe's lunch hour. Here's how the cookie crumbled...

Why this episode, you ask? Well, it’s back to school time again, so we forced our good friend (and “mystical-teen-noir” auteur) Jennifer Reeder to remain on the show to talk about our favorite high school movies (plus we had that whole Iron Maiden vs. Replacements nonsense to finish). Teen movie classics were chosen, teen movie classics were omitted, and at least one stone cold non-teen classic wa...

Chicago-based filmmaker Jennifer Reeder makes movies that are personal, handmade, and too disturbing for Gabe to watch. This week we talk to the “mystical-teen-noir” auteur about her new film PERPETRATOR (currently streaming on Shudder) and the Jennifer Reeder Universe. PLUS: High School horror, creepy paintings, attending the Art Institute of Chicago, being beloved by Germans, creating an interco...

Still not sure what a LIFER is? Consider the case of Steve Berlin. He’s a musician, a producer, and a member of one of America’s greatest rock and roll bands: Los Lobos. The guy lives and breathes music and has a list of credits longer than a gibbon’s arm. The stuff that he’s done that we DIDN’T talk about on this episode could fill three OTHER episodes. So let’s just focus on what we DID talk abo...

In August of 2023, three Chicago residents disappeared in the woods near Elkhorn, Wisconsin while recording a podcast... A week later their recordings were found.

Our Rick Ness cup runneth over! Dr. Ness graces us with his presence for a second week as we: 1. Pick our favorite Figdish songs. 2. Pump him for information and stories about those songs. 3. Force Rick to pick his favorite Billy Joel songs. There’s also some stuff in here about Pink Floyd, Menudo Kiss covers, and stoned porn stars. You’re welcome. #blessed

Rick Ness is the Indiana Jones of UW-Madison. Sure, he might seem like a mild mannered teacher of 18th and 19th century transatlantic literature — but, actually, he’s one of the dudes from Chicago legends Figdish! On this episode, we talk to THAT dude about the ‘Dish’s forthcoming sorta-new third record (Rick will explain), after-parties at Club Shakespeare, releasing the Kraken, paying off your d...

Scott’s dropping names again. After last Sunday’s 40th anniversary performance of REM’s “Murmur” (among other things) by Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy & “friends” at the Metro — Scott is lit up and bubbling over with memories of meeting Mike Mills, singing with Mike Mills, and hanging out and drinking with Mike Mills. We invited Jason (Narducy not Narduzzi) over to get a word in edgewise and join...

Does a Gen-X man (one that ISN’T Noah Baumbach) have any place in a Barbie world? This week the guys welcome Metro media celebutante Jill Hopkins back to the show to help them with their struggles. Specifically: Scott’s struggle to square his love of Greta Gerwig with his hatred of blockbuster hype and pink-selfie mania, Ben’s struggle against society’s relentless march towards a meme driven cinem...

Forced to go guestless yet again — the guys discuss Barbie bleeps, Scott’s relentless name dropping, Irish butter, Gigglesnort Hotel, Ben’s fond childhood memories of wearing a dress and throwing candy out of bi-planes, Indiana Jones vs. Tom Cruise, top ten talk-box jams, Napoleon, Gary Gnu, Michael Shannon eats all the pizza in Indiana, and Gabe’s insatiable need to watch the world burn.

Or: The Airing Of Grievances. Scott’s got a lot of problems with you people and now you’re gonna hear about it. Some of the topics of disgruntlement include Indiana Jones, the 4th of July, Dolly Parton, demons, baby eaters, black pumpkins, Roger Ebert, Jim Caviezel, Gabe-rock, Pesciwood, and the Hokey Pokey. ALSO: Justine and Steve Sleeve join us for a competitive round of “What’s The Best?” (AC/D...

The last night of our world tour of two cities had us at The Bur Oak in Ben’s adopted hometown of Madison, Wisconsin — where we welcomed our favorite Queen of the Scene: Ms. Cathy Dethmers. As former owner of both O’Cayz Corral AND High Noon Saloon, Cathy was (and IS) a beloved key figure in Madison’s excellent and influential indie-rock community — and we were honored to have her. PLUS!: Gabe tri...

