Washed Up Emo

It's an honor to have J. Robbins on the podcast. As someone that I've enjoyed his music performances in bands like Jawbox and Burning Airlines, to being a part of some of the most influential albums in my life as a producer/engineer, it was hard to not geek out the entire time. He couldn't have been nicer to talk through his life, influences, and his impression on emo and music making today. Be su...

Today on the podcast we welcome back Michael Malarkey. I had him on episode 197 and we’re back again to chat about his new music with the group Burial Clouds. Michael, especially on Instagram, is always first to comment on an an obscure screamo band from the 90s. We caught up about some of his fav bands from the 90s ear, what he has to do before every show or play he performs. We talk festivals fo...

Today on the podcast we welcome again Jeff Caudill from Gameface and his new band called Low Coast. They have an album out right now called Existing the Dream out on Spartan Records. Think Death Cab for Cutie meets Wilco. What was great is that Jeff and I did this in person and was so nice after so many interviews have been done remote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...

Today on the podcast we welcome Ben Green from Fairweather and Ivakota Recording Studios. Ben and I speak about his time growing up, being exposed to music, forming Fairweather, struggles in the mid 00s, and was really candid about not just the successes but the mistakes the band made. Fairweather has new music that you should check out and enjoy the many stories about Equal Vision Records and som...

Today on the podcast we welcome Popeye Vogelsang from Farside, Your Favorite Trainwreck, and a new band he’s in called Calling Hours. Popeye is most well known for being a guitarist and vocalist of the band Farside, founded in Orange County, California in 1989 and released their records on Revelation Records. Farside played with a ton of hardcore, punk, and emo bands throughout their life. We talk...

Today on the podcast are the members of Braid talking about their 25th Anniversary and tour for Frame & Canvas. I thought it’d be funny to interview them in order asking similar questions about the album, their feelings on resisting this record, the remixing of the album from J Robbins, and touring. What’s amazing is everyone gave different answers and memories. Plus, the secret gem of the episode...

Today on the podcast we welcome Sohrab Habibion from Edsel, Kids for Cash, Obits and SAVAK. Sohrab also filmed a ton of shows back in the day in the DC area and his YouTube channel is full of amazing performances from a time when many shows weren’t filmed. We tap about his time in NYC, DC, bands, his musical life that continues to this day. Sohrab's YouTube Channel  Learn more about your ad choice...

Today on the podcast we welcome Rich Balling from The Sound of Animals Fighting, Hospital Gown, Pyramids, and RX Bandits. Rich and I reconnected recently as we last crossed paths during my days at Equal Vision during The Sound of Animals Fighting release “Lover, the Lord Has Left Us…” back in 2006. Now The Sound of Animals Fighting has a new EP called “APESHIT” out on Born Losers Records. Rich and...

Today on the podcast we welcome Melody Caudill. She’s the name behind Career Woman, that’s currently partnering with the fabulous Lauren Records. You may recognize the last name. Melody is the daughter of Jeff Caudill from Gameface and a new band called Low Coast. All that to say, Melody recently released a song called “Patience (I Like You)” that blew me away. Jeff had been sending me her music s...

Today on the podcast, we welcome M.C. Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger and Ex-Ignota. They may have never crossed your path. That’s ok. Upon further inspection, a singer songwriter signed to Merge may bring more questions than answers. We met through a post I made on Instagram. I went, why does that name seem familiar. I reached out and after recognizing the name of his old band on Ebullition calle...

Today on the podcast we welcome Vanessa Downing from Samuel or as they known now as Samuel SC. SC is for State College in Pennsylvania where they got together. Samuel was around for 2 years from 1993-1995 and released a split 7” with Texas is the Reason and releases with Art Monk and others. They’re this great moment in that era after the alternative boom and hardcore/emo intermixed. What’s amazin...

Today on the podcast we welcome David Knudson from Botch and Minus the Bear. I was so excited that David said yes to the podcast and we spoke recently after the first set of Botch reunion shows. We talk about being creative, Seattle in the 90s outside of grunge, and his battle with making better choices in life. Including a deep conversation on how alcohol can catch up with you and the lessons he...

Today on the podcast we welcome Jake Brennan. I’ve wanted Jake on the podcast for years! You may know him from his podcast Disgraceland or as a member of the band Cast Iron Hike. He also started Double Elvis, a podcast network that I’m a part of. So full disclosure, we’re partners but that being said, I’ve probably had Jake on my wishlist since I started the podcast. We get into a lot about intent...

