Vinyl Emergency

Episode 207: Superdrag's John Davis Nov 12, 2024

Between his father's banjo picking and his mother's love of Motown, Superdrag's John Davis eventually began writing tunes that would channel Stax's classic soul and Big Star-adjacent power-pop through the blurred guitar wall of My Bloody Valentine -- an eventual blueprint for the band's cult classic debut album Regretfully Yours in 1996. But between grueling tours and generous MTV airplay for the infectious "Sucked Out," John would discover a second home in local Knoxville, Tennessee music shop Lost & Found Records, where he says owners Mike and Maria Armstrong became like a surrogate aunt and uncle, further deepening his love of vinyl. On this episode, John chats about sobriety, Superdrag's future, and nostalgia's double-edged sword. His latest solo outing titled Jinx is now available digitally, on CD and wax via lostinohio.com. Follow @johndavisbrandmusic and @superdragofficial on Instagram for updates.

Episode 206: DC Glenn of Tag Team ("Whoomp! There It Is") Oct 29, 2024

On a random night in August 1992, while DJ'ing at an Atlanta strip club, Cecil Glenn pops in a tape he and his musical counterpart Steve Gibson have been working on. Influenced by the pulsing Miami Bass scene, it's also layered with fast-paced Georgia swagger and an infectious call-and-response chorus. Immediately, patrons rush Cecil's audio booth to find out who made this track, and how they can get a copy. Record labels, MTV hosts and more also came calling, leading to "Whoomp! (There It Is)" quickly going platinum, a mere six weeks after he'd quit that same DJ gig, to focus on original music full-time. Fast-forward 30+ years and “Whoomp!" remains not just the best-selling rap single of all-time, but a ubiquitous pop culture reference, with Cecil (aka DC The Brain Supreme) and Steve (Roll'n) touring the globe and continuing to pump up crowds of all-ages. This week, DC discusses how "Whoomp!" continues to find new audiences, how he leans in to thinking backwards, and why a blizzard ended up being a perfect storm for the duo's early success. Follow @dcglennatl and @tagteamwhoomp on Instagram.

SECOND SPIN: Amythyst Kiah (January 2022) Oct 08, 2024

This is an encore presentation of a previous episode, originally airing in January 2022.

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Championed by some today’s biggest names on the fringes of country music, singer/songwriter Amythyst Kiah released her breakthrough album Wary + Strange in 2021 to rave reviews. Upon its release, Pitchfork dubbed the record “an intensely personal document (that) examines the realities of being a Southern Black LGBTQ+ woman in songs both defiant and vulnerable.” One of those tracks in particular, the Grammy-nominated “Black Myself,” matches a hypnotic groove and gritty distortion with lyrics addressing the horrors of chattel slavery and the Brown Paper Bag Test, making for an unforgettable statement that channels both Odetta and Public Enemy. On today’s episode, Amythyst discusses “Black Myself” in detail, as well as growing up with an audiophile father, being intrigued as a kid by a particular Santana album cover, and how an a cappella Tori Amos song inspired her to share her most personal struggles. Visit amythystkiah.com for tour dates, social media and more.

Episode 205: Smoking Popes Sep 24, 2024

It’s not out of bounds to say that the Smoking Popes began as a bit of a joke. Vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Josh Caterer deems the earliest incarnation of the band as “a Spinal Tap version of hardcore punk,” choosing song titles first and how those songs would actually go later. But after finding a propulsive drummer in a teenage Mike Felumlee, the quartet began showing true heart around 1993: no longer just goofing off in the garage, Caterer was penning some of the punchiest, most direct odes to lost love on the college radio dial, emphasizing all the best parts of the Smiths, Cheap Trick, Roy Orbison and the Ramones, while feeling wholly original. It’s now been three decades since Born To Quit, the band’s heroic half-hour featuring “Need You Around” and “Rubella,” put them on the map. And although an LP reissue dropped earlier this year (without the band’s consent or knowledge), Josh and Mike decided that the Popes needed their own “Taylor’s Version” of sorts, in order to take these songs back into their possession — even in the most modest of terms. So before a minimal audience in a small, central Illinois studio, the band chose to cut Born To Quit live, front to back, and a vinyl version comes out this week to put a stamp on the occasion. During this episode, Josh and Mike speak to their longevity as a unit, what we can expect from their brand new album this spring, and what it meant to control Born To Quit’s legacy a bit, with this new approach. We also dive into Mike’s tenure in Alkaline Trio, and Josh’s solo performances pressed to wax during the 2020 lockdown. Visit anxiousandangry.com to pre-order the Born To Quit Live Session, and hit up smokingpopesmusic.com for tour dates, social media and more.

Episode 204: The Get Up Kids' Rob Pope & Jim Suptic Sep 10, 2024

Today's guests are more than just bandmates. Friends since the first grade -- with matching tattoos to boot -- being founding members of the influential Kansas collective The Get Up Kids has taken Rob Pope and Jim Suptic (along with Matt Pryor and Rob's brother Ryan) to seemingly every corner of the world since their 1995 formation. This year marks the 25th anniversary of their breakthrough sophomore LP Something to Write Home About — an album layered in lovelorn distance and declarations of proving oneself. Back then, Jim and Rob say that getting the album out was a frustrating practice in learning who to trust; at the moment, currently on tour playing the album in full, the pair look at the release as a "coming-of-age" album, one that inspired and launched thousands of bands itself through its heroic melodies and relatable points of view. Recorded backstage at the legendary Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, Jim and Rob discuss the two-sided coin of nostalgia, what inspires them about each other, and why maple syrup isn’t always a positive smell. The band's 2LP Something to Write Home About reissue, complete with demos and previously unheard material, is available now via digital platforms, and physically on September 20th. Tour dates and more can be found at thegetupkids.com.

Episode 203: Matthew Caws of Nada Surf Aug 27, 2024

Not everyone can say that both their first and last jobs were behind the counter of a record store. But that's how things ended up for Matthew Caws, before his beloved power-pop act Nada Surf became his main gig in the mid-2000's. Shifting time between New York City and Paris growing up, he points to an eclectic list of influences (classical, disco and late 70's NYC punk) that laid the groundwork for who he'd become as a musician and songwriter. Though their sneering, tongue-in-cheek alt-rock hit "Popular" became an MTV staple throughout 1996, the band has made a deeper impact as they've aged, through genuinely hopeful takes on the human condition like "Inside of Love" or "See These Bones." Today, Matthew talks about color coding his record collection, why double-tracking vocals feels like an act of fiction, the meticulous nature of Nada Surf's album covers, and connecting the dots between Bach and Blonde Redhead. Their new album Moon Mirror -- the group's first for Nashville label New West -- drops September 13th. More details are available at nadasurf.com.

Episode 202: Camera Obscura's Tracyanne Campbell Aug 13, 2024

A love affair with records has fueled Tracyanne Campbell for as long as she can remember: Before anyone else woke up in the morning as a kid, she'd already be spinning ELO; thanks to her grandmother, she became a devout listener of American country music and still has a profound memory of first hearing Tammy Wynette's groundbreaking "Stand By Your Man"; her mother even bought her a new 45 RPM single every weekend growing up -- spanning everything from Roxy Music to The Osmonds -- keeping her fervent curiosity alive. Fast forward to the mid-90's, and Tracyanne takes this bag of influences full-throttle, forming Camera Obscura. A band that's worn its AM radio influences proudly on its sleeve for nearly 30 years, they've created a rather timeless jangle that fits snugly between The Magnetic Fields and Carole King. The band's latest album -- Look to the East, Look to the West -- is available on Merge Records wherever music is sold. Visit camera-obscura.net for more info, social media and more.

Episode 201: John Moreland Jul 30, 2024

Early in his career, John Moreland says he existed in a state of what he dubs "under-being": Living in perpetual humility to a fault, believing he wasn't deserving of appreciation for his art, let alone basic kindness. But in 2024, whether being championed by his Grammy-winning peers, or hailed by GQ as "the new face of folk rock,” he's finding being one of the most talked-about singer/songwriters today a little easier to take. And the last 12 months alone have given his fans multiple reasons to celebrate: On top of a raw, live-to-acetate recording at Nashville's Third Man Records and a 10th-anniversary vinyl reissue of his terrific sophomore LP, he suddenly dropped his latest album Visitor, without warning, back in April to wild acclaim. Today, the Oklahoma-based Moreland speaks about learning to love surprises, his infatuation with Sheryl Crow’s harrowing hit “Strong Enough,” and how ditching his smartphone reconnected him with his record collection. Visit johnmoreland.net for tour dates, social media and more.

Episode 200: Fran Healy of Travis Jul 09, 2024

“Our old manager was always saying to me, ‘Artwork’s not really that important. No one cares.’ That’s why he’s our old manager.” That bit from this week’s 200th episode, with Travis' Fran Healy, speaks to his genuine reverence for how music is presented. And though he's the voice and songwriter behind such anthemic rave-ups as "All I Wanna Do Is Rock" and "Selfish Jean," it's arguably the somber side of the foursome (with hits like "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" and "Driftwood") that put them on the map globally, and eventually led to them going 14x Platinum in the UK. The band's new album L.A. Times drops this Friday, July 12th and on today's program, Fran discusses his obsession with the city's countless movie landmarks, how Coldplay’s Chris Martin lent a small hand in sequencing the songs, and the Scottish quartet's embracing of the Internet age from the ground floor. Also, why Fran’s been singing Womack & Womack around the house, and karaoke versions of his own material in Mexico. Tour dates, social media and more are available at travisonline.com.

SECOND SPIN: Vance Powell (Engineer for Jack White, Chris Stapleton; September 2020) Jun 18, 2024

This is an encore presentation of a previous episode, originally airing in September 2020.

4x Grammy-winning producer, engineer and mixer Vance Powell has worked with a wide range of artists and bands including Chris Stapleton, Buddy Guy and Phish. For vinyl collectors, he's arguably most known for being a consistent studio go-to for Jack White, not only being involved with proper studio releases from Jack and his various projects (The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs) but Vance is behind the boards of most every Live At Third Man Records LP, where bands record short sets in front of a couple hundred fans, direct-to-acetate. On this episode, Vance points to his favorite Third Man sessions he's recorded (including some mysterious Radiohead demos), how Chris Stapleton's famous cover of "Tennessee Whiskey" almost didn't happen, and why Vance's own barbecue kept him from his dream of recording U2. Visit sputniksound.com for more info on Vance's work, and follow him on Instagram and Twitter @vancalot.

Episode 199: They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh Jun 04, 2024

While most music-focused kids picked up guitars or drums in the 60's and 70's, John Flansburgh says he was pulled toward the machinery that made art possible. With a reel-to-reel in hand before age 10 and an early love of graphic design, the detailed processes of printmaking, photography and analog recording seemed downright magical to his captivated, creative young mind. Once he reconnected with fellow singer/songwriter and high school pal John Linnell in the early 80's, the duo were off to the races as They Might Be Giants: an indescribable mix of surrealist humor, snappy history lessons, and power-pop sweetness. On today's show, John F. recounts catching one of Elvis Costello's earliest performances, inheriting a "profoundly haunted" record collection from a deceased cousin, and how a broken wrist and a ransacked apartment led to the groundbreaking launchpad for TMBG's storied career: Dial-A-Song. For tour dates, social media and more, visit theymightbegiants.com.

Episode 198: Strand of Oaks (Returns!) May 21, 2024

"I don't have stage fright, I have life fright." Indiana native Timothy Showalter -- the mind and voice behind the moniker Strand of Oaks -- has pulled no punches when it comes to combatting his own childhood trauma and lifelong anxieties through music. And while he says that touring and performing puts him in his most zen state, he has experienced a death or sorts with the guitar-centered music Strand of Oaks has done until now. His upcoming album Miracle Focus finds him piloting synthesizers and crafting, what he calls, "a manual for my life. A soundtrack to connection." And despite a drastic instrumental shift, the core of Miracle Focus is still within the hopeful sonic palette that Showalter is known for. On today's second visit to Vinyl Emergency, he also discusses having a song go #1 in Belgium, what got him kicked out of Moby's restaurant, and his recent TV role on the Sons of Anarchy spin-off, Mayans MC. Visit strandofoaks.net for social media, tour dates and to pre-order Miracle Focus before it drops June 7th.

Episode 197: John Roderick of The Long Winters May 08, 2024

To say The Long Winters had some bad luck getting their music on vinyl would be an understatement: After a hurricane in the mid-2000's sent most copies of an exclusive box set into the Atlantic Ocean, the band struck a relationship last year with Bandbox -- an LP-subscription service doing limited, colored pressings of modern classics and out-of-print material -- only to have the company go suddenly belly-up, leaving the albums pressed, but under the ownership of Bandbox's investors, as collateral. Thankfully, Barsuk Records (the influential Seattle label which the band called home for their entire tenure) has come through with standard black pressings, allowing die-hard fans to finally add 2003’s majestic and acclaimed When I Pretend to Fall and more of the catalog to their shelf. On today's show, Long Winters lead singer/guitarist and songwriter John Roderick dissects the Bandbox fiasco, his infatuation with acid rock at an early age, and how he recently ended up on a Las Vegas party bus with 90’s rockers Ugly Kid Joe. Find more info on the Long Winters vinyl reissues at barsuk.com, check out the band’s new rarities compilation So Good At Waiting wherever you stream music, and follow @johnroderick on Instagram and Threads.

Episode 196: Dave Holmes (MTV / Esquire) Apr 23, 2024

Esquire editor-at-large and former MTV VJ Dave Holmes discusses how his ADHD allowed him to embrace the chaos of live television, why hitting up a NYC vinyl listening bar with The Mandalorian didn't go exactly as planned, and his new podcast docuseries examining MTV's cultural impact. Subscribe to Who Killed the Video Star?: The Story of MTV wherever you get podcasts, and follow @daveholmes on Instagram and Threads.

How Vinyl Keeps Music History Spinning (Looped In: Chicago) Apr 17, 2024

Hello! For my day job, I host and produce Looped In: Chicago, a podcast for WBBM Newsradio. And this week, they allowed me to make an episode all about the city's ties, past and present, to the record industry. So while it's different from your typical Vinyl Emergency episode, I hope you'll find this one to be an equally engaging listen, with guests including Evan Weiss of Into It. Over It., Smashed Plastic Record Pressing co-owner Steve Polutnik, Chicago Reader columnist Steve Krakow and music history TikTok sensation Patrick Hicks. Subscribe to Looped In: Chicago wherever you get podcasts, and new VE episodes will come your way soon.

SECOND SPIN: Derry deBorja (December 2020) Apr 09, 2024

This is an encore presentation of a previous episode, originally airing in December 2020.

On today's show, keyboardist Derry deBorja (of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) talks about the musical influence of his older brother, his time as a member of Son Volt, how experimenting with a modular synth has changed how he views composition, and the 400 Unit's relationship with David Letterman. Visit jasonisbell.com for updates, and follow Derry on Instagram, @tin_pony.

Episode 195: Ruston Kelly (Returns!) Mar 12, 2024

Since his last visit to Vinyl Emergency in August 2020, Nashville singer/songwriter Ruston Kelly has narrowly escaped a fiery bus explosion, sold off nearly every physical stage piece from his last tour, and rehabbed an old Victorian bungalow with his own two hands. And while all of these experiences are worth talking about, today he says that being a better listener has been a focused priority as of late. This deliberate intention to say less and observe more has led to a run of rewarding collaborations over the last several years: Duets with Caitlyn Smith and Judah & the Lion, co-producing an LP for John Prine's son Tommy, and touring with the massively-popular Noah Kahan. On this week's episode, Ruston dives deep into the first album he remembers as a child, why he sequences songs specifically for vinyl, and his upcoming EP -- Weakness, Etc. -- a combination of new material and reworkings from his third full-length The Weakness, released last year. Plus, anecdotes on sharing toast with Jackson Browne, and debating Pop-Tarts with his fans. Ruston's upcoming solo acoustic tour begins later this month. Tickets, social media and more are at rustonkelly.com, with Weakness, Etc. dropping March 22.

