The LIFERS Podcast

Latest Episodes:

23. LIFERS - Hey, Killer Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

Spurred on by Gabe’s track by track rundown over on Facebook (and feeling like it’d be impossible to top last week’s interview with Jeff Murphy), the guys decide to take a deep dive into the making of Local H’s 8th record: HEY, KILLER. The album’s producer, Andy Gerber, makes a return to the show to share his memories of the recording sessions (and to keep Scott honest). This one might be for the hardcores only — whether or not you fit that bill is for you to decide. Hey, Killer bubble gum colored vinyl: https://www.gandprecords.com/store/p57/Local_H_-_Hey_Killer_%28Bubble_Gum_Colored_Vinyl%29.html Local H Tour Dates: www.localh.com/tour.html LIFERS Podcast Mug: www.gandprecords.com/store/p180/The…offee_Mug.html Companion Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19G20tfafV1WSCAm9bH8Eg?si=5d19ed9ae422491f 70 Movies We Saw in the 70s Podcast: @ben-reiser-605654396

22. LIFERS - Jeff Murphy Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

There are two kinds of pop music. There’s the pop music that wins Grammys and soundtracks teenage Tik-Tok videos. And then there’s the kind of pop music that Zion, Illinois’ SHOES plays: Pop music as a concept. A lost but golden ideal that bears little relation to what “popular” means in the real world. Reality be damned. SHOES would create their own reality. Virtually willing their band into existence, they recorded pop masterpieces on a 4 track recorder in the mid-70s that became the stuff of legend. When the majors came calling, SHOES were ready. But after three albums of seeing how the other half lives, they were dropped by the label and sent back to indie-land. It’s a common experience (boy, is it ever!) —and it’s one that’s broken more than a few bands— but it only made SHOES more resilient. They took their major-label money and built a world class studio in their hometown where they recorded countless bands, produced classic records by Material Issue, played mentor to Local H (who would soon go on to a remarkably similar career path), and somehow found time to make more SHOES records — stellar testaments to a pop reality that only they could’ve created. SHOES are a true American original and we were honored to talk with Jeff Murphy about his band’s history and their hard won ideals. If all this sounds a bit grandiose, don’t worry. It’s the Midwest, so no one’s taking themselves too seriously. This is a looooong episode, but we’re really proud of it. Thank you, Jeff. Shoes Website: https://shoeswire.com/ Local H Tour Dates: www.localh.com/tour.html LIFERS Podcast Mug: www.gandprecords.com/store/p180/The…offee_Mug.html 70 Movies We Saw in the 70s Podcast: @ben-reiser-605654396

21. LIFERS - Herb Rosen Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

A lot of balls in this one. Depending on who you ask — Herb Rosen is the owner of Liar’s Club, the bass player of Rights Of The Accused, the mayor of Chicago, the bass player for Beer Nuts, or a huge fan of podcasts. Herb talks about his college days in Madison, being the O.G. of the cowbell, KISS, that time Brian St. Clair beat him at his own game, the pros and cons of acid, broken femur bones, getting cut off by the nitrous guy at RFK stadium, and a whole bunch of other stuff that we had to cut out. This episode had to happen sometime — so it might as well happen today. Liar's Club: https://liarsclubchicago.com/ Companion Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/61Fz2Qh2fEWnZdTl3ZnGKV?si=477071401d354070 Local H Tour Dates: www.localh.com/tour.html LIFERS Podcast Mug: www.gandprecords.com/store/p180/The…offee_Mug.html 70 Movies We Saw in the 70s Podcast: @ben-reiser-605654396

