LONELIER THAN GOD

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Latest Episodes:

007: "Comin' Home" feat. Jason Gerken (Shiner, HUM, Molly McGuire) Feb 23, 2025

Today’s guest is JASON GERKEN from SHINER. He’s one of your favorite drummers’ favorite drummers, & he's also played in HUM, Molly McGuire, Gunfighter, The Birth Defects, & a handful of others.

Shiner’s first record, Splay, was recently remixed & remastered via SPARTAN RECORDS, who also just reissued the band’s second, third, & fourth LPs — Lula Divinia, Starless, & The Egg.

Shiner are about to play some dates in the Midwest, including one at Matt Talbott’s bar Loose Cobra in Tolono.

Jason played & toured with HUM in 2015, on a run of shows all over the U.S. with Mineral & Failure, & he’s got lots of cool insights into the successes & challenges of those gigs. It’s telling that we both occasionally drift into the present tense when describing Bryan’s drumming because that stuff will obviously always feel contemporary.

In this episode, we talk about finding space to tour, getting that phone call to join HUM, the intricacies of practicing & playing with the band, & drowning in lots & lots of drum fills.

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SHINER Reissues // Spartan Records

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GERKEN Interview // Drummers on Drumming Podcast

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PAGE HAMILTON Interview // Chris Demakes a Podcast

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TALBOTT Intro // Pittsburgh '98

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:24 // "The Egg" (Shiner)

03:08 // Upcoming Gigs

06:05 // The Egg LP

11:12 // "Jaded Eyes" (Government Issue)

14:23 // "Pills" (Shiner)

17:22 // Drumming Influences

19:27 // HUM in KC

20:23 // The Phone Call, Practicing, & Playing

27:49 // "Comin' Home" Discussion

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006: "Cloud City" feat. Coley Dennis (Maserati, Red Dwarf Star) Feb 01, 2025

Today I’m talking to COLEY DENNIS, guitarist & founding member of the Athens, GA rock band MASERATI. They’ve covered tons of sonic territory, from post-hardcore to electronic to psychedelia to heavy disco to space rock & beyond. He’s also got a new loud & dreamy rock project called RED DWARF STAR, beaming in from Lausanne, Switzerland where he now lives.

In this episode, we talk about the culture shock of the expatriate life, plugging into the early 2000s Athens music scene, & the striking harmony of the light & heavy.

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:05 // “This is a Sight We Had One Day from the Mountain” (Maserati)

03:09 // Switzerland

05:42 // Athens ‘00s

11:36 // Maserati Then & Now

15:23 // Red Dwarf Star

18:05 // “Lady Aurora Borealis” (R.D.S.)

22:27 // HUM on MTV

27:29 // Inlet & Enter the Mirror

30:31 // “Wallwalker” (Maserati)

32:03 // “Cloud City” Discussion

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“Cloud City” @ AV Fest // 2011

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005: "Boy with Stick" feat. Tom Mullen (Washed Up Emo) Jan 13, 2025

Today I'm talking to TOM MULLEN from WASHED UP EMO.

Tom’s been in the music business for decades, doing digital marketing, executive work, & an array of creative projects at labels like Vagrant, TVT, Equal Vision, Sony, & others.

He started the Washed Up Emo website in 2007, & has since expanded it into a podcast with over 250 episodes, a book series, & a DJ night.

In this episode, we talk about how the changing media landscape of the late 90s & early 2000s intersected with alternative music culture, the ambivalence around "Midwest emo" as sub-genre & brand, & where Hum might fit within that specific context. We also explore one of the band’s most beloved b-sides, looking at its strange place in their discography. Where does it truly belong?

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SMILE POLITELY Interview: Matt Talbott

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:16 // Booking Hopesfall & Saves the Day

05:00 // Early Podcasting Landscape

13:43 // Curiosity & Connection

17:35 // Washed Up Emo Podcast

20:15 // "Midwest Emo,” the Anachronism

24:19 // HUM re Emo

34:27 // WRUV, MTV, & the Cat's Cradle

36:37 // The Quiet-Loud

39:52 // Pre-YPAA Sessions

46:45 // DIH Reissue Playback @ Sony

51:45 // "Boy with Stick" Discussion

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Other songs: Deftones, "Minerva" // Title Fight: "Head in the Ceiling Fan"

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004: "Baby, Baby" feat. Sven J. (Champaign is also a Band Podcast) Dec 16, 2024

Today I’m talking to Sven, the host of CHAMPAIGN IS ALSO A BAND. His show takes a hyper-focused look at songwriters from the Champaign-Urbana music scene (past & present), & each episode tells the story of a song with the people who wrote it.

HUM fans should definitely check out his interviews with RICK from POSTER CHILDREN & the guys from TERMINUS VICTOR, both linked below.

He also runs a tape label called FAILED POEM RECORDS, which features local C-U musicians & donates all proceeds to a charity of the band’s choosing.

In this episode, we talk about the sonic mystique of college towns, the raw materials of songwriting, & why neglected b-sides can be so important.