Episode 194: Chris Rosenau (Volcano Choir / Pele) Feb 27, 2024

In bands like Volcano Choir, Pele, Vermont and Collections of Colonies of Bees, guitarist Chris Rosenau has actively sought out a unique ambiguity. Whether through off-kilter tunings, a myriad of loop pedals or long-form improvisations in 130-degree heat, he says he finds his most interesting work comes from trusting others. And that trust has built fruitful creative relationships with enigmatic drummer Jon Mueller, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and Sylvan Esso's Nick Sanborn, among others. But in a career of disarming listeners through unexpected approaches, Chris admits his most quizzical move might be in the form of a recently-released debut solo album, where he's stripped everything back to one acoustic guitar, for a tender salute to his late mother. The album, titled 'a light that cracks through,' is now available at chrisrosenau.bandcamp.com. Follow @rosno on Instagram.

Episode 193: MLB Pitcher John Axford Feb 06, 2024

While on the Milwaukee Brewers roster in 2011, major league pitcher John Axford created a buzz among indie-rock baseball nerds by forgoing the standard jock jams and using Refused's "New Noise" as his game entrance music. While exposing thousands to the Swedish hardcore band’s chaotic screams and atonal, pummeling instrumentation, the choice also garnered some vocal complaints from opposing coaches and TV announcers. Nonetheless, Axford led the entire National League in saves that season, so who knows if some of the song's lyrics ("Good frames won't save bad paintings") don't indeed secretly speak to pitching. Around this same time, his interest in vinyl records began to blossom, leading him to hunt down Japanese Metallica pressings and connect again with his family’s classic Christmas LP’s. Since then "The Ax Man," as fans have dubbed him, has reached the World Series (with the 2013 St. Louis Cardinals), and done time with the Pirates, Dodgers and Blue Jays, among other organizations. Most recently, Axford represented his home country of Canada in last year’s World Baseball Classic. On this episode, we explore how his dad's vintage Edison phonograph somewhat influenced Axford’s current big budget stereo set-up, his fandom for LP subscription service Vinyl Me, Please and why he won't clean his grandparents' fingerprints off their old records. We also dive into John's recent trip overseas, to a quaint Dutch village where his great uncle's heroism during WWII is cemented and honored forever. Follow @johnaxford on Instagram. PLUS, music this week from Milwaukee band Dramatic Lovers!

Episode 192: Amy Fleisher Madden (Author of 'Negatives: A Photographic Archive of Emo') Jan 23, 2024

At just 16 years old, Amy Fleisher Madden was contributing to her surrounding Florida punk rock scene like a wily veteran. Through booking and promoting national bands visiting the panhandle -- as well as her DIY zine Fiddler Jones -- she had introduced, connected and championed emo, pop-punk and hardcore bands from all over, eventually leading to the start of Fiddler Records, which gave us the first releasees from Dashboard Confessional and New Found Glory. Most recently, Amy is the author of a hefty book documenting a decade of the scene, titled "Negatives: A Photographic Archive of Emo (1996-2006)." Filled with stunning visuals, emphatic essays and more -- plus contributions from various photographers and musicians -- it's a must-have for anyone who spent time in this particular genre during these particular years, or since. Purchase "Negatives" via Amazon or wherever you get literature. More info can be found via @amyxmadden on Instagram, or at amy-madden.com.

Episode 191: Nirvana 'In Utero' Special with Michael Azerrad Dec 12, 2023

"If Nevermind was a peek into Kurt (Cobain)'s psychological/emotional world, then In Utero was a wide-open window.” This comes from today’s episode with author Michael Azerrad (Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991), who definitively knew better than most. Having extensive access to Nirvana between those two albums, Michael documented their rise for the best-selling 1993 biography Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana, released just weeks before In Utero. Michael remembers today that Kurt's instructions to him in originally penning the book were fairly simple: "Just tell the truth. That will be better than anything else that's been written about me." And as In Utero recently got its own deluxe reissue to celebrate its three decades of influence, Michael's book has gotten a similar update: The Amplified Come As You Are is a heavily-annotated and must-own look back on the most examined band of the 90's. With thirty years of hindsight, Michael clarifies, expounds upon and extends the original story, making it a needed compendium to Nirvana's discography. Follow @michaelazerrad on Twitter, and purchase the book wherever you find literature. PLUS, enjoy exclusive performances of In Utero material this week by cellist Gordon Withers!

Episode 190: Jim Pitt, Music Booker for SNL / Conan / Kimmel Nov 28, 2023

Starting as an NBC page in the mid-80’s, Jim Pitt eventually landed a dream job, for many: music booker for Saturday Night Live. From Nirvana’s debut on network television to Sinead O’Connor’s impactful and headline-making performance, Pitt booked it all starting in 1990, including mega-star appearances from Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. Three years in, Pitt took his talents to David Letterman’s replacement at Late Night, a young upstart named Conan O’Brien. There, not only would Pitt give future Rock Hall inductees like Radiohead, Green Day and Sheryl Crow their first-ever US TV performances, but O’Brien’s unique wit often led to household names like David Bowie and U2 participating in hilariously scripted bits. On today’s show, Pitt recalls all of this and more, walking us through decades of amazing television memories, as well as his move from Conan to Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2017, and when exactly hosts began holding up vinyl again for the home audience, versus compact discs. Follow Jim on Instagram @jimpitt13, and watch Jimmy Kimmel Live! on your local ABC affiliate.

Episode 189: R.E.M.'s 'Up' at 25 (with Josh Modell) Nov 07, 2023

Logistically and artistically, R.E.M.'s 1998 album Up marked a fork in the road for their trajectory: Prior to its recording, drummer and founding member Bill Berry had amicably left the band, having suffered a brain aneurysm while on stage three years earlier, leading the remaining trio of Michael Stipe, Mike Mills and Peter Buck -- for the first time in their career -- to create without a key piece of their dynamic. In the end, Up didn't sound like any of the group's previous eras, using keyboards, electronics, chamber-pop and white noise as a backdrop for some of the band's sweetest melodies and Stipe's most direct lyrics to date, the latter of which were finally printed for fans to comb over -- a first for any previous R.E.M. project, after ten albums of ambiguity. This week, we celebrate the 25th anniversary reissue of Up (available this Friday, November 10th) with returning guest Josh Modell (formerly of the AV Club, now of the Talkhouse Podcast Network) who wrote the package's liner notes. Together we examine how R.E.M.'s existential crisis without Berry, according to Modell, "gave everything (on the album) an undercarriage of vulnerability, sadness, and edge," making it Modell's favorite album in the group's catalog. Purchase the Up reissue at remhq.com or wherever you find music, and catch Modell moderating a live Q&A with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy in Milwaukee on Saturday, November 11th, with tickets available here.

Episode 188: Mac McCaughan of Superchunk / Merge Records Oct 24, 2023

North Carolina-based label Merge Records, inarguably one of America's most influential and prolific purveyors of indie-rock, is on the cusp of turning 35 -- a landmark that co-founders Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan likely couldn't fathom when they started the label in 1989. Then, Merge was simply a DIY avenue to release tunes by their scrappy quartet Superchunk. But along the way, as the band's jangly but caffeinated power-pop caught on with an international audience, Merge evolved from a modest method of putting out music by Mac and Laura's friends into the beloved home of cult acts like Neutral Milk Hotel, Spoon, The Magnetic Fields and countless others, eventually becoming the first indie label to garner an Album of the Year Grammy, for Arcade Fire's 'The Suburbs' in 2011. On this week's show, Mac reflects on Merge's early years, the label's new vinyl-centric web series Digging For Something, as well as Superchunk's latest compilation of singles, demos and other oddities dropping this week, titled 'Misfits & Mistakes.' Visit mergerecords.com to shop for your favorite releases, and follow @macsuperchunk or @mergerecords on Instagram.

Episode 187: Bruce Springsteen ‘Nebraska’ Special with Warren Zanes Sep 12, 2023

Since his first book twenty years ago, musician/author (and all-around music appreciator) Warren Zanes has deftly chronicled what it means to be a rock star without a road map. His acclaimed 2015 authorized biography on Tom Petty -- released just two years prior to his death -- gave readers an engrossing glimpse into the mind of one of rock's great everymen, and this year, Zanes has released a more granular look into arguably the darkest hour of perhaps rock's greatest everyman. 'Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska' is a jaw-dropping read front-to-back, taking readers into the modest bedroom where the Boss recorded his most mysterious and talked-about work. From exclusive interviews with Springsteen, Steve Earle, Rosanne Cash and more, Zanes proves that what makes Nebraska so intriguing is not just the complete left-turn that it is musically, but how it's sandwiched between two career highs: His first number one album with The River in 1980, and the superstardom that Born in the U.S.A. would bring him in 1984. On this week's episode, Zanes tackles Springsteen and Petty’s similarities and differences, the hurdle of getting Springsteen's humble Nebraska demo tape transferred for vinyl and CD duplication, and the album’s lasting impact over the last four decades. Visit warren-zanes.com for socials and other info. Plus, this episode features covers of Nebraska songs by Aoife O'Donovan. Click here to purchase them as a Bandcamp download.

Episode 186: Mike Mills of R.E.M. Aug 29, 2023

As bassist Mike Mills tells it, on the cusp of their formation in 1980, he and his fellow Athens, GA bandmates had a simple goal: To make a cool, 45 RPM single with a picture sleeve -- the kind they grew up on. And, if anything else (or nothing else) were to come of their band, so be it. What Mike along with guitarist Peter Buck, drummer Bill Berry and enigmatic vocalist Michael Stipe couldn't have predicted was how that single ("Radio Free Europe") and the many that followed through the next three decades on both indie and major labels ("Fall On Me," "Losing My Religion," "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" and beyond) would shape the sound of American music. R.E.M. inarguably created a foundation for what we now loosely call "indie rock," often buoyed by Mills' supreme knack for harmony vocals against Stipe's dramatic delivery. On today's show, Mike discusses his latest LP as a member of the Baseball Project, the hours of airbrushing needed for one particular R.E.M. album cover, and his love for an Atlanta institution known only as "The Freeze." R.E.M.’s last four proper albums — which cover their final decade as a unit — were reissued on vinyl this summer. Visit remhq.com and baseballproject.net for more info on those releases.

Episode 185: Tommy Prine Aug 01, 2023

The two sounds Tommy Prine says he remembers most growing up were having the AM radio on or his father (renowned singer/songwriter John Prine) workshopping tunes at the kitchen table. Journeying through adolescence, his eclecticism later manifested through acts like Outkast and System of a Down. But now, on the heels of This Far South — his debut album that dropped earlier this summer — Tommy has found his own unique voice that marries his mom’s Irish wisdom and his dad’s dry Midwestern/Southern wit. On today’s show, Tommy shares why Radiohead’s “Videotape” speaks to him, his experiences working with Nashville talents Ruston Kelly and Gena Johnson on This Far South, and how the artwork for this album feels like both an ending and a beginning. Visit tommyprine.com for your dates, socials and more.

Episode 184: Louise Post of Veruca Salt Jul 18, 2023

In her family, Louise Post says that there have been three usual career paths: Join the clergy, practice medicine or become an artist. Thankfully she followed the latter. In 1992, Louise co-founded Veruca Salt with fellow vocalist/songwriter Nina Gordon, and the quartet became one of Chicago's biggest exports of the alternative-rock era. The duo's buzzsaw guitars pushed hit singles like "Seether," "All Hail Me" and "Volcano Girls" into the stratosphere, and despite some years apart, the full original lineup reunited for the much-heralded 2015 full-length Ghost Notes. This week, currently on tour promoting her new solo album Sleepwalker, Louise talks about harmonizing with her dad growing up, gravitating toward the women in her favorite bands, why she continually has "dreams of songs," and the inspiration for Veruca Salt's ode to vinyl, "Victrola." Stop by LouisePost.com for more info on Sleepwalker, social media and more.

Episode 183: Lisa Loeb Jul 04, 2023

From making multitrack recordings as a kid to DJ’ing at her high school radio station to fixing turntables for her college dormmates in the 80’s, Lisa Loeb has always been wired for sound. She made music history in the next decade, when her mega-hit “Stay (I Missed You)” became the first song by an artist without a record label to go #1. The song’s unique structure — bookending stretches of non-rhyming prose with an instantly recognizable chorus — still remains a marvel a generation later, with artists like Taylor Swift citing “Stay” as a gigantic inspiration for their own wordplay, musicality and poetic honesty. On today’s episode, Lisa remembers trading 7” singles with friends growing up, and how the real-life antagonist in “Stay” was right there in the studio when it was recorded. Plus, from her own collection, Lisa shares one of the coolest and rarest pieces of vinyl ever discussed on the show! Visit lisaloeb.com for tour dates, socials and more. SiriusXM users can find her program Where They Are Now — where Lisa chats with fellow 90’s-era stars — via the SiriusXM app.

Episode 182: Ben Harper Jun 13, 2023

As a child of the 1970's, vinyl records were intrinsic to Ben Harper's understanding of and approach to music. “If somebody came to the house and said 'We're gonna repossess either your refrigerator or your turntable,'" he states today, "they would've been hauling out the fridge.” Growing up, the 3x Grammy-winner and heralded lap steel guitarist/vocalist's taste jumped from Ozzy Osbourne to Robert Johnson to Funkadelic to Jackson Browne on any given day. To get to those places, he points to varied avenues of discovery, from the underground world of skateboarding to his family’s folk music shop and museum. That same diverse recipe eventually led to an equally unique list of collaborators over the years, including Ringo Starr, Eddie Vedder, Harry Styles, Natalie Maines and The Blind Boys of Alabama. On today’s program, Ben recounts an emotional day spent with soul legend Solomon Burke, finding the blues buried in hip-hop, and the importance of communicating with our former selves. Ben's latest album Wide Open Light is out now, wherever you get physical or digital music. Visit benharper.com for tour dates, socials and more.

Episode 181: Adam Duritz of Counting Crows May 30, 2023

Prior to releasing some of the most memorable songs to come out of the 90’s, San Francisco’s Counting Crows were subject to a major-label bidding war, thanks in part to something rather unheard of in the industry: a massive, 15-song demo tape. Not only did this show a deep well for vocalist and lead songwriter Adam Duritz to pull from, but this prototype already came with early versions of future bonafide hits like "Mr. Jones" and "Round Here." To an alt-rock audience who didn't necessarily grow up with Van Morrison, The Band or R.E.M., Adam and company filled that void and then some, with their first three albums selling over 10 million copies between them. Today, Adam spills why their upcoming co-headlining tour with Dashboard Confessional has been 20 years in the making, which records he spun every morning while recording the band's landmark debut album August and Everything After, and how that title track (which never made the original 1993 release) is now finally available, specifically for vinyl lovers. Counting Crows' latest -- Butter Miracle: Suite One -- is available wherever you find music. Visit countingcrows.com for live dates, socials and more.

Episode 180: Devon Gilfillian May 16, 2023

On his second album released earlier this year, Love You Anyway, Grammy-nominated and Nashville-based R&B artist Devon Gilfillian sets today's political activism against a backdrop of stunning soul music that finds inspiration both from the past and the future. Having gained acclaim touring with a genre-spanning list of icons (from Mavis Staples to Michael McDonald), he recently told NPR that his music could be viewed as "a pill wrapped in peanut butter": Sneaking in a message, while calling everyone out to the dancefloor. Before hitting the road this month on separate tours with My Morning Jacket, Grace Potter and Trombone Shorty, Devon spends today discussing his obsession with Pharrell's production work, why his love for vinyl flourished in his teens, and his recent performance in support of the Tennessee Three, on the steps of the state capitol. We also learn how a conversation with Chaka Khan led to him recording Marvin Gaye's legendary album What's Going On front-to-back, for a special vinyl-only release. You can find Love You Anyway wherever you get music, and visit devongilfillion.com for tour dates, socials and more.