20. LIFERS - John McCauley Part Two Jun 25, 2021

Show notes

The second part of our interview with Deer Tick’s John McCauley is not so much an interview as it is a peek into an alternate universe where John is the fourth member of the podcast. On this episode: John’s time working at a movie theater, the relative greatness of Shemp, more “Mind Games”, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, Joe Walsh as John’s spirit animal, Jason and Freddy as twin gynecologists, celery, John opening a beer bottle with his teeth, more “Raiders Of The Lost Ark”, Philip Baker Hall and the importance of being Sydney, Ted Hawkins, Gabe getting his mind blown by Suzi Quatro, Gabe getting his mind blown by Fanny, John’s falsetto, Matt Jackson from Jeopardy, and the lost recordings of John Scott Carlton. Deer Tick on tour: deertickmusic.com/tour Phonation Kickstarter Campaign: www.kickstarter.com/projects/jamesv…lation-on-vinyl Local H Tour Dates: www.localh.com/tour.html LIFERS Podcast Mug: www.gandprecords.com/store/p180/The…offee_Mug.html 70 Movies We Saw in the 70s Podcast: @ben-reiser-605654396

19. LIFERS - John McCauley Part One Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

Our good buddy ol’ pal John McCauley (from the thoroughly excellent Deer Tick) is the guest on this week’s episode. John is so near and dear to Scott that we had to cut this episode in two. Part 1 has the guys talking about Gabe’s dismissal of Indiana Jones, John’s time fronting Nirvana, Spoon, a forthcoming remix of DIVINE PROVIDENCE, and most importantly — John Lennon’s “Mind Games”. Deer Tick on tour: https://deertickmusic.com/tour Phonation Kickstarter Campaign: www.kickstarter.com/projects/jamesv…lation-on-vinyl Local H Tour Dates: www.localh.com/tour.html LIFERS Podcast Mug: www.gandprecords.com/store/p180/The…offee_Mug.html 70 Movies We Saw in the 70s Podcast: @ben-reiser-605654396

18. LIFERS - James VanOsdol Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

Expletives, accusations and soggy wedding invitations. Emotions are running hot at the start of this episode of The LIFERS Podcast. But never fear, the Zen-like James VanOsdol is on hand to lend his calming influence. James has been a constant fixture on the Chicago media landscape since his tenure at Q101 during the alternative boom of the 90s. A lifer and a survivor, he’s put in time (up and down the dial) at some of the city’s most venerable rock stations, written books about the local music scene, and was an early podcasting adaptor with his stellar interview (and food) show CAR CON CARNE (and in the process, becoming a bit of a guru to us). We talk to James about the supposed death of radio, why he thinks editing is a waste of time, Waukegan, and his new project: A compilation of podcasts on vinyl called Phonation (and, hey — we’re on it! So check out James’ kickstarter). Also, there’s plenty of dog action and Jason Bateman comes up (much to Gabe’s delight). Phonation Kickstarter Campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jamesvanosdol/phonation-a-chicago-podcast-compilation-on-vinyl Car Con Carne: http://carconcarne.com/ Local H Tour Dates: www.localh.com/tour.html LIFERS Podcast Mug: www.gandprecords.com/store/p180/The…offee_Mug.html 70 Movies We Saw in the 70s Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/ben-reiser-605654396 Companion Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/73wmSDmcDRmXhPRru9t3Uq?si=ec90cff314554835

17. LIFERS - Scott's Dad Jun 04, 2021

Show notes

Scott finally gets around to interviewing the LIFER he’s known all his life: his dad. Inspired by his own dad, David Lucas decided to be an artist when he was a teenager (sounds familiar) and has been refining his very regional brand of “north-woods” outsider art since he started doing it professionally in his mid-twenties (also pretty familiar). Getting straight answers out of Mr. Lucas can be like pulling teeth, but this is a pretty enjoyable visit to the dentist that includes: Trying to solve the mystery of the cabin. Why life is fishing and fishing is life. Who’s more stoic? Gabe or Scott’s dad? That time in the 1970s when Scott’s dad built the Zion nuclear power plant all by himself. How Mr. Lucas shaped Scott’s merch booth philosophy (and almost everything else, for that matter). And, of course, an epic dad-joke showdown. (And for the record, Dad — Scott copies EVERYBODY’s music!) Companion Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/31nYtr7KRlyH0o9dk39YbU?si=e46b52bbf2f8466d David Lucas Paintings for sale: https://www.gandprecords.com/store/c12/David-Lucas-Paintings Local H Tour Dates: www.localh.com/tour.html LIFERS Podcast Mug: www.gandprecords.com/store/p180/The…offee_Mug.html