It’s legend time around here again as we welcome Mr. Greg Norton. That’s right. THAT Greg Norton — trailblazing bass player from one of the all time great American rock bands: fucking Husker Du. What more do you want? Anyway — it was our pleasure to talk to Greg about mustaches, Black Flag, insane tours of the West Coast, the Twin Cities, playing the Longhorn, playing the 7th Street Entry, Replace...

This episode recorded LIVE at Gman Tavern in Chicago, IL on June 6 has it all: Bowling, Indian food, the most horrific day of Gabe’s life, Malort, Iron Maiden vs. Replacements trivia, Ben’s hell-ride with Herb, booster seats, ice cream, Shotgun Steve Reidell, UFOFU, a few more rounds of Lifers Against Humanity, and Josh Caterer of Smoking Popes makes his long awaited return to the show. PLUS!!! An...

The guys welcome returning champion (and LIFERS secret weapon that you may remember from episode 5 — aka “that Genesis episode”) Steve Reidell(!) back to the podcast to talk about last week’s LIFERS live shows, Scott’s trip to Tribeca, Dolly Parton’s coleslaw, the age of Carol O’Connor, Zach Waxer, the origin story of Stv Slv, Chip Z’nuff’s car, and the top 3 songs to play if you happen to be DJin...

After a couple years of dipping our collective toe into this whole podcast thing — we decided to dip our toe into the whole LIVE podcast thing. Recorded live at the Gman Tavern in Chicago, IL. last Monday — this episode has it all. Herb making fruity drinks, Un-punk Gabe getting cute with a Chipotle dung-bag, Steve Reidell making shotgun noises, Kelly Wey pouring a few “One Shot with Scott”s, Ben...

Ugggghhh…

On this week’s episode: Chicago comedy hero Kyle Kinane stops by to shoot the shit. In more ways than one. Having booked himself to appear on our podcast the same night he had to -um- “prepare” for a colonoscopy scheduled the next morning (it happens) — this is an episode with an air of suspense that’s worthy of Hitchcock. Kyle grins, bears it, and tries to sit still for Scott’s probing …questions...

We all have that friend that got us into punk rock and was in our first bands with us. Jerry Newbrough was Scott’s. On this episode we talk to Jerry about going to high school with Gabe and Scott, Christian rock, moving to Madison, He Who Cannot Be Named, O’Cayz Corral, Cathy Dethmers, designing the “As Good As Dead” cover, loving music too much to play it, Greg Norton, Jerry’s bands Mr. Peabody a...

And the legends just keep on coming. This week we’re pleased as punch to have Mr. Tommy Stinson on the show. If you’re like Gabe and you don’t know — Tommy is one of rock’s great bass players, great stars, and great lifers. Getting his start at age 11 (ELEVEN?!?) in the undeniably seminal Replacements , Tommy went on to form the bands Bash & Pop and Perfect before lending his bass chops and cool f...

Hey! Waddya know? We got a legend on the podcast this week. Michael Alago knows everybody. No. Seriously. He knows EVERYBODY. So we asked the former A&R superstar (and current photographing king) about some of them. We also talk about Michael signing Metallica to Elektra records, living in (and embodying) New York, signing White Zombie to Geffen, working at the Ritz, making a ‘zine for the Dead Bo...

Eric Oblander —everybody’s favorite vocalist and harmonica player for everybody’s favorite heavy-rock blues band (Toledo’s 5 Horse Johnson)— is our guest this week and you are WELCOME! This episode’s been a long time coming and we got to talk to Eric about Detroit, going on tour with The Necros, forming the Johnson, going to strip clubs with Frodo, Motorhead, Aldo Nova, meeting Rights Of The Accus...

It’s Bring Your Daughter To Work Week over here at The Lifers Podcast. First up we welcome Ben’s daughter Lily to the show — seems like she’s got a beef with her ol’ pops about his unflattering impersonations of her (as well as Ben’s way with a tall tale or two). And then it’s time for our favorite 11-year-old Green-Mountain-Garwin student — Helena Brandt (and her awesome mom Cara Gwinn). Turns ou...