Episode 179: Braid 'Frame & Canvas' Special May 02, 2023

Whether you hailed from Gainesville, Grand Forks or Green Bay in the late 90's, it wasn't rare to hear criss-crossing vocal shouts, razor-sharp guitars and drums with jazz-like precision, all blasting out of your local VFW hall. That's partly thanks to Braid, four modest Midwesterners who funneled their obsessions with Fugazi, Jawbox and Gauge through a roulette wheel of glorious rhythmic shifts and six-string swan dives. During their original run, the quartet were known to be workhorses, releasing new songs as immediately as they wrote them, and putting thousands of tour miles on the odometer. The culmination of these efforts took the shape of Frame & Canvas, their third album, released in 1998. Recorded and mixed in just five days, it became much more than a benchmark for Braid's then brethren; these twelve tracks grew to influence each punk rock generation (and variation) that followed, with Rolling Stone even listing it as one of the top five emo albums of all-time. On today's show, returning guests Bob Nanna (vocalist/guitarist), J. Robbins (engineer/producer) and Polyvinyl Records co-founder Matt Lunsford discuss the album sessions and original release, as well as the new 25th anniversary remix and remaster, along with mastering engineer Dan Coutant of Sun Room Audio. For social media, upcoming F&C anniversary tour dates, and to purchase this latest reissue, visit polyvinylrecords.com/artist/braid.

Episode 178: Magnolia Electric Co. 'Sojourner' Special Apr 18, 2023

Releasing nearly 20 albums over 15 years, singer/songwriter Jason Molina penned "bruised and barren songs of longing and lost salvation" (NPR). Delivered with a soul-cutting, unadorned tenor, his discography continues to connect with a devoted fan base through varied incarnations -- whether in a group dynamic as Magnolia Electric Co. under his first solo moniker, Songs: Ohia or his own birthname -- despite his death in 2013, at the age of 39. A particularly prolific period in the mid-00's saw the release of the 4-CD Magnolia box set Sojourner, encompassing full-band recordings with Steve Albini in Chicago, an alternate line-up in Virginia with Cracker frontman David Lowery producing, an EP's worth of tracks from Memphis' legendary Sun Studio, and Molina solo tapes from home. If the wide-range of performances weren't enough, Molina wanted to double-down on his mythological side by adding a ouija board and real chicken bones to the screen-printed wooden box. Eventually, label and artist settled on a celestial map and Magnolia medallion. They also put out a truncated version of this massive collection as the 10-track single LP, Fading Trails in 2006. Today, former Magnolia bandmate Jason Evans Groth and Secretly Canadian label co-founder Ben Swanson discuss their memories of the sessions that make up Sojourner, the journey this project has taken to get to vinyl (released earlier this month, available via secretlystore.com), and how artists today continue to spread the gospel of Molina's canon a decade after his passing. Follow @jasonamolina on Instagram for archival content, and join the Molina fan community via staticanddistance.substack.com. Secretly Canadian is also auctioning off vinyl test pressings of Molina's work and more via eBay, linked here. All proceeds are donated to housing non-profit New Hope for Families.

Episode 177: Jordan Kurland (Manager; The Postal Service / Death Cab for Cutie) Apr 04, 2023

It would be tough to say any vinyl collector started out earlier than Jordan Kurland. Having already accumulated every Kiss album by age 6, he became an obsessive fan of The Who just four years later, and eventually parlayed his love of music into a career in large-scale event production — for example, the Noise Pop festival rung in its 30th birthday in February — and championing musicians on a professional level. While the likes of Pup, Toro Y Moi and Real Estate currently fall under Jordan's umbrella at Brilliant Corners Artist Management (which he co-founded in 2017), this year will see an unprecedented joint tour from a pair of the agency's largest draws: The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie, performing two of the most influential records of the 21st century in full (Give Up and Transatlanticism, respectively). Prior to that jaunt, Jordan discusses his favorite San Francisco record stores, Give Up’s specific cultural impact, riding both the digital age and the vinyl resurgence from a business perspective, and the two major ways he's chosen to honor jazz legend Thelonious Monk. Find Jordan's social media and more at jordankurland.net.

Episode 176: A.C. Newman of The New Pornographers Mar 21, 2023

Ahead of the March 31st release of their latest record -- Continue as a Guest -- New Pornographers ringleader and vocalist/songwriter A.C. Newman talks about imposter syndrome, finally putting out an album with the much-beloved Merge label, why his songwriting approach lies somewhere between The Pixies and Burt Bacharach, and how one particular garage sale set the stage for their critically-acclaimed debut LP, Mass Romantic. Follow @acnewman on Twitter and Instagram, and visit thenewpornographers.com for tour dates, music and more.

Episode 175: Travis Morrison of The Dismemberment Plan Mar 07, 2023

If any band personified a record collection with ADHD, it was The Dismemberment Plan. Connecting the dots between soul, post-punk and experimentalism, the quartet also brought dark humor, deep grooves and an appreciation for music history to the forefront, over five albums and millions of miles on the road. On today's show, vocalist Travis Morrison delves into the go-go scene of Washington DC, the artists that influenced his improvisational nature on stage, and a long-lost reel-to-reel that connected Travis' parents during the Vietnam War. The Dismemberment Plan's 2001 album Change will be reissued on sky blue vinyl for this year's Record Store Day, April 22nd. Follow both @travismmorrison and @thedplan on Instagram, and visit recordstoreday.com for more details.

Episode 174: Jaimee Harris and Mary Gauthier Feb 14, 2023

NPR has separately crowned both Jaimee Harris and Mary Gauthier with some well-deserved accolades over the last few years: The former was recently referred to as "the next queen of Americana-folk" (thanks to a new album, Boomerang Town, dropping on February 17th), while the latter's "The War After The War" (from her record Rifles & Rosary Beads, co-written entirely with U.S. veterans and their families) won the organization's coveted Song of the Year prize in 2018. Together, they've forged an artistic and romantic relationship that has helped their individual careers thrive. On this episode, the pair discuss their appreciation for vinyl, supporting each other in sobriety, and how artificial intelligence will change the future of songwriting.

Episode 173: Anthony Mason of CBS News Jan 31, 2023

After a number of years in small-market television journalism, 7x Emmy-winner Anthony Mason joined CBS News in 1986 and has quite literally done it all: from being a chief correspondent in London and Moscow, to handling Q&A's with American presidents. But maybe most notably, Anthony has now become a go-to confidant for musicians of all stripes. Carving his own path on the network thanks to a lifelong passion for songwriting, he's profiled legends like Elton John, Mick Jagger, Patti Smith, Joni Mitchell and Aretha Franklin. Plus, for up-and-comers seeking credibility, an interview with Anthony can rival a glowing review from Pitchfork or Rolling Stone, so non-household names like Charley Crockett and King Princess are given a new, nationwide audience courtesy of a conversation with today's guest. On this episode, Anthonly divulges how UPS once lost his entire record collection, what momento he took from a then-shuttering Tower Records in the late 2000's, and how he's navigated some incredibly personal moments with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond and John Mellancamp. Follow @anthonymasoncbs on Twitter and Instagram.

Episode 172: Greg Graffin of Bad Religion Jan 17, 2023

With razor-sharp guitars, breakneck rhythms, unrivaled harmonies and a socio-political worldview that disavows much of punk rock's anarchistic nature, Bad Religion has inspired countless bands over their 40+ year existence. Even their iconic logo, known by fans worldwide as "the cross-buster," has become synonymous with the genre itself. This is all without mentioning the inspirational trajectory of vocalist/songwriter Greg Graffin, who is seen as one of the genre's most vibrant and educated minds, earning a PhD in zoology from Cornell University and having written multiple books on evolution and theology. On this episode, Greg discusses the influence of his parents' divorced record collections, refining his vocal delivery over the years, and why he classifies his latest book, Punk Paradox: A Memoir (available now, wherever you get literature) as a "novelistic biography." The band also released their own collaborative autobiography, Do What You Want, in 2020.

Episode 171: Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket Dec 06, 2022

Even during their 90's heyday -- with popular singles like "Fall Down," "Walk on the Ocean," "Something's Always Wrong" and "All I Want" ruling the radio -- Toad the Wet Sprocket vocalist and songwriter Glen Phillips recognized that they weren't "the cool kids," often being the least edgy band on any alt-rock marquee. But Glen says it's that same overt self-awareness that has both kept Toad fans around and stirred his current creativity: Releasing a new album based solely on minimal songwriting prompts, and leading a community choir made up of all genders, ages and backgrounds. On this episode, Glen discusses an early love of disco, the visual aesthetics of the 4AD label, his brother's forensic devotion to synthesizers, and why the cover art for Toad's second album Pale is still being studied in graphic design classes. Visit glenphillips.com for social media, tour dates and to get his latest solo release, There Is So Much Here.

Episode 170: Dessa Nov 15, 2022

Influenced equally by Elizabethan composers and pop radio, Dessa consistently dissects the human condition, while deftly defying genre tags. A member of the Minneapolis indie-rap collective Doomtree (and championed by playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda), her interest in examining behavioral science has fueled multiple careers in creative writing, music and live poetry, as well as spawned TED Talks and her own BBC Radio program on not just how our brains work, but why. During this episode, Dessa shares the impetus for her latest book, previous and upcoming collaborations with the Minnesota Orchestra, the myriad of condiments that travel with her on tour, and the 30-year impact of Liz Phair’s groundbreaking album Exile in Guyville. Visit dessawander.com for literature, vinyl, tour dates, social media and more. Her aforementioned radio series Deeply Human is available however you listen to podcasts.

Episode 169: John Ross Bowie Nov 01, 2022

As a longtime character actor, John Ross Bowie (of CBS’ The Big Bang Theory and ABC’s Speechless) partly attributes his eclectic musical tastes — ranging from Patti LuPone to the Cro-Mags to the Grateful Dead — to his father, who exposed him to television, film and theatre early on. Yet, his new memoir No Job For A Man, originally conceived as a light read on the in's and out's of being a working actor, eventually turned into something deeper: a book about his father's disdain for John's chosen profession, and changing the definition of manhood. On this episode, John connects the dots between punk rock and Broadway, as well as takes listeners -- geographically, no less -- through his favorite record stores growing up in New York City. No Job For A Man is now available wherever you get books, plus you can visit tacocatrecords.bigcartel.com to pre-order the album Dumb Music for Smart People (from John’s 90's trio Egghead.), remastered and on vinyl for the first time. Watch the new Egghead. music video for "Neighborhood Palm Reader" here via YouTube, follow @johnrossbowie on Instagram and subscribe to John's podcast about acting, Household Faces, wherever you listen.

Episode 168: Greg Kot & Jim DeRogatis of Sound Opinions Oct 18, 2022

"People ask us, 'What's your favorite record?' Our answer is 'The one we're going to hear next week.'" That anecdote on today's show from Greg Kot is why he and his Sound Opinions co-host Jim DeRogatis have inspired legions of music journalists for decades: Between emotional reactions to pop music and intellectual analysis of art-rock, they consistently remain curious. As former critics at the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times respectively, they have seen weird fads, legendary careers and physical media come and go, documenting it all -- whether in print, via the web or on the air. On this episode, Greg and Jim dive into their own early obsessions with vinyl, whether or not we can truly judge someone by their record collection, and why music criticism shouldn't be a solo project. Find Sound Opinions wherever you hear podcasts, or at soundopinions.org.

Episode 167: Caleb Caudle Oct 04, 2022

Counting himself as part of the last pre-internet music generation, North Carolina native and singer/songwriter Caleb Caudle believes the things that matter take time -- whether sending handwritten postcards randomly to fans or making sure a vinyl release invites listeners fully into his world through artwork. And that kind of dedication ultimately creates hope in a post-pandemic music industry. On this week's episode, Caleb discusses renting his first turntable from his high school library, record shopping in nearby Winston-Salem, how being an avid history buff turned him into a pro wrestling fan, and recording his new album Forsythia -- which, in some ways, he originally projected as being his final release -- in a cabin built by Johnny Cash. Forsythia is available everywhere Friday, October 7th with unique vinyl variants available via indie record stores, Amazon and calebcaudle.com, where you can also find tour dates, social media and more.

Episode 166: S.G. Goodman Sep 20, 2022

From the first moment of S.G. Goodman's latest album Teeth Marks, one hears a voice and a lyrical wisdom that feel perfectly worn in -- like that of an artist who's been crafting decades worth of masterful, soul-baring material. What's all the more astounding is that Teeth Marks is only her second record. Amongst many accolades since that album's release, the publication Bitter Southerner defines it as "driven by love, sometimes by defiance, but always by a delight in singing out... like the declaration of an artist who knows exactly who she is, backed by a band that blows the roof off the studio." On today's show, S.G. shares her affection for Herb Alpert's "Ladyfingers," some candid struggles with diagnosed OCD, the unique way in which her Marantz receiver was acquired, and the underappreciated comforts of house slippers. Find tour dates, social media and more at sggoodman.net.

Episode 165: Davey von Bohlen (The Promise Ring / Vermont) Aug 23, 2022

Sporting one of the most recognizable voices within 90's/00's indie-rock, Davey von Bohlen is known for his youthful exuberance and lyrical Easter eggs over twenty years with bands like Maritime, Cap'n Jazz, The Promise Ring, and the low-key side-project Vermont. On this episode, Davey shares an early obsession with The Guess Who, similarities between songwriting and his experiences coaching basketball, and something The Promise Ring used to call “Get Up Kids Math” while out on the road. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Vermont's second album Calling Albany is being released on vinyl for the first time, available for pre-order at castledangerrecords.com. Limited 25th anniversary colored vinyl pressings of The Promise Ring's seminal second album Nothing Feels Good are dropping soon as well, available for pre-order at tpr.ffm.to/nothingfeelsgood. Follow @daveyvonbohlen on Twitter.

SECOND SPIN: Tony Thaxton (Jan 2021) Aug 09, 2022

Enjoy this encore presentation of the podcast with Motion City Soundtrack drummer -- and host of the podcast Bizarre Albums -- Tony Thaxton, from early in 2021. We will be back with new episodes soon!

SECOND SPIN: Emma Swift (Aug 2020) Jul 19, 2022

Enjoy this encore presentation of the podcast with singer/songwriter Emma Swift from August 2020. We will be back with new episodes soon!

SECOND SPIN: Aaron Draplin (March 2019) Jul 05, 2022

Enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 101, with accomplished graphic designer Aaron Draplin.

Episode 164: Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie) Jun 14, 2022

While stepping outside of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service - inarguably two of the most influential names that indie rock has birthed in the last two decades - lead singer/songwriter Ben Gibbard has acquired a stunningly diverse range of collaborators, from The Monkees to Chance the Rapper. On today’s show — as DCFC approaches the fall release of their tenth album, Asphalt Meadows — Ben describes why the pandemic changed his vinyl listening habits, how he’s fallen randomly into some of the aforementioned collaborations, and the band’s explosive (literally) new video, directed by Lance Bangs. We also discuss Yoko Ono, AC/DC, Pharoah Sanders, and Ben’s soft spot for former Milwaukee Brewer Gorman Thomas. Pre-order Asphalt Meadows, via deathcabforcutie.com or wherever you get music, prior to its release September 16th.

SECOND SPIN: Gotta Groove Records (July 2019) Jun 07, 2022

Enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 110 with guest Matt Earley, president of acclaimed vinyl pressing plant Gotta Groove Records in Cleveland. PLUS a sneak peek on next week's guest!