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:27 // CIAB Podcast & C-U Scene

08:09 // College Town Aura

12:39 // Poster Children & Terminus Victor

19:46 // Sunday Songwriter Snakepit & MT Live

24:16 // "Baby, Baby" Discussion

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CIAB Episodes:

https://champaignisalsoaband.podbean.com/e/episode-100-rick-valentin-of-poster-children-he-s-my-star

https://champaignisalsoaband.podbean.com/e/ep127-scott-kimble-don-king-of-terminus-victor-this-isnt-real

https://champaignisalsoaband.podbean.com/e/episode-8-isaac-arms-of-withershins-fire-flies

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Failed Poem Records

https://failedpoemrecords.bandcamp.com/album/infringement

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Other songs: Ween, "Sarah"

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003: "Apollo" feat. Joshua Brigham (Hopesfall) Nov 28, 2024

Tap in for some HUM lore from JOSHUA BRIGHAM, guitarist & co-founding member of Charlotte, NC post-hardcore band HOPESFALL. We talk about MTV as contraband, recording The Satellite Years with Matt Talbott, & the cosmic distance of the road life.

MT Song Intros // Pittsburgh '98

THE SATELLITE YEARS 2.0:

BC // Spotify // Apple

Timestamps:

02:06 // MTV Confidential

14:06 // Feedback Walls

24:48 // The Satellite Years

33:21 // "Escape Pod for Intangibles"

43:08 // "Apollo" Discussion

Other songs: Spacemen 3, "Hey Man" // Codeine, "Cave-In"

IG // lonelierthangodpod@gmail.com

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002: "Aphids" feat. James Branscome (Cinematic Void) & Nick Vance (Double Life, Kent State, Deep Sleep) Nov 15, 2024

Today I’m talking to NICK VANCE & JIM BRANSCOME, from the CINEMATIC VOID PODCAST.

CINEMATIC VOID is a beloved cult film series that runs weekly in Los Angeles through the American Cinematheque. It features gonzo gems from all genres, including horror, sci-fi, Eurotrash, transgressive exploitation classics, & lesser-known oddities.

Nick & Jim have also been in many bands -- some together, some apart -- & you can find links to those projects below.

In this episode, we talk about coming up in the Baltimore punk scene, the ambivalent return of guitar music, & the journey into a close encounter of the insect kind.

I encourage you guys to join the episode discussions at R/HUM on Reddit. I’m curious to get your takes, alternate interpretations, & general thoughts. These episodes are just a starting point.

INSPITE: https://inspite.bandcamp.com/album/only-the-dead

DOUBLE LIFE: https://doublelifela.bandcamp.com/album/indifferent-stars

KENT STATE: https://kentstate.bandcamp.com

DEEP SLEEP: https://gravemistakerecords.bandcamp.com/album/turn-me-off

TIMESTAMPS:

03:13 // Baltimore punk scene (The Loft; Reptilian Records)

09:14 // Grindcore Juvenilia (Inspite)

13:28 // Coming to L.A.

16:24 // Kent State & Conspiracism

19:11 // Double Life

22:53 // Cinematic Void

27:28 // Guitar music returns

29:04 // HUM & the 90s

34:54 // "Aphids" Discussion

Spoken Word Outro (translated from Dutch):

As we relaxed & watched the retreating aphids, the window appeared to glow along with the sunset's blazing orange hues. They amuse us without difficulty. It’s just like watching an old vintage film played back slowly & backwards.

Maybe more like water slowly draining from a bathtub.

I like it here & enjoy being around aphids on a daily basis. I'm not sure if I'm their God, or they are mine. Sometimes I can actually hear their sounds emanating from the little old cracks in the wood. As if they’re walking around. It sounds like a song.

When it starts, it's like our cats jumping on the bed. They seem so content; not a worry in the world. All unhappiness is left at home in the dark crevices of the water well.

It just goes to show, one does not really have to be alone. //

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001: "Afternoon with the Axolotls" feat. Matt McGuyer (Amblare, Mock Orange, Off-Ox) Oct 31, 2024

Joining me today from Evansville, IN is the multi-instrumentalist, rock ‘n’ roll polymath, & all-around super-talented dude, MATT MCGUYER. He's on guitar & vocals in AMBLARE, guitar & backing vocals in MOCK ORANGE, drums in OFF-OX, & he recently wrapped a midwest tour drumming with FAERIE RING. He's also got a solo project, with an album in production.

In this episode, Matt gives a loving tribute to his late friend & AMBLARE bandmate, Bryan St. Pere, who was, of course, deeply revered for his truly unique drumwork in HUM. We also talk about growing up in a rock n roll family, the mysticism of the creative process, & the unexpected sensuality of a song about salamanders.

AMBLARE: https://amblare.bandcamp.com

MOCK ORANGE: https://www.mockorange.net/discography

OFF-OX: https://off-ox.bandcamp.com

FAERIE RING: https://faeriering.bandcamp.com

LTG POD // lonelierthangodpod@gmail.com

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