What Lies Ahead Podcast

Fred Muench of Bad Trip joins the podcast to talk about the formation of the band, the early days of touring, and sharing stages with Judge from The Lemonheads. We also get into releasing records through Wreck-age and how the band carved out its place in the punk and hardcore scene from 1987-1995. Fred also discusses his new project Slowrole, including the brand-new EP, the musical influences behi...

On this episode, I speak with Brian Audley (Incendiary, Nite Sports), Anthony Race (Production Manager at Jones Beach), and Mike Musilli (Overthrow, No Echo) about some of their favorite albums to listen to during the spring and summer months. We get into the records they come back to every year, the albums that fit the season, and a few picks that might surprise you.  There are a lot of great rec...

On this episode, I sat down with Creature, front man of New York hardcore band Rebelmatic, to discuss the band’s new album Sting the Devil , out now on Creep Records . We broke the record down track by track, discussing the lyrical themes, songwriting process, and how the band structured the songs to balance hardcore aggression with groove and rhythm. Creature also shared how the new material will...

In this episode, I talked with Daniel Valentino about his path from the hardcore scene into the restaurant business on Long Island. He explains how those early years shaped his approach to work and how a series of jobs eventually led to his partial ownership in AMH Promo Corp. We also get into how he ended up at VauxHall in Huntington and what drew him to that project. Daniel breaks down what his...

Cole and Cruz from NJ hardcore band Pool Scum talk about their new EP, which dropped in the late winter, and the run of shows they’ve been on since. We get into how the band first came together, their connection with Ant $ from E-Town Concrete, and what that’s meant for them. They also talk about their cover of Madball’s “Pride (Times Are Changing)” picking up traction online, and how they reacted...

In this episode, Danielle Dombrowski talks about her background in photography and how it developed alongside her involvement in the hardcore scene. She shares stories about the bands she’s worked with and her experience contributing to album projects, where her images help shape a band’s visual identity.  She explains what it’s like shooting hardcore shows in different venues, including how light...

In this episode, I talk with Drew Stone and Tristan D’Graves of Incendiary Device. The interview focuses on their upcoming album, New York City , due out Friday, May 1 on Creep Records. We go track by track through the record, discussing how each song was written and the lyrical ideas behind it. We also get into how the band puts together their set lists, what they’re trying to do live, and how th...

On my podcast, Jame McElroy broke down the shift from Dirty Bourbon Clothing into Two Crow Collective , and how that transition shaped what the brand became. We also talked about how “PBS is Punk” came about, how it grew quickly, and how it helped raise money for PBS . The conversation also includes a day in the life of Two Crow, his favorite records, and what influences his work.

On this episode of the podcast, I talked with Shi from New York punk band Scarboro. The conversation focused on the band’s new album, Hate Season , coming out April 17 on Sell the Heart  and WTF Records. We went through the record track by track, discussing the lyrical themes and musical direction behind each song. Shi explained the band’s songwriting approach and how the songs work together as a...

John McHale, founder of Breakeven Booking in Miami, joined the podcast to share insights from his work in live event booking and promotion. He discussed how he partners with venues, collaborates with booking agencies, and organizes shows from initial planning through the day of the show. John also talked about staying consistent with promotion to ensure each event reaches the right audience and ru...

 On this episode I speak with Frankie D of Silence Equals Death, where we talked about his roots in hardcore, including playing drums in the ’90s with Backslap. Frank shared how being asked to fill in on drums for Kings Never Die on a European run reignited his passion for playing music. We also discuss Silence Equals Death’s upcoming EP, From the Ashes , dropping April 17 via Upstate Records and...

On this episode, I’m joined by Ricky Singh, co-owner of Flatspot Records. We talk about his musical background, growing up on Long Island, and forming Backtrack, including their releases and touring. We also get into his time working at Roadrunner Records, managing bands through Matinee Sounds, and what goes into co-owning and running a record label. We wrap things up by looking ahead at the futur...

In this episode, I spoke with Joey Zampella of Life of Agony about several key aspects of the band’s past and present. We discussed how the band approaches their set list, including the balance between longtime staples and other songs, and how those choices reflect both the band’s history and their current mindset onstage. We also covered the Life of Agony album catalog, touching on how the record...