Episode 163: David Knudson (Minus the Bear / Botch) May 24, 2022

Whether through monstrous riffs in Botch or innovative, live sound manipulation in Minus the Bear, David Knudson is regarded as one of indie-rock's most mind-blowing guitarists. Where many musicians would use effect pedals to just obscure or amplify, David's insane finger-tapping talents and masterful footwork -- often tweaking things on the fly, in front of a live audience -- brought a human heart to MTB's most locked-in rhythms. In support of his first solo album, The Only Thing You Have to Change is Everything (released earlier this month), David visits today to discuss his favorite Botch and MTB artwork over the years, obsessing over seven-inches in his youth from Seattle's Fallout Records, and how his creativity has flourished since becoming sober. Pre-order his new album on vinyl from davidknudson.bandcamp.com, and follow @davidknudson on Instagram.

Episode 162: Marissa R. Moss (Author, "Her Country") May 10, 2022

Popular female country artists like Kacey Musgraves and Maren Morris have scored major pop crossover hits, made huge splashes in the vinyl market and perform for sold-out crowds across the United States, yet barely have a blip on country radio. Though far from a new phenomenon, it’s one that has drawn battle lines over the last two decades between gatekeepers of a genre dominated by white males and a rightfully fervent opposition seeking accountability, diversity and equal representation. On this week’s episode, music journalist Marissa R. Moss (Rolling Stone, Billboard) explains how she tackles these issues and more in her new book, “Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be” (available today, May 10th). We also dive into why Sturgill Simpson’s latest record is best enjoyed on vinyl, the rise of Nashville’s Black Opry, and how life events influence how we hear and appreciate music. Visit marissarmoss.com for more information about “Her Country,” and follow her on Instagram and Twitter @marissarmoss.

Episode 161: Tim Kasher of Cursive Apr 26, 2022

Despite not setting out to make concept albums 100% of the time, Tim Kasher — leader of influential indie-rock mainstay Cursive — realizes that artwork, connecting songs in post-production, and other methods have made his LP’s feel like sweeping, thematic gestures to his fans for twenty-five years. This week, hot off the release of his new solo full-length Middling Age, Tim recalls the days of commercials for albums on television, the importance of beloved Omaha record store The Antiquarium, and his recent stint on the TV game show Chain Reaction. Plus, whether the community aspect of Saddle Creek’s heyday could survive today’s landscape, and why he’s attracted to songs about songwriting.

Episode 160: Frank Turner Apr 05, 2022

With his ninth solo record overall, released in February, Frank Turner has claimed his first-ever number one spot on his native UK albums chart. To put icing on that cake, FTHC is his most personal album yet, whether speaking directly about the passing of longtime friend and musician Scott Hutchison or his evolving relationship with his transgender father. On today's show, Frank discusses how FTHC's major themes touch on acceptance, how heavy metal became his first musical love, and which American restaurant chain he's dying to eat at during his upcoming 50 States In 50 Days tour, starting in June. Visit frank-turner.com for details, socials and more.

Episode 159: Mike Park of Asian Man Records Mar 22, 2022

For over a quarter-century, Mike Park has been releasing iconic punk, ska and more through his DIY record label Asian Man. Along with Mike's own various music projects, Asian Man helped introduce now long-tenured bands with cult followings (Alkaline Trio, Less Than Jake) to a worldwide audience, and his activism led to large tours like Ska Against Racism and Plea For Peace, aimed at educating ska and punk's growing audiences about humanitarian causes and the contributions that people of color have made to those genres. Today, Mike shares how his love for ska first blossomed, his favorite album artwork over Asian Man's history, continuing to be inspired by the 924 Gilman community, and why he's told some bands to simply avoid record labels altogether. Follow @mikeparkmusic on Twitter and hit up asianmanrecords.com for socials, online ordering and more.

Episode 158: Artist Visuals w/ Alysse Gafkjen, Kim Radford, Josh Weichman Mar 08, 2022

Much of what we love about vinyl records is separate from the vinyl itself: Photographers, illustrators and more play an important role in helping fans connect emotionally or otherwise with their favorite recording artists, especially in the age of social media. Today, three accomplished individuals — portrait photographer Alysse Gafkjen, muralist Kim Radford and live photographer Josh Weichman — discuss their first big breaks in the music industry and specific methods used to capture their best work, as well as advice for the next generation of visual artists.

Episode 157: 2022 Rock Hall Nominations with Joe Kwaczala and Kristen Studard Feb 15, 2022

As co-hosts of the podcast Who Cares About the Rock Hall?, comedians Kristen Studard and Joe Kwaczala examine the history, politics, annual inductions and just-as-annual snubs within the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Originally launched as a simple way for two friends to discuss music, the show has gotten the duo unprecedented access to those behind-the-scenes and in the know -- even arguably swaying a vote or two. This week, Joe and Kristen discuss the hall's controversial start, this year's nominations, how doing the podcast has influenced their views on music fandom, and why voting for less total inductees speaks volumes. Follow @rockhallpod on Twitter and Instagram, plus subscribe to Who Cares About the Rock Hall? wherever you get podcasts.

Episode 156: Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio Jan 25, 2022

With 25th anniversaries occurring or looming for some of his earliest work with Alkaline Trio, Slapstick and Tuesday, Dan Andriano is set to release yet another chapter in a storied career next month -- Dear Darkness, his first LP with backing band The Bygones. On today's show, Dan discusses the importance the suburbs play in the story of Chicago punk rock, what kickstarted his interest in writing songs in the studio, and how some of Alkaline Trio’s most visceral album artwork came from both organic and practical means. Dear Darkness is out everywhere February 11th on Epitaph Records. Visit danandriano.com for social media, album pre-orders and more.

Episode 155: Amythyst Kiah Jan 11, 2022

Championed by some today’s biggest names on the fringes of country music, singer/songwriter Amythyst Kiah released her most recent album, Wary + Strange, last year to rave reviews. Upon its release, Pitchfork dubbed the record “an intensely personal document (that) examines the realities of being a Southern Black LGBTQ+ woman in songs both defiant and vulnerable.” One of those tracks in particular, the Grammy-nominated “Black Myself,” matches a hypnotic groove and gritty distortion with lyrics addressing the horrors of chattel slavery and the Brown Paper Bag Test, making for an unforgettable statement that channels both Odetta and Public Enemy. On today’s episode, Amythyst discusses “Black Myself” in detail, as well as growing up with an audiophile father, being intrigued as a kid by a particular Santana album cover, and how an a cappella Tori Amos song inspired her to share her most personal struggles. Visit amythystkiah.com for tour dates, social media and more.

Episode 154: The State of Vinyl in 2021 Dec 21, 2021

This year, the record industry hit arguably its greatest bottleneck yet: Though Taylor Swift and Adele have recently delivered two of the largest vinyl sales weeks of the modern era (with revenue on an incline for physical indie retailers during the pandemic), COVID-19 has made materials like PVC, cardboard, dyes, shrink wrap, paper for inner sleeves and even wood pallets increasingly harder to find, afford and ship around the world. Thus, an album by your favorite artist that comes out digitally today may not see a physical vinyl release for months. On this week's episode, Billy Fields (VP of Sales, Account Management for an arm of Warner Music Group), Eric Astor (President/CEO of Furnace Record Pressing) and Dustin Currier (an independent, Chicago-area musician whose latest album on vinyl has been delayed due to the aforementioned circumstances) participate in a roundtable discussion separating fact from fiction around these headaches, and how their own personal stake in promoting, releasing or pressing music has been affected.

Vinyl Emergency News Brief Dec 14, 2021

Here's a brief update on what you can expect for our final episode of 2021, airing next week, and what's coming up in early 2022!

Episode 153: Jake Snider (Minus The Bear) Nov 16, 2021

Over six proper studio albums and a slew of EP's and seven-inches within 15+ years, Seattle's Minus the Bear established themselves as one of indie-rock's most unique, shape-shifting bands. On today's episode, vocalist/guitarist Jake Snider discusses the band's new triple-LP live set recorded over several shows of their last tour in 2018, and how the band focused on the quality of the vinyl master with each recording.

Episode 152: Jon Randall (The Marfa Tapes) Oct 26, 2021

Nashville-based producer/singer/songwriter Jon Randall has collaborated with a who's-who list of country royalty for two decades, from Emmylou Harris, Reba McEntire and Dwight Yoakam to Maren Morris, Little Big Town and Lyle Lovett. But this past year has brought Jon a bit more out from behind-the-scenes: He’s got his first solo album in 15 years available now, as well as The Marfa Tapes — a joint project with long-time friends Miranda Lambert and Jack Ingram — which captures the trio’s lo-fi, single-take performances under the stars of the Texas desert. On top of astounding songs and rich three-part harmonies, The Marfa Tapes’ genuine intimacy and lack of studio gloss are unheard of for mainstream country music in 2021, and the approach suggests why Pitchfork championed the LP as “a late-night love letter” to the genre’s myths. On this episode, Jon muses about ZZ Top's early cover art, his family’s bluegrass background, and how approving vinyl test pressings recently gave him hope that in the age of the digital streaming, listening to music at home can once again become a communal experience. Stop by jonrandallmusic.com for everything regarding Jon's projects.

Episode 151: Billy Bragg Oct 05, 2021

Since his first release nearly 40 years ago, Billy Bragg has been crafting equally passionate odes to unrequited romance and political unrest. With the immediate, anthemic presence of an electrified busker, his reputation was cemented early on as one of the UK's wittiest personalities, combining influences of punk, R&B and skiffle. He's also pioneered a long list of strikingly original projects: From making new, Grammy-nominated music with Wilco for a treasure trove of discarded Woody Guthrie lyrics, to an album entirely recorded while on a train from Chicago to Los Angeles. On today's show, Billy discusses the unique way he organizes his record collection, some priceless discoveries he made while digging through decades of his own merch during quarantine, and following the trajectory of the Civil Rights Movement through Tamla Motown's Chartbusters compilations. Billy's new album, The Million Things That Never Happened, comes out this Friday, October 8th via digital platforms, with vinyl arriving before the end of the year. Visit billybragg.co.uk for news updates and more.

Vinyl Emergency Presents: Rock And Roll Brunch Sep 07, 2021

Enjoy this episode of the podcast Rock And Roll Brunch, with guest Jim Hanke of Vinyl Emergency, from August 2021. Follow @rockandrollbrunch on Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube (with full video of every episode), or however you get podcasts!

Episode 150: Natalie Hemby (The Highwomen) Aug 17, 2021

Natalie Hemby has earned the type of career most Nashville artists dream of, without necessarily being a household name. She signed her first publishing deal before the age of 21, and has co-written hits for superstars like Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Sheryl Crow and Lady Gaga, the latter of which nabbed Natalie her first Grammy. Natalie’s friendships with fellow singer/songwriters Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires led to the formation of The Highwomen, and their hit debut record, in 2019. Despite the pandemic not allowing them to tour in 2020, the supergroup has spawned legions of fans and another Grammy for Natalie’s co-write on the heartwarming single “Crowded Table.” Today, Natalie talks about an early Prince obsession, a recent collaboration with Alicia Keys, the traits one needs to be a great co-writing partner, and The Highwomen’s influence on a fierce, flourishing generation of new songwriters. Pre-order Natalie’s new solo album Pins and Needles on vinyl (out October 8th) at nataliehemby.com.

SECOND SPIN: Jason Narducy Jul 27, 2021

Enjoy this encore presentation from February 2020 with guest Jason Narducy of Split Single. His new album Amplificado is out now!

Episode 149: Chris DeMakes (Less Than Jake) Jun 15, 2021

The child of two professional singers who gigged heavily within their local nightclub scene, Chris DeMakes grew up surrounded by 45's, primarily so his mom and dad could keep up with (and cover) new music. That consistent rotation of entertainment in the house fueled Chris' collector habits early on: Memorizing liner notes and label logos, as well as keeping at least one copy of every record or piece of merchandise that his influential ska/punk band Less Than Jake has put out over their career, three decades long and counting. On this week's episode, Chris dives into his recent book, the fascinating songwriting podcast he launched during quarantine, and a slew of outlandish LTJ vinyl rarities throughout the years, some of which came in pizza boxes and pie tins. Visit lessthanjake.com and chrisdemakes.com for news updates and social media, and hear Chris DeMakes A Podcast wherever you listen.

Episode 148: Colin Hay (Men at Work) May 25, 2021

Born in Scotland but moving to Australia by the age of 14, Colin Hay grew up around a music shop owned and operated by his parents, who sold everything from pianos to LP’s. Finding worldwide success and a Grammy win in the early 80’s with Men At Work, Colin has penned some of the most endearing songs of that decade (“Down Under,” “Who Could It Be Now?,” “Overkill”) as well as unassuming yet emotionally resonant tracks since then, like “Waiting for My Real Life to Begin” and “I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You.” His charm has always lied in crafting bleakly beautiful melodies, blanketed by lyrics that somehow find comfort in isolation or discomfort in new surroundings. On June 4th, Compass Records will release a 20th anniversary vinyl pressing of Colin’s album Going Somewhere, and on today’s show, Colin discusses the process in revisiting that material, how moving from Scotland to Australia was like changing “from black-and-white into technicolor,” and how he became a member of Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band. Pre-order Going Somewhere from compassrecords.com and follow @ColinHay on Instagram for updates.

Episode 147: Will Johnson May 04, 2021

Growing up learning to play drums to his favorite LP's, Will Johnson earned an affection for the album as a beginning-to-end document from an early age. Aside from nearly two decades fronting the influential four-piece Centro-Matic, Will is known in Americana/indie-rock circles as being a serial collaborator: He's joined forces over the years in some capacity with Jason Molina, David Bazan and Jay Farrar among others, while also drumming for Monsters Of Folk, featuring Conor Oberst, M. Ward and Jim James. If that weren't enough, he's released seven records to date under his own name, but in March he dropped perhaps his deepest solo endeavor yet -- his first novel, titled If Or When I Call. On today's episode, Will speaks about his meticulous recording process, alphabetizing his record collection during the pandemic, the song Jason Isbell wrote about Centro-Matic, the recent loss of Hank Aaron, growing up with Sheryl Crow as his babysitter and which box set he never goes on tour without. Visit will-johnson.com to keep tabs on everything Will's up to, and support your favorite local bookstore by purchasing If Or When I Call from indiebound.org.

Episode 146: Sara Watkins Apr 20, 2021

Over the last twenty-five years with acclaimed acts like Nickel Creek, I'm With Her and Watkins Family Hour (as well as her own solo material), Sara Watkins has become one of the most prolific musicians in folk and bluegrass. Dig into your record collection, and you'll also find her work on albums from Steve Earle, The Decemberists, Mandy Moore, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett and Father John Misty, to boot. Her latest solo release is Under the Pepper Tree, an album of lullabies, hopeful songs from kids films and tender melodies that have otherwise served her into adulthood. Today, Sara discusses the origins of Under the Pepper Tree (especially how she envisioned the album on vinyl from the very beginning), how her dad crafted a makeshift turntable out of a sewing needle and paper, and how one Nickel Creek fan went from the front row on the band's recently-released live album to testing the trio for COVID. Under the Pepper Tree is available now on New West Records, wherever you get music. Find Sara's socials, upcoming live dates and more info at SaraWatkins.com.

Episode 145: Koo Koo Kanga Roo Mar 16, 2021

Beginning strictly as a dance-a-long live show, Koo Koo Kanga Roo has exploded over the last decade -- thanks to digital streaming and word of mouth from elementary teachers -- becoming a hugely popular duo amongst toddlers and grade school kids. Whether rapping about the unbridled joys of pizza, rainbows, monsters or fanny packs, Bryan Atchison and Neil Ostad are approaching 150 million views on YouTube as of this recording, and have collaborated or toured with Frank Turner, the Aquabats, the Harlem Globetrotters and members of Doomtree. Today, Bryan and Neil discuss Koo Koo's history, lessons they absorbed from Asian Man Records founder Mike Park, getting spoofed by Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Ripa this past Halloween, and the logistical nightmare of traveling with vinyl overseas for the first time. Plus, Jim's son George makes his first official appearance on the podcast as he meets his favorite band! You can pre-order Koo Koo Kanga Roo's new album Slow Clap on vinyl and find videos + social media at kookookangaroo.com. Bryan and Neil's podcast Banter Buddies can also be found wherever you listen.

