The LIFERS Podcast

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60. LIFERS - Joe Shanahan Apr 01, 2022

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On the eve of a certain very invasive medical procedure for Scott (see episode 54), the guys try to get a little invasive with Metro owner Joe Shanahan. A task that proves to be near impossible, as Joe —writhing and squirming like a goldfish— deflects questions at every turn and attempts to transform the interview into something resembling an episode of “This Is Your Life” for Scott. Crafty. But that’s okay — the few times we were able to pin Mr. Shanahan down, we got him to talk about running the best music venue in the world, hanging out at the Hacienda, booking R.E.M., the days (or nights) when Smart Bar was on the 4th floor, helping Dave Grohl get a new drum set, pipelines to Minnesota, the best pizza in Chicago, smoking pot with the Clash, and why love means never having to say “I told you so”. This episode is sponsored by CLENPIQ.

59. LIFERS - Greg Suran Mar 25, 2022

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Greg Suran has been called the Skunk Baxter of Chicago. Actually, only Gabe calls him that, but the shoe kinda fits. Since leaving his band —the brilliant but troubled Cupcakes— in the early 2000s to be something of a ronin guitar-slinger, Greg has gone on to play with everyone from Sunny Day Real Estate to Joe Walsh to Lionel Ritchie. On this episode, we talk about all of that PLUS: Playing with the B-52s, earthquakes, the lack of vegan food in Saudi Arabia, playing with Local H, L.A vs. Chicago, playing with the Goo Goo Dolls, A Band Called Horse, playing with Liz Phair, timing, and waking up with your head in the jaws of Slash’s pet mountain lion.

58. LIFERS - Blake Smith Mar 18, 2022

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In the non-stop cavalcade of Scott’s ‘90s pals, Blake Smith is among the closest. As guitarist and vocalist for Fig Dish (and later, Caviar and The Prairie Cartel) — Blake has been there with Scott through a lot of the ups and downs of the Chicago music scene for the last — oh, never mind how many years it’s been. Just listen. On this episode we talk about bad band names, playing the Metro for the first time, bad touring experiences (where Blake tells the story that makes Scott gag), working with Lou Giordano and Tom Lord-Alge, “Eminence Front” vs. “Athena”, Sponge-jacking, Zebra, and for some reason Gabe is dressed like a leprechaun pimp.

Ben's Bits #3 - Backstage Bootlegs, Berwyn, Birthday Bash, and Bogus Boobs Mar 16, 2022

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A post-Keith Smith discussion on an all-new installment of everyone's favorite mid-week bonus episode: Ben's Bits.

57. LIFERS - Keith Smith Mar 11, 2022

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Of all the impossible obstacles you could voluntarily place in front of you, being a Christian metal band in Nashville has got to be right at the top. Seriously. What’s the Christian metal scene in Nashville like? We don’t know — but we’re betting that Keith Smith’s band Oblivion Myth IS the Nashville Christian metal scene. And that’s a tall order, man. But Keith has always preferred the road less traveled — and that’s why we love him. He’s got guts. On this episode we talk to Keith about going to school with Gabe and Scott, balancing his love of secular metal with his faith, the best Randy Rhodes solo, jam spots, Scott Overby, Numbskull and Wrath, Mark Lanegan, and Gabe finally gets one for the Maiden column. Content warning!: This is a very Zion-centric episode. Listener discretion is advised.

56. LIFERS - Happy Anniversary! Mar 04, 2022

Show notes

After we talked to Juliana Hatfield a few weeks ago, we stayed on the line and went through a bunch of Facebook and Twitter comments about people's favorite moments from the first year of LIFERS Podcast episodes. Here is that discussion, along with a bunch of clips from shows past. Thanks for sticking with us for our first year. Happy Anniversary to all of us!

55. LIFERS - RIP Mark Lanegan (with John Agnello) Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

What makes the loss of Mark Lanegan so devastating? All you have to do is listen to that voice. It’s the best kind of beauty —the only one that matters, really— the kind that makes you appreciate the experience of living, while simultaneously hinting at the darkness and inevitably of death. It was the most amazing and unique instrument of our generation. Go listen to one of his many records today and be glad you’re alive to experience it. RIP, Mark. We love you.

54. LIFERS - Juliana Hatfield 2: The Quickening Feb 18, 2022

Show notes

Second chances are rare, man. And you ought to take advantage of them. On the one year anniversary of our first episode(s), we get a second chance with our first guest — Juliana Hatfield. On this episode we try to truly nail down what makes Juliana the quintessential LIFER. It’s also just an opportunity to catch up and hang out. We tried really hard not to mess it up this time. Topics include: ELO, the crippling nature of being your own point AND counterpoint, Scott finally watches “Wolf Like Me”, sharing plumbers with Damon from Galaxie 500, colonoscopies, acting on “My So-Called Life”, Dinosaur Jr., Scott’s Evan Dando story, “Breaking Away”, and Ben wins the game of “Iron Maiden vs. The Replacements” once and for all. So let it be written — so let it be done.

53. LIFERS - J. Robbins Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

J. Robbins rules. As singer/guitarist of Jawbox (among many others) and producer of Gabe’s favorite records — J. has made a legendary (and envy-inducing) career out of perfectly balancing the visceral and the cerebral with a series of post-punk-post-hardcore masterpieces that have only grown in stature and influence. Anyway, J. is a hero to us — and on this episode we talk to him about: John Williams’ birthday, channeling your inner Fleming Rasmussen, Bob Mould’s guitar sound, how to bake tapes, playing bass in Government Issue and Scream, Texas Is The Reason, trying to save the Pony Express Record masters, Get Back (again), Killing Joke, the upcoming shows with Jawbreaker, and Jawbox’s 3 night residency in New York. Did we mention that J. rules?

52. LIFERS - Dave Brooks Feb 04, 2022

Show notes

Scott’s got some stuff to figure out. Until he does, the guys talk to dyed in the wool, hardcore lifer Dave Brooks about growing up in New York, seeing Zeppelin during the filming of “Song Remains The Same”, bouncing on Quincy Jones’ knee, seeing Blondie at Max’s, going to school with Julian Lennon, seeing the Ramones at CB’s, his band Honor Among Thieves, pizza, his dad’s awesome music club, and the time Joey Ramone saved him from being murdered by Hell’s Angels at Woody’s. People are the greatest.

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