In this episode, I sit down with Natalie O’Keeffe, lead singer of Long Island band Family Dinner. We talk about how she got into singing, how the band structures their setlist, and what the writing process has been like for their new album.  Natalie also reflects on the experience of playing Red Rocks and what she learned touring with Bloc Party, offering a straightforward look at how the band has...

In this episode, I speak with Josh Grabelle, founder of Trustkill Records, to talk about the history of the label and the role it played in hardcore and metalcore. Josh shares stories from the early days, signing bands, and running a label through changes in the music industry.  We talk his favorite releases, the return of Hellfest, and what is in store for the future. https://www.trustkill.com/ T...

In this interview, Arty Shepherd walks through the key points of his career, starting with his beginnings in Long Island Hardcore and the formation of Mind Over Matter . He talks about playing with Walter Schreifels in Worlds Fastest Car and how that led into the more melodic direction of Errortype: 11 . We also cover his time in Instruction , including tour stories from the road with Linkin Park...

On this episode, I speak with Bobby and Mike from The Warped Weeble Wobbles to talk about how the band started and their place within the 1990s Long Island Hardcore scene. They walk us through the early days, their friends/bands, and the atmosphere that shaped the band’s sound and direction. Bobby and Mike revisit their last show at the PWAC with Glassjaw, Madball, and VOD. They also share what it...

On this episode, we’re joined by Brian Audley of Incendiary and Nite Sports, Anthony Race, a production manager at the Brooklyn Paramount and other venues, and Mike Musilli, a columnist for No Echo and bassist for Overthrow. The conversation focuses on the releases of 2025. They break down how these records sound, how the tracklists are put together, and how production choices affect both the reco...

On this episode I speak with Chris Wynn of In Effect Magazine and Holly Berchielli of Outsider Magazine . We get into the history behind their zines—how each of them got started, what motivated them to document the scene, and the DIY methods they used to print and distribute their work before everything went digital. We also talk about how their approach has changed with the rise of social media,...

On this episode, I speak with Morty and Sam of NYC Shootout to talk about how the band came together and the making of their new album KNUCKLEHED ANTHEMZ , out now on DAZE . We go through the record song by song, getting into the lyrics, the ideas behind them, and how each track was written and put together. Morty and Sam also break down how they build their set list, what they think works best li...

On this episode, I talk with Chris Enriquez , a drummer known for his work with On The Might Of Princes , Spotlights , BEINN , and Orange 9MM . Beyond the stage, Chris is also the Marketing Director at New Noise Magazine , where he oversees advertising and hosts the magazine’s podcast. We dive into his musical journey—from how he first picked up the drums to how he manages to balance his many crea...

On this episode, I sit down with Mike Musilli and Anthony Race for an in-depth conversation about the Long Island Hardcore scene — from its beginnings in the 1990s all the way to the sounds shaping it today. We break down each decade, talking about the most influential bands, how the sound evolved, and the sense of community that’s kept the scene alive. We also take a nostalgic dive into the venue...

On this episode, I sit down with Mark Frandsen, vocalist of the Denver hardcore band TimeXHeist. We dive into the Denver Hardcore scene, Mark’s history booking shows, the band’s touring stories, and their writing process — plus what’s next for TimeXHeist. Mark also shares how hardcore has shaped his life, gives us a look at their upcoming tour, and talks about his new project, which has a demo dro...

In this episode, I speak with James Longspaugh of the Long Island Hardcore band, Life Taken.  We discuss his history with hardcore, the formation of the band, and their new EP coming out on October 31, 2025 on 51st State Records and Hardknock.   The interview ends with James discussing his favorite shows, albums, and artists.   Life Taken (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/lifetakenlihc?igsh=M...

On this episode I speak with Tommy Corrigan of Silent Majority.  We discuss his history with Long Island Hardcore, how Silent Majority formed, their reunion shows, and how they structure their setlist.  We also discuss the formation of Capital, what the future holds for each band, and the legacy SM left on LIHC.  Silent Majority (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/silentmajority_longisland?igsh...