SECOND SPIN: Braid's Bob Nanna & Chris Broach (Feb 2017) Feb 23, 2021

Enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 46, recorded live 01/14/17 at Pinwheel Records (Chicago) with vocalists/guitarists Bob Nanna and Chris Broach from Braid.

Episode 144: Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers) Feb 09, 2021

A songwriter and record collector since the age of 8, Patterson Hood's musical education was through his father's record collection. But what separates David Hood from a lot of dads is the fact that he's a renowned session bassist and producer who has worked with anyone from Aretha Franklin to Willie Nelson -- appearing on classics like The Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There" and Etta James' "Tell Mama." Patterson eventually formed Drive-By Truckers in 1997 and despite a rotating cast through the years, including Jason Isbell and Spooner Oldham, his partnership with co-songwriter/vocalist Mike Cooley has spanned nearly four decades and has fueled DBT's cult-like following. On this episode, Patterson describes his love for the test pressing process, playing it cool when you're neighbors with R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, why the band has been so prolific within the last year, and how the Truckers recorded their first seven-inch on their very first day as a band. Follow Patterson @dbtph on Instagram, and visit drivebytruckers.com for news and updates.

Episode 143: Tony Thaxton (Bizarre Albums / Motion City Soundtrack) Jan 26, 2021

What do Hulk Hogan, Ed McMahon, the Pink Panther and Hamm's Beer all have in common? Tony Thaxton, host of the podcast Bizarre Albums, joins us today to discuss the unique, obscure or oddly legendary records these pop culture icons created, as well as other LP's put out by actors, athletes, fictional characters and auto companies over the last half-century. Plus, we talk about our mutual fascination with the documentary film Bathtubs Over Broadway, a must-watch for any record collector. Find Bizarre Albums however you listen to podcasts, and follow the show on Instagram, @bizarrealbums.

Episode 142: Dashboard Confessional Dec 29, 2020

In celebration of his debut album's 20th anniversary, this year has seen a massive vinyl reissue/remastering campaign for much of Chris Carrabba's early Dashboard Confessional catalog. This includes two LP's that the majority of his fanbase discovered him with (The Swiss Army Romance and The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most), plus the band's 2002 MTV Unplugged performance and several 10" EP's, the latter pressed by popular specialty label Mondo. On our last broadcast of 2020, Chris discusses his road to recovery after a debilitating motorcycle crash earlier this year, his own vinyl collecting habits, a new canned wine company he's partnered with, and the time Marilyn Manson sold him a Fugazi record. Plus, some stories behind rare gems in his collection from the Beach Boys, Less Than Jake and Christie Front Drive. Visit store.dashboardconfessional.com or your favorite local indie retailer to pick up the above reissues.

Episode 141: Derry deBorja (Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit) Dec 08, 2020

With touring off the table during the pandemic, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Jason Isbell and his band the 400 Unit have still kept their momentum: The group's latest album Reunions was released to physical indie record stores prior to digital services earlier this spring, they've played a string of socially-distanced outdoor shows, as well as continue to post archival performances via Bandcamp. On today's show, keyboardist Derry deBorja talks about all of the above, plus the musical influence of his older brother, his time as a member of Son Volt, how experimenting with a modular synth has changed how he views composition, and the 400 Unit's relationship with David Letterman. Visit jasonisbell.com for updates, and follow Derry on Instagram, @tin_pony.

Episode 140: Tom Petty 'Wildflowers' Special Nov 24, 2020

Though it already cemented his legacy as one of the world's greatest songwriters, Tom Petty originally intended 1994's Wildflowers to be a double-album. Now over 25 years later, fans can finally hear these long-buried tracks, along with home demos, alternate takes, live cuts, new liner notes from Rick Rubin and more as part of Wildflowers & All The Rest, a mammoth archival undertaking that ranges from 2 CD's to 9 LP's, depending on your budget and fandom. On today's show, we'll talk with Nick Steinhardt, one of the art directors and package designers on this massive reissue about his connection to Tom Petty's music, his role as the release took shape, and his diverse catalog of work, ranging from Paul McCartney to Britney Spears to Minus The Bear. Follow @nicksteinhardt on Instagram, and visit smogdesign.com and 23in.com to view Nick's work. You can find the Wildflowers reissue, as well as the new album Lament from Nick's band Touché Amoré, wherever you get music.

SECOND SPIN: Wilco's Pat Sansone (Feb 2019) Nov 03, 2020

This is an encore presentation of our 100th episode with Pat Sansone of Wilco. The band will be reissuing their third album Summerteeth as a 5LP/4CD box set this Friday, Nov. 6th.

SECOND SPIN: Daru Jones Oct 20, 2020

Enjoy this encore presentation from January 2020, featuring our conversation with drummer Daru Jones. You may have seen him recently on SNL backing up Jack White, and his latest collaboration with Pete Rock titled PeteStrumentals 3 drops on December 11.

Episode 139: Nathan Ellis of The Casket Lottery Oct 06, 2020

Kansas City native Nathan Ellis joined the pioneering experimental outfit Coalesce in the late 90's, as they made a name across the globe for intricate dynamics partnered with the fervency of hardcore punk and a live show that bordered on chaos. He later formed The Casket Lottery with more dialed-in, yet equally engaging songwriting, pointing to area bands like Boys Life, Kill Creek and Giants Chair as influences. A few years ago saw the vinyl reissue of the band's first three full-lengths, and today's wide-ranging conversation with Nathan takes us from Vincent Price to baseball, as well as obscure Robert Smith side-project The Glove to The Casket Lottery's truly-collaborative split EP with longtime friends Small Brown Bike. The band's new album Short Songs For End Times comes out November 6th, and can be pre-ordered at wiretaprecords.limitedrun.com. Visit @thecasketlottery on Instagram for further updates.

Episode 138: Vance Powell Sep 22, 2020

4x Grammy-winning producer, engineer and mixer Vance Powell has worked with a wide range of artists and bands including Chris Stapleton, Buddy Guy and Phish. For vinyl collectors, he's arguably most known for being a consistent studio go-to for Jack White, not only being involved with proper studio releases from Jack and his various projects (The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs) but Vance is behind the boards of most every Live At Third Man Records LP, where bands record short sets in front of a couple hundred fans, direct-to-acetate. On this episode, Vance points to his favorite Third Man sessions he's recorded (including some Radiohead demos), how Chris Stapleton's famous cover of "Tennessee Whiskey" almost didn't happen, and why Vance's own barbecue kept him from his dream of recording U2. Visit sputniksound.com for more info on Vance's work, and follow him on Instagram and Twitter @vancalot.

Episode 137: Dan Wilson of Semisonic Sep 08, 2020

Early in his musical development, Dan Wilson was sure his true calling was to be a songwriter-for-hire, similar to his heroes like Carole King. And this drive continued despite the rise of his own Minneapolis-based band Semisonic in the late 90's and early 2000's, whose massive hit "Closing Time" remains one of the most recognizable singles of the late 20th century. As the trio's pace slowed, Wilson began accumulating co-writing gigs, eventually leading to a full-on second career behind the scenes, hitting a new peak by partnering with Adele on her smash "Someone Like You," which eerily enough turned out to be one of the most recognizable singles of the next century. On the cusp of a new Semisonic EP titled You're Not Alone dropping September 18th -- featuring their first new music in nearly two decades -- Dan chats about being blown away by the 20th anniversary vinyl pressing of Semisonic's Feeling Strangely Fine, how losing the band's original master tapes in the now-infamous Universal fire actually inspired a recent song, and coming full circle by co-writing with the aforementioned Carole King. Follow @danwilsonmusic as well as @semisonicband on Twitter and Instagram.

Episode 136: Emma Swift Aug 25, 2020

From the first time she ever put a Kylie Minogue cassette in her pink Sony stereo, Australia native Emma Swift has been a music obsessive. Her songwriting prowess brought her to Nashville in 2013 and she recently dropped the terrific LP Blonde On The Tracks, an album of Bob Dylan covers ranging from 1965's "Queen Jane Approximately" all the way to this year's "I Contain Multitudes" (which Dylan released as a single only just a few months ago), backed up by partner Robyn Hitchcock and Wilco's Pat Sansone. On this episode, Emma talks about Gram Parsons being a sort of "gateway drug" to country music, splurging on 7" Smiths singles while in Japan and why her dad was "a record collector's worst nightmare." Follow her on socials @emmaswiftsings, and get Blonde On The Tracks digitally or on vinyl from emmaswift.bandcamp.com.

Episode 135: Ruston Kelly Aug 11, 2020

Long before his flawless debut album Dying Star in 2018, Ruston Kelly had been loud and clear about metal and punk rock shaping his brand of Americana songwriting. But last year's covers EP, Dirt Emo Vol. 1, cemented that fact and laid out a confessional throughline between Taylor Swift and Saves The Day. On this episode, we’ll hear how vinyl played an important role in Ruston’s childhood, his attraction to authenticity -- be it from Eminem or the Carter Family -- and after overcoming addiction, what event made him realize "the universe is not out to get me, it’s out to show me what things are worth." Ruston’s new album Shape & Destroy is available August 28th, wherever you get physical or digital music. Visit RustonKelly.com for vinyl pre-orders and more.

Episode 134: My Morning Jacket's Tom Blankenship Jul 28, 2020

For more than 20 years, Kentucky quintet My Morning Jacket has continually shifted and grown its sound — embracing folk, soul and psychedelia — leading to three Grammy nominations and a reputation as one of the best live acts working today. Half a decade after releasing their seventh studio album The Waterfall, ten more tracks from those same sessions emerged earlier this month with the surprise announcement of The Waterfall II, giving fans fresh material to digest while concerts are off the table during the current pandemic. On today’s show, bassist and founding MMJ member Tom Blankenship (aka Two-Tone Tommy) chats about thrash metal, playing 1st century coliseums while on tour in Italy, and why now was the right time to let fans know that there was more Waterfall material to be had. Visit MyMorningJacket.com for band news and vinyl pre-orders of The Waterfall II, and follow Tom on Instagram and Twitter, @sometomguy.

Episode 133: Nirvana Art Director Robert Fisher Jul 14, 2020

Los Angeles native Robert Fisher has designed records for some of the most popular acts since the alternative rock boom, including Beck, Weezer and No Doubt. But starting with 'Nevermind' onward -- including all posthumous releases following Kurt Cobain's death -- Robert is most recognized for being Nirvana's sole art director, creating iconic album covers, sleeves for singles, box set packaging and anything else relating to arguably the most important band of the last 30 years. Recently, Robert launched the @NirvanaBucket Instagram feed, dedicated to his body of work for the group and showcasing rare flyers, tapes, scrapped ideas and even items Kurt provided him for inspiration throughout their partnership.

On today's show, Robert discusses how the final version of 'Nevermind' came to be, as well as stories surrounding Beck's 'Odelay' and Urge Overkill's 'Saturation'. HIs latest work for Nirvana is on the 'Live & Loud' 2LP set, released last summer, capturing the band's 1993 performance in Seattle for MTV. Visit flyingfishstudio.us to check out more of Robert's work.

Music on today's show is from 'Every Sun, Every Moon,' the new album from I'm Glad It's You, available from 6131Records.com.

Episode 132: The Jayhawks' Gary Louris Jun 30, 2020

First emerging from Minneapolis in the mid-80's, The Jayhawks have become one of the most noteworthy and influential bands within Americana/folk-rock, releasing a pair of albums between 1992 and 1995 (Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow the Green Grass) that are cited by fans and critics alike as touchstones of their genre. Today, lead singer/guitarist Gary Louris dives into his love of Krautrock, touring the Acoustic Sounds pressing plant, hunting for weird Italian or French LP's, and the one record that cost him a speeding ticket. The Jayhawks' new album XOXO comes out July 10th. Visit jayhawksofficial.com for social media, Gary's acoustic streaming performances during quarantine and more.

Episode 131: Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC Jun 16, 2020

Joseph "Run" Simmons and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels formed Run-DMC in the early 1980's and, over 35 years since being joined by groundbreaking DJ Jam Master Jay and releasing their first single, the trio is still recognized as one of rap and hip-hop's most influential acts. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, Run-DMC was the first rap group to appear on MTV, on the cover of Rolling Stone, to be nominated for a Grammy, and to have albums go gold, platinum and multi-platinum. Since officially disbanding the group after the 2002 murder of Jam Master Jay, DMC has written two memoirs, launched a comic book line and co-founded a charity for foster children, on top of making music and touring. This week, DMC tells us about selling his Marvel comic book collection as a kid to kickstart his hip-hop career, why he and Run hated the cover art for the Raising Hell LP, fighting their label to keep vinyl going as the CD revolution began, and how vinyl itself remains a continual part of his artistic existence. He also speaks to the responsibility he felt to bring rock's protest mentality of the late 60's into hip-hop's golden age, and shares his thoughts on the worldwide protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd. As you'll hear him voice today, "The arts succeed where politics and religion fail." Visit rundmc.com, and follow @thekingdmc on Twitter and @kingdmc on Instagram.

Episode 130: Caroline Spence Jun 02, 2020

Raised in Virginia, Caroline Spence grew up experiencing vinyl mainly through her dad's taped collection of Beatles records, and later absorbed that collection - along with her aunt's LP's - as she began to make a name for herself as a singer/songwriter both in and outside of Nashville. Rolling Stone heralded her 2019 full-length Mint Condition as "a gorgeous reflection on finding peace amid upheaval and confusion," delivering "deft chronicles of interpersonal complexity." This week, Caroline talks about her debut performance at Nashville's famed Ryman Auditorium, the current value of her vinyl releases from before she got signed, having Emmylou Harris contribute to Mint Condition's airy brilliance, and why her first face-to-face interactions with Dave Matthews were as a pissed-off seven-year-old on Rollerblades. For news, social media and more, visit carolinespencemusic.com. Watch her appearance on Craft Recordings' new record-shopping video series at craftrecordings.com/pages/shoplifting.

Episode 129: Robin Wilson of Gin Blossoms May 19, 2020

Influenced heavily by The Smithereens, The Replacements and R.E.M., Arizona mainstays Gin Blossoms became one of the biggest bands of the early and mid-90's. Single after single from their major label debut New Miserable Experience -- "Hey Jealousy," "Found Out About You," "Until I Fall Away" and more -- caught fire on MTV as well as on pop, alternative and college radio. Now recognized as a modern power-pop classic, the record eventually sold over five million copies and spent a remarkable three years on the charts. The quintet found additional success with their follow-up LP, 1996's Congratulations I'm Sorry, and hits like "Follow You Down" and "Til I Hear It From You." In 2017, both full-lengths were finally pressed to vinyl for the first time, in honor of former album's 25th anniversary. Today, Gin Blossoms lead vocalist Robin Wilson talks about working at record stores through the 80's, his obsession with Urge Overkill, fronting his childhood heroes Kiss on Letterman, and fighting for what became New Miserable Experience's now iconic album art. Keep up on band news, music, social media and more at ginblossoms.net.