16. LIFERS - Troy Van Leeuwen May 28, 2021

Show notes

Troy Van Leeuwen’s not your typical lunkhead guitar player. Rather than kill himself trying to elbow his way up the ego-littered hamburger hill of guitar-slinging frontmen, Troy decided to carve out a niche for himself as a much sought after sideman and secret weapon. It’s a career that’s included storied stints in such heralded bands as Failure, A Perfect Circle, and (perhaps most famously) Queens Of The Stone Age. Whether it’s the chops, his work ethic, or just the fact that he’s such a swell guy — everybody wants Troy in their band. On this episode Troy takes a break from working on new Queens stuff to talk to the guys about Jimmy Page, Cheap Trick, that time Failure went on tour with Local H, Troy’s natty attire, that other time Troy failed to stop some dudes from breaking Scott’s jaw, Iggy Pop, the importance of moderate moderation —and if you listen very closely— you can hear Troy tell Dolly Parton to fuck off. It’s a good one. Companion Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4MMVjOUiqHWAmdBHXH05tQ?si=a5a5ae785c56434c Local H Tour Dates: http://www.localh.com/tour.html LIFERS Podcast Mug: https://www.gandprecords.com/store/p180/The_LIFERS_Podcast_Coffee_Mug.html

15. LIFERS - Kelly Wey May 21, 2021

Show notes

If you’ve been to a show at the Metro in Chicago, you’ve probably been served a drink by Kelly Wey at least once. But like most great bartenders, that’s not all Kelly does. She books bands, helps manage the Metro, and maybe most importantly — spends an enormous amount of time and energy volunteering for the MCP dog rescue organization. She also loves the Wrens. This freewheeling conversation (to put it charitably) touches on all those topics — as well as: Kelly’s time working for D’Arcy from Smashing Pumpkins, Scott’s lysergic appreciation for Mike Nichols’ WOLF, and, of course, Gabe’s corporate overlords in Chipotle (is it time for that sponsorship?). This episode is as fun as we knew it would be. Companion Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2LsqsjEqzgU08HkY2Zw4LJ?si=463db283530e4638 LIFERS Podcast Merch: www.gandprecords.com/store/p180/The…offee_Mug.html

14. LIFERS - How To Fuck Up An Interview With Rick Froberg May 15, 2021

Show notes

They say you should never meet your heroes. Well, you probably shouldn’t be having them on your shitty podcast, either. Here’s how to fuck up an interview with one of your favorite musicians (in this case, Mr. Rick Froberg — the great singer and guitarist for the thoroughly excellent rock combos Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes and Obits). 1. Ignore said musician’s warnings that he doesn’t have good luck with Zoom and set up an interview via Zoom. 2. As the pretext for some sort of half-assed “surprise”, keep your equally enamored co-host in the dark about said musician’s appearance on your shitty podcast — thereby robbing your co-host (who’s supposed to be your fucking friend, by the way!) of his chance to prepare thoughtful questions to ask one of HIS favorite musicians, too. 3. Proceed to ask this favorite musician of yours a bunch of dumb fucking questions. But one seriously botched (and lo-fi) interview isn’t all this episode has to offer: There’s some talk about a shitty Rush bootleg, an idiotic discussion between Gabe and Scott (and—unfortunately for Rick—Rick, as well) about which is the better record: “Yank Crime” or Drive Like Jehu’s self-titled debut (there is no correct answer, by the way), and Ben reads a complete list of emo bands. Plus there’s ice cream. Companion Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0UyMc3KB5RcyuFbDdkZnHP?si=0e8f10f002b64fc8 LIFERS Coffee Mugs: www.gandprecords.com/store/p180/The…offee_Mug.html Local H on tour: http://www.localh.com/tour.html

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