Today on the podcast we welcome Daniel Littleton from The Hated. Daniel has a whole other band called Ida and that’s a whole separate episode. Today, we just stick to The Hated, which has had their catalog meticulously handled by our friends at Numero Group and recently played some reunion shows. The Hated were an early emo band. Daniel goes to great lengths to explain his fascination and frustrat...

Today on the podcast we welcome back for the 3rd time, Evan Weiss. Evan and I have spoken two other times, episode 23 (2013) and episode 66 (2016). Today we talk about his new projects, his favorite emo albums of all time, and we look back at the emo revival era with a critical eye. We only had an hour with this busy man, so strap in for a quick one. I’m sure he’ll be back sooner than later. https...

Today on the podcast we welcome Ken Shipley from Numero Group and Tree Records. Many may know Numero Group for their fantastic reissues and they have a show coming up this weekend in LA celebrating 20 years called Numero 20. A very special show with bands we’ve featured on the podcast the last few weeks and more to come. What we’re going to touch on more for this episode is how he got to Numero an...

Today we welcome Ted Leo from Chisel. You may know Ted Leo or Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Or you’re wondering what Ted is doing on the podcast. We’re deep in our Numero Group 20 Celebration and if you heard the last episode with John Dugan of Chisel, Ted has a great history in hardcore in the NYC area going to shows at ABC No Rio among others and we talk about those days, his thoughts on emo from...

Today on the podcast we welcome John Dugan from Chisel, which we talk extensively about and they’re about to do some reunion shows for Numero Group and reissues for some classic 90s that crossed over into many genres. One that I didn’t realize happened that I do a podcast about was emo. This band is really close to my heart too. I found this band through John’s younger brother Mike. I met Mike my...

Today on the podcast we welcome Chris Sheppard from Everyone Asked About You. If you’re not aware, this band was a late 90s gem of a band that I missed myself during this time. After finding out about them through some friends at Numero Group and talking to Chris, they intersected and overlapped with many of the bands of the time in their home of Little Rock Arkansas. Chris and I talk a lot about...

Today on the podcast, we welcome Erik Fisher from The Hated. The Hated were a 4 piece emo band from Annapolis Maryland who were active from 1985-1990. They are considered an early emo band and around the same time as many we know like Rites of Spring, Gray Matter, and Moss Icon. Thankfully, Numero Group has their music streaming and available. Go search it out. Now to the interview. For those that...

Today we welcome Justin Pearson. If that name is unfamiliar, head to Three One G dot com right now. Justin was and is a musical force. He’s been in a lot of projects over the years and worth diving into his work now with Dead Cross, Deaf Club or where I found out about him when I was younger with Swing Kids and then The Locust. Justin was a little older than me and hearing about his history with p...

Today we welcome Tim Kasher, again! He’s been on prior as a guest talking about his entire career and also was included in volume 2 of the Anthology of Emo book series, now we dive even deeper. This time we dive into the absolute classic “Domestica.” Released in June way back in 2000, this album released posthumously, really was an evolution of their last two records and started to almost restart...

Today we welcome Eva Alexiou-Reo, many of us know as Eva Fata. Think about it, you’re 18, living in Pennsylvania and some of the first bands you start booking are Hot Water Music, Elliott, and Jimmy Eat World. How’s that for a start? FATA Booking Company turned 25 in 2021 and still going strong today. Eva came up around a similar time and saw the emo boom first hand with booking and managing bands...

Today on the podcast, we welcome Kip Uhlhorn from The Red Scare, Panthers and Cloudland Canyon. We speak about emo and hardcore from the late 90s and the many ways that I can sneak in another band that was screamo during that era. Kip has a long history of being in the industry across scoring and bands from the 90s through today. I encourage you to search out and find his music and head over to Ki...

Today on the podcast we welcome an absolute legend. Sonny Kay. You may know Sonny from Angel Hair which put out records on Gravity Records or his own label Gold Standard Laboratories or maybe The VSS. If not, that is totally fine. You’ll learn about them all and other projects he was a part of over the next hour or so. Sonny is a pillar in the early days of emo/screamo/hardcore that shouldn’t be o...