Episode 128: The Decemberists' Chris Funk May 05, 2020

An accomplished producer and multi-instrumentalist who has worked with everyone from The Shins to The Chieftains, Chris Funk is a founding member of beloved Pacific Northwest quintet The Decemberists, who mark their 20th anniversary this year. Known for a narrative heart that's half-Morrissey, half-Herman Melville, Rolling Stone has called their work "a triumph of theatrical imagination." On today's show, we discuss the formation of the band, how Chris recorded the entirety of their epic song cycle The Tain with a broken leg, and how Carson Ellis' visual components have played into the band's mystique for over two decades. We also get into Chris' production of the latest Stephen Malkmus LP and his globetrotting video series Funk Plus One, which exposed him to culture on a broader level through shared musical experiences. Visit thedecemberists.com for 20th anniversary tour dates and more. Get Chris' new solo album The Painted Porch via chrisfunk.bandcamp.com, with an exclusive vinyl variant limited to 250 copies and proceeds benefitting The Jeremy Wilson Foundation. You can also follow Chris on Twitter, @mrchrisfunk.

Episode 127: Lilly Hiatt #2 / Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum Apr 21, 2020

Nashville singer/songwriter Lilly Hiatt returns to Vinyl Emergency to discuss the loss of the legendary John Prine, her new album Walking Proof, records she added to her collection since her last time on the show and the positivity she's finding between Nashville's recent destructive tornado and the current pandemic crisis. Dig back to Episode 75 for Lilly's first appearance. Then, Soul Asylum leader Dave Pirner joins us to talk about the band's new album Hurry Up And Wait, the lasting impact of the revolutionary music video for "Runaway Train" and which Soul Asylum vinyl release -- of which there's only one sole copy in existence -- he owns. Dave's new book of lyrics spanning his career, Loud Fast Words, is available wherever you buy literature. For music, social media and updates visit lillyhiatt.com and soulasylum.com.

Episode 126: Ryan Grisham of Mock Orange (+ NEW SINGLE PREMIERE!) Apr 07, 2020

Formed in Evansville, IN during the late 90's, Mock Orange gained a devoted following amongst indie-rock circles for progressive, whiplash time signatures, buoyed by sentimental yet urgent lyrics. Though the quartet's debut album Nines & Sixes provided an addictive and aggressive spark, 2000's The Record Play delivered a deeper and more nuanced emotional payout: Singer/guitarist Ryan Grisham's wordplay (drenched in poetic metaphors on time and distance), drummer Heath Metzger's prog-like precision and the clear, masterful production style of Mark Trombino made the album somewhat of an underground touchstone for early 2000's emo. On today's show, Ryan talks about piecing together the thematic nature of The Record Play two decades later, why turning 40 gave him a new outlook on the band's first album and how he managed -- long before iPods -- to play his beloved 7" collection on the road. This episode also features the WORLD PREMIERE of the band's new single "So Maybe," from their upcoming EP The Bridge, their first release in nearly four years. Vinyl for both The Bridge, as well as a 20th anniversary repress of The Record Play, will be available for pre-order via mockorange.net later this month. Follow @mockorange on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates.

Episode 125: Rhett Miller of Old 97's Mar 24, 2020

For over 25 years, Texas native Rhett Miller has fronted the Old 97's, recognized as one of the most acclaimed staples within Americana or alt-country music. Still, he's found plenty of time over that span to step out on his own: Hosting the podcast Wheels Off, writing children's books and recording seven solo records containing collaborations with Jon Brion, Aimee Mann, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, longtime session drummer Jim Keltner and members of the Decemberists. Recorded at Vance Powell's renowned Sputnik Sound in Nashville (as the Old 97's began work on their 12th proper album), Rhett muses on his early fascinations with Joan Jett, the Kingston Trio and ZZ Top, pumping quarters into the vinyl jukeboxes of his local diner, how patterns in genre fiction influence his solo albums and what Wheels Off has taught him about the creative process. Visit old97s.com and rhettmiller.com for tour dates, music, social media and more. Plus, subscribe to Wheels Off however you get podcasts.

Episode 124: The Presidents of the United States of America Mar 10, 2020

The Presidents of the United States of America garnered acclaim throughout the grunge-heavy 90's for performing humorous, rocket-fueled earworms about chickens, kittens and bugs in a style that showcased both punk ethos and stadium rock showmanship. Hits like "Peaches," "Lump" and "Mach 5" dominated both alt-rock radio and MTV at the time, even scoring the Seattle trio the ultimate seal of legitimacy: a parody from "Weird Al" Yankovic. Recently, the group -- though no longer performing as a unit -- reconvened to launch a Kickstarter campaign to get their self-titled, triple-platinum, Columbia Records debut officially pressed to vinyl for the first time in the US. And fans were ready -- since the announcement (on Presidents Day, no less), listeners have funded over ten times the amount of PUSA's original goal. On this episode, drummer Jason Finn talks about recently hearing the album's new test pressing (and why it's taken 15 years for this vinyl campaign to become a reality), how an infamous band photo with then President Bill Clinton made it onto the cover of a Spanish pressing of the LP and lots more. Follow @jasonfinn on Twitter, @finnbot3000 on Instagram and pre-order the vinyl reissue, as well as check out the band's social media, at presidentsrock.com.

Episode 123: Mike Grimes and Doyle Davis of Grimey's Mar 03, 2020

Since opening its doors in 1999, Grimey's New & Preloved Music has become one of the most beloved record stores in existence -- a beacon to its native Nashville, and the music world at large, for a focus on live performances, fair pricing and meeting the needs of eccentric and avant-garde music aficionados in a town mainly known for its country roots. Founded by Mike Grimes as a way to sell off product he acquired while working in the industry, his humble vision was to create "the Floyd's Barbershop of record stores," a community-oriented meeting place for eclectic music lovers to obtain and share their obsessions, no matter how under-the-radar. He partnered with friend and fellow music fanatic Doyle Davis a few years later (himself a veteran of Nashville chain The Great Escape) and the pair have run Grimey's as co-owners for close to two decades. With the renowned Ryman Auditorium being known as Music City's "Mother Church," Grimey’s has taken up the moniker of the "Other Church" among its devotees, after converting a previous house of worship into its current location in 2018. Today, Mike and Doyle pontificate on the shop's early days, the women who helped shape their love of vinyl growing up, the important roll that cut-out bins played in exposing them to new sounds, and which artist would be the in-store booking of their dreams. They'll also describe how the Avett Brothers' own in-store performance was more insanely dangerous and hardcore than even Metallica's. Plus we get to current hot button record industry issues like the ramifications of the recent Apollo Masters fire, and Direct Shot's distribution nightmares since last Record Store Day. For upcoming events, promotions, social media and more, hit up grimeys.com and while in Nashville, visit them at 1060 E. Trinity Lane.

Episode 122: The Milk Carton Kids Feb 18, 2020

Garnering comparisons to other iconic duos like Simon & Garfunkel or The Everly Brothers, Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale have effortlessly sewn together a timeless aura around their fragile, emotionally-resonant songs as Grammy-nominated folk duo The Milk Carton Kids. Since their start nearly a decade ago, their acoustic guitar mastery and impeccable vocal harmonies have led to collaborations or shared stages with legends of the craft like T Bone Burnett, Gillian Welch and John Prine. Joined today by Old Crow Medicine Show bassist Morgan Jahnig and recorded backstage at Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Joey and Kenneth discuss reinterpreting Pink Floyd, the supportive community hub of in-store performances at record shops, and the merit of something we'll call -- for this episode -- the artistic vision of "yellow shorts." PLUS learn how you could win a copy of their latest release, The Only Ones, on 10" vinyl. For tour dates, social media and more, visit themilkcartonkids.com.

Episode 121: Jason Narducy (Bob Mould Band, Superchunk, Split Single, Verböten) Feb 04, 2020

At just 12 years old in the early 80's, young guitarist Jason Narducy already knew about the emotional roller coaster of starting and ending a band. In this case, that band was Verböten, who exploded onto Chicago's punk scene but folded before Jason became a teenager. Over 35 years later -- with Jason establishing himself since as a terrific singer/songwriter via his band Split Single and collaborating with Bob Mould, Robert Pollard and Superchunk among others -- Verböten is now the subject of a full-fledged musical (the songs courtesy of Jason himself) running at Chicago's Chopin Theatre through early March. To coincide with those performances, the band finally has a seven-inch out on vinyl for the very first time to boot. On this episode, Jason chats about working at record stores in his late teens, how his dad played a formative role in his early love of vinyl, the moral battle of separating great art from a problematic artist, why writing songs for this musical has been easier than writing his own, and his recent experience at a vinyl listening bar in Japan. Performance details and tickets for the Verböten musical can be found at thehousetheatre.com. Follow Jason and get news on Split Single via Twitter @splitsingleband, on Instagram @jasonnarducy and from Facebook @splitsingle.

Episode 120: Jimmy Pardo (Returns!) Jan 21, 2020

Comedian, podcasting pioneer and former MCA Records employee Jimmy Pardo returns to discuss what defines prog rock, whether there's a current American band that could garner the sendoff that Canadians gave The Tragically Hip, finally owning a favorite LP after a 20-year search, and his new web series Jimmy's Record & Tapes, where he revisits albums in his collection from 1975 to 1995, along with hilarious personal stories. Subscribe and catch a new episode every Tuesday at youtube.com/nevernotfunny. You can also use that link for the 11th annual Pardcast-A-Thon -- a 12-hour, live-streaming celebrity fundraiser to benefit the cleft palate charity Smile Train -- airing Saturday, May 23rd. Dive into Jimmy's award-winning podcast Never Not Funny however you listen, follow him on the web at jimmypardo.com and on Twitter, @jimmypardo.

Episode 119: Drummer Daru Jones (Jack White, Pete Rock) Jan 07, 2020

The youngest son of two church choir directors and musicians, Daru Jones has played drums since the age of 4, having grown up behind the kit at his parents' congregation. His love for gospel eventually led him to jazz, country, funk, R&B and hip-hop, where he has flourished as a touring, session and for-hire musician for emcees, vocalists, songwriters and producers like Nas, Talib Kweli, Sturgill Simpson, Dwight Yoakam, Pete Rock, Gloria Gaynor and Pharoahe Monch. He's also performed as part of Jack White's band, both on the road and on record, most recently to promote Third Man Hardware's latest guitar pedal line, viewable on Instagram, @thirdmanhardware. On today's episode, Daru reflects on the influence of everyone from Gene Krupa to DJ Premier, how he relates to the film Whiplash, why classic album covers should be taken as seriously as the music it represents, and the art of respecting composition over the urge to upstage. Catch Daru on the road in coming months as he accompanies original James Brown saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis. You can also follow Daru on Instagram and Facebook, @darujones.

Episode 118: Jimbo Hart (Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit) Dec 17, 2019

Bassist and Alabama native Jimbo Hart has been holding down Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit's low end for over a decade -- touring the world and earning a Grammy for the group's 2017 barnburner The Nashville Sound. Recorded in his home studio, Jimbo articulates why geology plays a significant role in the music of Muscle Shoals, the joy he gets from recording others (like recent projects for Ross Adams and King Corduroy), his adoration for Monty Python, how New Orleans radio station WWOZ still broadcasts vinyl, and killer stories about encounters with Robert Plant, Kris Kristofferson and dobro legend Jerry Douglas. Jason and the 400 Unit's first two albums -- 2009's self-titled effort and 2011's Here We Rest -- were recently remixed, remastered and reissued on vinyl, available on limited edition colored variants at your favorite local indie retailer or while on tour. Visit JasonIsbell.com for more information. Jimbo also appears on bandmate Sadler Vaden's upcoming solo LP Anybody Out There? (available March 6th) and Isbell merch manager Chance Gray's debut EP The Long Crossing, out now. Stop by sadlervaden.com and chancegray.com for details. Follow @jimbohart on Twitter or @thejimbohart on Instagram.

Episode 117: Nick Sanborn of Sylvan Esso Dec 03, 2019

Since releasing their self-titled debut in 2014, Grammy-nominated electro-pop duo Sylvan Esso has hopscotched around the world, gracing countless festivals as well as late-night TV, fueled by vocalist Amelia Meath's enigmatic energy and Nick Sanborn's deliriously inventive production. Previous to his partnership with Meath, Sanborn was a mainstay of the Wisconsin music scene as a member of Decibully, Megafaun and Headlights. Over the last few years, he's also engineered or produced projects for Daughter of Swords, Why? and Meath's trio Mountain Man. Recorded backstage at Nashville's iconic Ryman Auditorium, Nick discusses his anticipation as a then-record store employee for the original release of Radiohead's Kid A, how the lyrics of Gillian Welch's "Everything Is Free" stay consistently relevant with every new update to how we get music, and the new LP Bluebird, his latest instrumental collaboration with Chris Rosenau of Volcano Choir, Pele and Collections of Colonies of Bees. Follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @madeofoak, and for Sylvan Esso tour dates, music and more visit sylvanesso.com. You can purchase Bluebird on vinyl from www.rosenausanborn.com.

Episode 116: Jay McDowell (Musicians Hall of Fame / BR5-49) Nov 19, 2019

After years of playing upright bass for cult country act BR5-49, Jay McDowell stumbled into a dream job for any music geek: Multimedia Archivist for Nashville's Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, established in 2006. From the actual drumkit Santana's Michael Shrieve played at Woodstock to the original lathe used to cut Elvis Presley's first recording to hand-written lyrics from some of the greatest songwriters ever, the MHFM is a literal treasure trove of artifacts and memorabilia that speaks both to the brilliance of music's biggest stars as well as the ingenuity of those behind the scenes. To Jay's end, he wears many hats day-to-day, whether giving private tours to everyone from school kids to the musicians themselves who are being honored, on top of video production, archival research and assisting with the presentation of specific exhibits. On today's program, recorded at the Russell Hotel in Nashville, Jay speaks to his own history with vinyl, how historical context can morph a good song into a classic, why we continue to absorb and collect music even though it's impossible to hear everything, and he shares plenty of stories behind some of the MHFM's coolest acquisitions and inductions, involving Elvis Presley, Velma Smith, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. For more information on the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum or to plan your trip today, visit musicianshalloffame.com. On Instagram, follow @musicianshalloffame.

Episode 115: R.E.M.'s "Monster" Turns 25 Nov 05, 2019

Today, we focus on R.E.M.'s polarizing yet passionate ninth album from 1994, Monster. Craft Recordings just released a 25th anniversary package available on 1LP, 2LP, 2CD or 5CD/1Blu-Ray formats, available at remhq.com or wherever you buy music. Growing up, renowned visual artist Chris Bilheimer's first introduction to what record covers looked like was -- serendipitously -- by staring at R.E.M.'s early classics like Murmur. In his words, he's since spent his career "stumbling into little tiny pockets of music history," creating landmark album artwork for iconic groups like Neutral Milk Hotel, Weezer and Green Day. Since the mid-90's, Chris has been R.E.M.'s official in-house art director, collaborating directly with frontman Michael Stipe on new releases, deluxe reissues, compilation packages and more. Today, Chris shares some remarkable stories about rebuilding the Monster artwork from scratch for this re-release, how stacks of portfolios containing original R.E.M. cover art were nearly lost forever, working with Jeff Mangum on the visuals for In The Aeroplane Over The Sea and how Chris' design for American Idiot may have helped save a child's life. Visit bilheimer.com to get a snapshot of his work through the years. In 2002, trailblazing music journalist Matthew Perpetua started Fluxblog, one of the web's first MP3 blogs, setting the course for how artists were discovered and music would be consumed in the 21st century. Since then, he's become a music editor for BuzzFeed and a contributing writer to outlets like Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. In this episode, Matthew details his first memories of R.E.M., why he was particularly chosen to contribute liner notes to the Monster anniversary project and how this record makes more sense in 2019 than it may have in 1994. Keep up with Matthew via fluxblog.org or Twitter, @perpetua.

Episode 114: Joe Pug Oct 22, 2019

It almost sounds like a song in itself: An acclaimed musician on his big album release day, three years in the making, finds himself on jury duty for a murder trial. As crazy or poetic as it may sound, that was the story for Maryland-based Joe Pug back in July, as his latest LP The Flood In Color hit shelves. Though born in the mid-'80s, his tales of destruction and redemption ring with a wisdom that could reflect an artist twice his age, effortlessly penning critical and emotional snapshots of the human condition. The Working Songwriter, Joe's monthly podcast since 2016, also allows him to plug into the minds of friends in the same boat, exchanging stories and unique perspectives on crafting music. On today's program, Joe details how the limitations of vinyl only add to its mystique, why he's using today's postmodern methods of promotion, whose albums filled his childhood basement, why the artwork for Weezer's self-titled debut bucked the trends of its era and how talented people survive a media that's dying around them. Stop by JoePugMusic.com for news, tour dates, social media, info on The Working Songwriter and more.

Episode 113: Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters Oct 08, 2019

As a member of Foo Fighters for the last twenty years, guitarist Chris Shiflett is regarded as one of the most consistently versatile personalities in rock: From his punk roots in Rat Pack and core Fat Wreck Chords alumni No Use For A Name to goofing off with sped up covers in Me First & The Gimme Gimmes to one-off back-up duties for Norah Jones to recording his own albums drenched in country music's Bakersfield sound. He's even parlayed his engaging demeanor and inquisitive mind into hosting and producing the popular Walking The Floor podcast, interviewing authors, fellow musicians, athletes and the like about their inspirations, struggles and successes. Earlier this summer, Chris also released "Hard Lessons," his third solo LP and second with renowned, Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb. Before the Foo's headlining slot at last month's Pilgrimage Festival just outside Nashville, Chris sat down to discuss the heavy influence that Hanoi Rocks wielded, his new Pro-Ject turntable, which songs brought him to tears as a kid, his 11-year-old son's new fascination with vinyl and more. Visit ChrisShiflettMusic.com, WalkingTheFloor.com and FooFigthers.com for news, social media and more. Look for "Hard Lessons" wherever you get physical or digital music.

Episode 112: Matt Pond Sep 24, 2019

Racking up an astonishing 13 proper albums within the last two decades -- not including singles or EP releases -- Matt Pond has solidified himself as one of the most prolific singer-songwriters working today. Though the name Matt Pond PA was retired in 2017 (a moniker for his recording and touring band of which he was the sole consistent member), his work over the last 12 years with musician and engineer Chris Hansen has led to film and commercial scoring, as well as An Orchestrated Impulse, a new multi-sensory collaboration with visual artist Eva Magill-Oliver, comprised of twelve paintings each paired with an instrumental composition in a different key. On today's show, Matt muses about The Minutemen's "Double Nickels on the Dime," why he's had to abandon three completely separate record collections over the years, the Beatles-influenced stage name he almost went by when he moved to Brooklyn and how his mom's confusion between John Waite and Tom Waits paved Matt's musical journey. The installation of An Orchestrated Impulse debuts October 11th at the O+ Festival in Kingston, NY with full performance details at orchestratedimpulse.com, and accompanying music available for digital download at anorchestratedimpulse.bandcamp.com. Visit mattpondpa.com for news, social media and more.

SECOND SPIN: Dan Didier (October 2017) Aug 27, 2019

Enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 73, featuring our conversation with Dan Didier of The Promise Ring and Maritime. "Don't Break Down," a documentary on the influential punk trio Jawbreaker which Dan co-produced, was released earlier this month on iTunes, Amazon, YouTube and other digital outlets. His current musical project Dramatic Lovers can be found online at dramaticlovers.com.

Episode 111: Matt Ross-Spang Aug 13, 2019

In a relatively short amount of time, Matt Ross-Spang has grown from Sun Studio tour guide to one of the most sought-after producers and engineers in music. Having moonlighted behind the boards at Sun after business hours while juggling high-school, Matt helped bring the historic studio back to its analog roots and eventually stepped out on his own at the behest of Grammy-winner and Nashville studio staple Dave Cobb. This led to Matt engineering releases for John Prine, Jason Isbell, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Amanda Shires and Josh Ritter, as well as helming records for Margo Price, Lucero and Iron & Wine's latest collaboration with Calexico. Recently, Amazon even plucked him to produce, curate and debut a unique digital audio series featuring Al Green's first new recording in nearly a decade. To sum it up best, NPR describes Ross-Spang as "a music history geek with a brilliant ear for blending studio precision with spontaneity," while Rolling Stone touts him as "one of the most trusted arbiters of the Memphis sound." That last moniker rings especially true this month, as Sony/Legacy celebrates the 50th anniversary of one of Elvis Presley's most pivotal years by releasing a massive 11CD box set and 2LP vinyl edition of performances from August 1969 at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. All originally recorded to 8-track and newly mixed to analog by Matt, this string of shows is especially notable for featuring a full orchestra and the live debut of one of the King's biggest hits, "Suspicious Minds." Recorded at Sam Phillips' iconic studio in Memphis, today's interview features Matt's insight on the psychology of recording, examples of records where the room acts as an instrument, his trajectory within the industry and how a career in documenting music has changed the way he listens. Matt's social media and additional information on his work can be found at southerngrooves.com. To learn more about Sam Phillips Recording Service, visit samphillipsrecording.com.

Episode 110: Gotta Groove Records Jul 30, 2019

For close to a decade, Cleveland's Gotta Groove Records has earned its reputation as "the artist's preferred pressing plant." By having their quality assurance team play every 25th LP or 7" that comes off their presses, they're known for going the extra mile and implementing some of the highest standards in the industry, whether manufacturing limited 100-copy runs or thousands upon thousands for worldwide distribution. On the cusp of their 10th anniversary, Gotta Groove sales and marketing VP Matt Earley chats about where they've been, where they're going and how the vinyl business can stay vibrant and innovative. Visit GottaGrooveRecords.com and follow @gottagrooverecs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

SECOND SPIN: Rosanne Cash (July 2017) Jul 16, 2019

Enjoy this rerun of Episode 64, featuring our conversation with the great Rosanne Cash. Tour dates and more are available at rosannecash.com, and her latest album She Remembers Everything is available wherever you get music.

Episode 109: Susan Nadler & Evelyn Shriver (Shady Ladies of Music City) Jul 02, 2019

Since the late 1970's, both Evelyn Shriver and Susan Nadler have worked with an impressive list of country music's biggest names. Armed with their shared PR experience, the duo headed up Asylum Records as the first women to ever helm a major country music label and flipped Nashville's Music Row on its ear, building longtime partnerships with Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Lorrie Morgan, Randy Travis and more. Their countless years of experience, legendary debauchery and hilarious stories of life behind-the-scenes and on the road are now part of a new podcast courtesy of Momument Records called Shady Ladies Of Music City, which encourages listeners to submit their own country music rumors for discussion on the program, to find out if they're tall tales or legendarily confirmed stories. Today, Susan and Evelyn sit down to discuss the homogenized state of mainstream country radio, Pittsburgh's National Record Mart (the first music store chain ever in the United States), the industry's reaction to the launch of the compact disc, their childhood memories of 45RPM singles, and how to get rid of gold records. Podcast info, social media and more are available at shadyladiesofmusiccity.com.

Episode 108: Mike Doughty of Soul Coughing Jun 18, 2019

Over three proper full-lengths and nearly a decade of touring, NYC quartet Soul Coughing merged spoken word, jazz, hip-hop and various avant-garde subgenres into a sound completely their own, notching a few 90's college radio and alt-rock hits in the process. This year, vocalist/guitarist Mike Doughty is on the road celebrating the 25th anniversary of their critically-acclaimed debut LP Ruby Vroom, performing a "real-time remix" of the record from start to finish with a new backing band. On today's show, Mike heralds Led Zeppelin IV, Miles Davis' hand-painted cassette collection, Memphis' Goner Records and the countless master tapes or unearthed treasures lost to the 2008 Universal Studios fire in Hollywood. He also discusses leading a creative writing class for prison inmates, and their inquiries as to how musicians get paid for songs they've listened to in jail. Find the recent vinyl reissues of Soul Coughing's discography wherever you buy music, and visit mikedoughty.com for tour dates, social media, solo material and more.

Episode 107: Jeff Babko (Jimmy Kimmel Live!) May 28, 2019

As an in-demand session musician, keyboardist/pianist Jeff Babko has built a diverse career, both on record and on the road. Aside from his own original music, he's recorded or toured with the likes of Neil Young, Smokey Robinson, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow and Frank Ocean, while working on scores and soundtracks for films and TV, including Garden State, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Superbad, The Good Place, Arrested Development and the upcoming mega-sequels Frozen 2 and Toy Story 4. This year also finds Jeff -- a member of the Jimmy Kimmel Live! house band -- releasing a new album on vinyl ("El Musico," available via CDBaby) as well as touring with the radio variety program Live From Here. On today's show, Jeff recounts buying several Oingo Boingo releases for a complete stranger, his favorite record stores to visit while touring, why the songs on "El Musico" were not originally intended to be shared, and how eating mediocre pizza changed his musical DNA. Follow @jeffbabko on Twitter and Instagram, visit jeffbabko.com for news updates and watch the current Netflix special Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Never Forget for the Rest of Your Life, as well as the new Amy Poehler-directed film Wine Country, to catch Jeff in action.

Episode 106: Billy Fields of Warner Music Group May 14, 2019

Vinyl Emergency may not have existed without inspiration from Billy Fields. Within the record industry, he's known as the resident vinyl expert for Warner-Elektra-Atlantic, the artist and label services arm of Warner Music Group, overseeing all aspects of vinyl production, including marketing, sales forecasts and strategy. For record lovers on Twitter, Billy is a required presence, keeping the world updated with weekly vinyl sales numbers and trends, while being a vocal advocate for quality vinyl, no matter who's releasing it. Recorded in Nashville during this year's Music Biz conference, Billy dives into the cyclical nature of music retail, his college days working at Tower Records, how Bandcamp and Qrates are working with unsigned artists to create custom limited pressings, and why his team strives to keep the price of albums down, while still giving musicians and fans what they want. Follow @billysezvinyl on both Twitter and Instagram.

Episode 105: Matt Belknap (ASpecialThing Records / Never Not Funny) Apr 30, 2019

Since launching in 2007, the Los Angeles-based comedy label ASpecialThing has churned out laughs on 7, 10 and 12" formats, putting influential voices such as Patton Oswalt, Cameron Esposito, Karen Kilgariff, Jonah Ray and Kyle Kinane to vinyl. Today, on top of his early love for hip-hop, how he swayed his parents to buy him a Muppet Show album and what it's like to get a Grammy, AST co-founder Matt Belknap takes us through the in's and out's of putting stand-up sets to wax. Plus, as producer of the groundbreaking podcast Never Not Funny, Matt will co-host Pardcast-A-Thon -- a 12-hour, live-streaming telethon version of NNF -- on Saturday, May 4th. Proceeds benefit children's cleft palate charity Smile Train, for whom Matt and the gang have raised over $1 million during their past nine fundraisers. Watch all the craziness for a good cause via youtube.com/nevernotfunny, purchase albums from ASpecialThing via astrecords.bigcartel.com, follow @mattbelknap on Instagram and subscribe to NNF's weekly podcasts on the Earwolf Network however you listen.

Episode 104: Dane Erbach from Table-Turned Apr 16, 2019

As popularity rises for vinyl subscription services, Table-Turned continues to stand out as an option for those looking to take a deep dive into specific genres of their choosing. On this episode, co-founder Dane Erbach provides some history on the company, as well as how his local record store is becoming a prime spot for punk rock in the suburbs, how Table-Turned is humanizing music, what vinyl his 7 and 4-year-old sons have been into lately and much more. Visit table-turned.com for subscription info, as well as jetsam-flotsam.com for music on Dane's own label.

Episode 103: Collector's Club with Jason Davis (RecordNerdz Podcast) Apr 02, 2019

Today, we round out our discussions with the main four voices of the acclaimed RecordNerdz podcast: Jason Davis grew up in Brazil, only visiting the states a couple times a year during his teens, before moving to America permanently as an adult and eventually settling down in Brooklyn. On this episode, Jason chats about how he regards his collection as his own private record store, which Metallica album he owns the most copies of, the quality of Brazilian pressings, this year's upcoming Record Store Day, and how vinyl shops are using Discogs to their advantage when needing to dump inventory. Follow Jason on Instagram @spectrum_city_records, and subscribe to RecordNerdz however you get podcasts! Be sure to also check out our previous interviews with fellow RecordNerdz hosts Kristian Sorge, Trevor Ingerson and Mark Piro in the archives.

Episode 102: J. Robbins (Jawbox / Burning Airlines) Mar 19, 2019

Without the influence of J. Robbins, the indie-rock landscape from the 90's through today would be missing a specific tonality, seeped heavily in both nuance and bite. From his songwriting and musicianship in bands like Jawbox, Channels and Burning Airlines to his production/engineering work with The Promise Ring, Jets to Brazil, Texas Is The Reason, Shiner, The Dismemberment Plan and a slew of others, he's a widely respected architect of the sound we know as post-punk. Hot off the recent announcement of Jawbox's upcoming summer tour (the band's first in over 20 years), J. discusses his early love for orchestral soundtracks, how he feels the Jawbox of 2019 can be a better band than they were during their initial run, and why his one-off collaboration a decade ago with Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla for NPR remains one of his lifelong favorite experiences. Online, you can visit www.jawbox.band for their schedule, social media, merchandise and discography, as well as jrobbins.bandcamp.com.

Episode 101: Aaron Draplin Mar 05, 2019

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more diverse client base than that of Portland, Oregon's Draplin Design Co. From corporations like Nike and Ford to some of his favorite bands (Dinosaur Jr., Old 97's) to the Obama administration and NASA, Aaron Draplin's visual talents run the branding gamut. But out of all the work he's ever done, designing for vinyl records remains his favorite gig. On today's episode, as we discuss his record shopping habits, prized LP's and stories of meeting his musical heroes, you'll learn that the only thing brighter and bolder than Aaron's designs is his own personality. Visit draplin.com to check out Aaron's catalog of work, upcoming speaking and workshop engagements, and to order all things DDC. His 2016 book Pretty Much Everything is available via Amazon or your favorite retailer. He's also @draplin on Twitter and Instagram.

Episode 100: Pat Sansone (Wilco / The Autumn Defense) Feb 19, 2019

This year brings with it several anniversaries for songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone: 2019 marks his 50th birthday, two decades as part of The Autumn Defense (formed with Wilco bassist John Stirratt) and subsequently 15 years within Wilco itself. Entering the band during a pivotal shift between A Ghost Is Born's riveting complexities and the more serene nature of Sky Blue Sky, Pat has been a welcome key to the influential sextet since day one, serving up piano, guitar, vocal harmonies and a myriad of other accoutrements. On today's milestone 100th episode from his home in Nashville, Pat reflects on his family's strong ties to show business, the upcoming loss of his neighborhood record shop Fond Object, creating album artwork from thousands of unearthed slides, why John Lennon’s death sparked his deep dive into the Beatles and how Big Star's third album changed his life. Follow Pat on Instagram @sansonic1, and keep current on tour dates and more via wilcoworld.net and theautumndefense.com.

Episode 99: Melvin Dillon of Soul Step Records Feb 05, 2019

Since being founded in 2011, Cincinnati-based indie label Soul Step has been running a unique business model for musicians who are unable to afford the massive investment of getting their music on vinyl. By Soul Step fronting and recouping all production costs, then splitting profits 50/50 with the artist for a short run of impeccably colored and incredibly limited pressings, everyone from the label to the band to the listener benefits. On today's show, Soul Step owner Melvin Dillon explains the company's ethos, his relationship with the expert record manufacturers at Wax Mage and more about this creative endeavor that's helping musicians express themselves on wax and helping collectors fill their shelves. For label news, their online store and social media, visit soulsteprecords.com.

Episode 98: Josh Berwanger (The Anniversary / Radar State) Jan 22, 2019

An obsessive record collector since third grade, Josh Berwanger's adoration for glam-tinged rock and synth-heavy new-wave led to the formation of indie quintet The Anniversary, who toured heavily in the early 2000's behind a pair of full-lengths for the Vagrant label at its zenith. On today's program, Josh dishes about his days behind the counter at Lawrence, KS record store Love Garden, spotlights some rare finds in his collection, remembers how having the band's music on vinyl was always part of their record contract, and shares his thoughts on how scaling vinyl production back could benefit the industry long term. We also dig into his latest project Radar State, formed with longtime pals Matt Pryor and Jim Suptic of The Get Up Kids and Gadjits drummer Adam Phillips. Check out the band's tour dates and social media, plus pick up their debut LP "Strays" released by Wiretap Records, at radarstate.bandcamp.com.

Episode 97: Photographer Andy Barron Jan 08, 2019

Andy Barron has made a career of visually documenting life on the road for musicians, both on stage and off, over the last decade. He’s currently Chris Stapleton’s official tour photographer, and he’s done similar work for groups like Foster The People and Switchfoot. His résumé also sports freelance photography for the likes of Jimmy Eat World, Paramore, Joy Williams and New Kids On The Block. A native Californian but now based in Nashville, Andy discusses how to keep things fresh while taking pictures of the same tour night after night, how that same schedule helps you from regretting not taking the perfect shot, how listening to vinyl compares to seeing a film in a movie theater versus at home, how those seeking out a full visual and audio experience with an album benefit due to his hard work, and he dusts off some rare gems in his vinyl collection from Beck, Sigur Rós and Starflyer 59. Check out andybarron.com as well as @chrisstapleton on Instagram to view Andy’s photography, and follow him @andybarron on Instagram and Twitter.

Episode 96: Matt Lunsford of Polyvinyl Records Dec 18, 2018

For over two decades, Polyvinyl Records -- which started in the small Midwestern town of Danville, IL -- has been releasing various offshoots of indie-rock with touches of folk, hardcore punk, chamber pop or new wave, including records from Braid, Japandroids, Of Montreal, Joan of Arc, Deerhoof, Alvvays, Beach Slang, Jeff Rosenstock, Matt Pond PA, Owen, Jay Som, Mates of State and countless others. On today's show, Polyvinyl co-founder Matt Lunsford remembers the hands-on DIY nature of the label’s first releases, the early importance of documenting a scene (along with co-founder and wife Darcie), how long their lead time is at pressing plants for a label of their caliber and adapting quickly to how listeners consume music. Plus, we’ll learn more about recent or upcoming Polyvinyl releases from American Football, Pedro the Lion and Rainer Maria. Shop for the label's music, merch and take advantage of their massive holiday sale at PolyvinylRecords.com, follow them on Facebook and Instagram @polyvinylrecords, or on Twitter @polyvinyl.

Episode 95: Aaron Hartley (Forever Analog / Country Music Association) Dec 11, 2018

As director of business affairs at the Country Music Association, Aaron Hartley clears rights for online content, works with music publishers on payments for song placements and acts as a liaison between artists and the CMA for television properties. But before working in the world of country music, Aaron cut his teeth by launching Theory Eight Records, a small indie-rock label that has released material for the likes of Bully, Caitlin Rose and Copeland among others. Aside from finding and fixing classic audio gear, Aaron also currently runs Forever Analog, a mixture of a clothing brand and a community that extends beyond his passion for vinyl to celebrate anything tactile, including reel-to-reel players and classic photography equipment. On today’s show, we examine how the CMA was born out out of radio's reaction to Elvis' fame, the importance of Weird Al, how we can prevent hobbies like collecting vinyl from becoming too overwhelming and more. Visit Aaron's websites -- aaronhartley.me and foreveranalog.net -- for updates on DIY projects, insightful blog pieces, his social media and more.

Episode 94: Making Vinyl Conference Recap / Record Store Day Black Friday Preview Nov 20, 2018

Eric Astor — CEO and President of Furnace Record Pressing in Virginia — returns to the show to discuss last month’s 2nd annual Making Vinyl conference in Detroit and Furnace’s recent addition of several new record presses. Plus we go over this year’s Record Store Day Black Friday releases with former podcast guest Nick Digilio from WGN Radio in Chicago.

Episode 93: Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit) Oct 30, 2018

While it's commonplace for mentors and musical influences to get thanked in a Grammy-acceptance speech, Sadler Vaden made sure to pay homage to his father's physical record collection when, as lead guitarist for Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, the group took home this year's award for Best Americana Album. Since joining the group after the release of Isbell's 2013 breakthrough "Southeastern," Sadler has performed worldwide in one of the busiest and most critically-acclaimed bands working today, even playing side-by-side with some of the classic rock heroes that his dad first spun around the house. On top of his production techniques and overall approach as a solo artist, today Sadler discusses the band’s new live album, his delicate balance between improvisation and structure as a guitarist, and the urge to release non-album singles as quickly as they come. We even examine some vinyl gems and first pressings from his dad's collections on-air! Find Sadler Vaden's 2016 self-titled debut album, as well as Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit's "The Nashville Sound" and "Live from the Ryman," however you get music. You can also download the band's recent live performance with David Crosby to benefit the voter registration non-profit HeadCount.org, and hear Sadler's recent digital singles on iTunes and Spotify. Go to SadlerVaden.com and JasonIsbell.com for tour dates and more.

Episode 92: Hozier, Courtney Marie Andrews, Dawes (LIVE FROM PILGRIMAGE FESTIVAL) Oct 16, 2018

Though much of this year's Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival in Franklin, TN was sidelined due to weather-related safety concerns, we still managed to chat with Dawes lead vocalist/guitarist Taylor Goldsmith, soulful singer/songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews and Ireland's Grammy-nominated Hozier, who all shared their thoughts about the importance of vinyl in a digital world, and how the medium has influenced their own work. For details on Pilgrimage Festival, visit pilgrimagefestival.com.

Episode 91: Erin Rae, John Paul White, The Watson Twins, John Oates, Tommy Emmanuel, Austin Lucas, Cowtownchad (LIVE FROM AMERICANAFEST) Oct 02, 2018

Our special guests this week are Grammy-winner John Paul White (formerly of The Civil Wars), acclaimed singer/songwriter Erin Rae, sibling vocal duo The Watson Twins, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Oates of Hall & Oates, Australian guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel, photographer "Cowtownchad" Cochran and former Vinyl Emergency guest Austin Lucas, all providing great stories about their appreciation and personal history with vinyl, recorded live at various locations during Americanafest 2018 in Nashville, TN! For details on Americanafest, including how to join the Americana Music Organization, visit AmericanaMusic.org.

Episode 90: Intervention Records Founder and CEO Shane Buettner Sep 14, 2018

With a long history in journalism covering audio and home entertainment, Shane Buettner began boutique vinyl reissue label Intervention Records in 2015, with a focus on albums from the late 70's to early 2000's that he felt weren't getting the proper, or any, treatment on wax. Inspired by the Music Matters Jazz label and priding himself on overseeing every aspect -- from working with the original analog tapes to art restoration to sleeve printing and assembly -- Shane has released high-quality, in-demand reissues from Everclear, Joe Jackson, Erasure, Judee Sill and more over the last three years. Most recently, Intervention has partnered with 90's power-pop king and former Vinyl Emergency guest Matthew Sweet to reissue and remaster his catalog from 1991-1995, all of which were originally recorded entirely to analog: Girlfriend, Altered Beast, the never-before-on-vinyl Son of Altered Beast EP and 100% Fun. On today's show, Shane discusses what the music industry learned from Neil Young's Pono experiment, how farm-to-table restaurants relate to the vinyl world, and his new website -- vinylreviews.com -- which aims to create a community where listeners can share their thoughts on specific pressings and packaging. We also do a deep dive on how our ears and brains take in music, and why audio source transparency is so important to vinyl's resurgence. Visit interventionrecords.com to pick up Shane's quality reissues, and follow @intervention_records on Instagram for needle drops, pressing updates and more!

Episode 89: Great Peacock Aug 31, 2018

In the footsteps of groups like The Band or The Flying Burrito Brothers, who still exude country rock coolness 50 years on, comes Nashville's Great Peacock. Since their 2015 debut, they've been hailed by publications like No Depression, American Songwriter and Paste for their powerful, poignant mixture of folk, rock, blues and Americana, while sharing stages with Margo Price, Dr. Dog, Colter Wall and Hurray for the Riff Raff. Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd -- guitarists and co-songwriters/vocalists for the quartet -- sit down backstage at hometown venue 3rd & Lindsley to discuss their connections to vinyl, their favorite music documentaries, whether an artist's name on the front of their records takes away from the album's visual art, how My Morning Jacket's Tom Blankenship and Carl Broemel ended up contributing to Great Peacock's terrific new album Gran Pavo Real and more! On September 13th, they'll perform at Musicians Corner at Centennial Park in Nashville as part of Americanafest 2018, and you can visit GreatPeacock.com for further tour dates, their social media, etc.

ANNOUNCEMENT: We're Moving! Jul 20, 2018

Check out details on our brief upcoming hiatus, and what you can expect when we return.

Episode 88: Dori Freeman Jul 06, 2018

To say that music runs in Dori Freeman's family is an understatement: Her dad and grandfather are respected bluegrass musicians, her namesake great-grandmother hung up her guitar in order to raise her siblings around the time of the Great Depression, and for as long as she can remember, Dori grew up playing classic Appalachian songs with and for her immediate relatives. On her 2016 self-titled album as well as 2017's "Letters Never Read," the latter of which was released on Dori's own label, she delivers a riveting mixture of her folk/bluegrass roots and the direct, emotional clarity of influences like Rufus Wainwright and Peggy Lee. On today's show, Dori talks about the LP's she listens to with her husband and daughter, the struggle to get vinyl pressed as an independent artist, how she overcomes the nerves of performing live, what truly defines old-time music, how art can suffer from a failed quest for authenticity, the upcoming album she recorded with grandfather and renowned pencil artist Willard Gayheart and much more. Visit dorifreeman.com for music, tour dates and social media.

Episode 87: Dead Horses Jun 22, 2018

Milwaukee-based Americana duo Dead Horses have performed anywhere from coffee shops to opera houses since their formation in 2010, and their profile is only getting larger: While on the road supporting their latest album My Mother The Moon this year and next, they'll play Colorado's legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre, as well as a Jamaican and Mexican cruise alongside Emmylou Harris, the Indigo Girls, Billy Bragg and Jason Isbell. Singer/guitarist Sarah Vos and double bassist Daniel Wolff talk today about their relationships with vinyl, getting their own LP's pressed without a label, working with former Wilco drummer Ken Coomer and more. PLUS they'll grace us with two live acoustic performances which you can also download separate from today's episode at deadhorseswi.bandcamp.com, with proceeds benefitting Texas non-profit RAICES -- the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. For Dead Horses tour dates, social media and more, visit deadhorses.net.

SECOND SPIN: Dave Porter (June 2017) Jun 08, 2018

Enjoy this repeat of our interview last year with film and television composer Dave Porter. You can hear Dave's music on "Preacher" and "Better Call Saul," celebrating their season premieres on the AMC Network on June 24th and August 6th, respectively.

Episode 86: Chris Schulist of Dope Folks Records May 25, 2018

Although he toured the world fronting garage-rock kingpins The Mistreaters in the early 2000's, Chris Schulist has never lost his affinity for the boom-bap style of 80's and 90's rap. Dope Folks Records -- a Milwaukee label he co-founded in 2010 with friend John Kuester -- is fueled by a passion for crate digging; Dope Folks primarily represses underground or deep cut 12" rap singles with minimalist packaging in limited quantities, even working with legendary acts like Black Sheep and Tha Alkaholiks. If that didn't keep him busy enough, Chris is also a partner in the popular Milwaukee restaurant The Vanguard (with fellow garage-rock veteran Jim McCann of the Baseball Furies), serving unique sausages and cocktails to everyone from WWE wrestlers to headlining comedians like Bill Burr to Chris' old pal Jack White. On today's show, Chris details how his uncle got him into record collecting, which Sesame Street record has the best bass lines, why Kiss makes it increasingly tough for their fans to stick with them, and much more. For the best in classic (or should've-been-classic) rap, visit dopefolksrecords.bigcartel.com and follow them on Facebook @dopefolks. For amazing brats while in Milwaukee, visit vanguardbar.com and follow their Instagram, @vanguardmilwaukee.

Episode 85: Discogs CEO Chad Dahlstrom May 11, 2018

A daily must-visit for record collectors everywhere, Discogs.com launched in 2000 with the lofty goal of cataloging every piece of recorded music in history. Fast-forward nearly two decades, and Discogs has over 9 million different releases currently documented. They've also got a popular mobile app, a busy digital marketplace that fuels the vinyl community worldwide, and sister sites that similarly catalog books, comics, posters, films and recording gear. Discogs CEO Chad Dahlstrom joins us today to talk about his own record collection, the site's recent ban on bootlegged and pirated material, building relationships with artists and labels, updates we can expect in the future and much more. Follow @Discogs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Plus, we debut some brand new music from Ohio quartet Curtail!

Episode 84: Rob Maushund of Stoughton Printing Apr 27, 2018

Founded in 1964, Stoughton Printing Company is a leading provider of quality music packaging and production planner Rob Maushund is at the helm of getting that superior work out the door and into record stores around the world. From working first-hand and directly with King Tuff, Jack White or Thurston Moore to Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Gillian Welch or Father John Misty, Rob's 30+ year career at Stoughton has led to literally thousands of astounding record packages, earning Grammys and other industry accolades. On this episode, Rob shares his thoughts on the inaugural Making Vinyl Conference in Detroit this past fall, the history of the tip-on jacket process, and how musicians can explore a vast realm of packaging options without spending a fortune. Visit stoughtonprinting.com for more information, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @StoughtonPrinting. Also check out @OldStyleRecordJackets on Facebook.

Episode 83: Record Store Day Discussion + Vinyl Me, Please reissues William Bell Apr 13, 2018

In 1962, soul vocalist and songwriter William Bell was sharing stages with Jackie Wilson and Gladys Knight, before a phone call from his mother and a letter from the U.S. government halted his blossoming career. Today, Andrew Winistorfer from Vinyl Me, Please tells us about their new reissue of Bell's debut LP (originally released by Stax), and what it's been like to get to know the 78-year-old Bell himself while working on the project. Also, Jim speaks with record collector friends Perry Day and Mike Pecucci to get their angle on Record Store Day, as well as Pinwheel Records owner Scott Schaaf, as he prepares for their biggest day of the year.

REPOST: Bill Janovitz of Buffalo Tom (January 2017) Mar 30, 2018

In honor of Buffalo Tom's latest album Quiet And Peace being released earlier this month -- as well as a new seven-inch and their essential LP Big Red Letter Day returning to vinyl for a 25th anniversary pressing on Record Store Day, April 21st -- we are rerunning singer/guitarist Bill Janovitz's interview from last year. Follow @billjanovitz and @buffalotomband on Twitter for news and announcements. You can also purchase Quiet And Peace via BuffaloTom.com.

Episode 82: Eric Astor (Furnace Record Pressing / ORG Music) Mar 16, 2018

President and CEO of Fairfax, VA's Furnace Record Pressing Eric Astor has seemingly done it all within the record label / disto / CD and vinyl pressing universe over the last 20+ years, with zero sign of stopping: Furnace is soon adding 16 new and refurbished vinyl presses, likely solidifying them as the second largest vinyl pressing plant in America. Today, Eric chats about his previous and current companies (including ORGMusic, VinylStyl and Lumberjack Distribution), as well as what these new machines mean for not just Furnace's output, but for the current bottlenecking experienced across the board by today’s vinyl manufacturers. Visit FurnaceMFG.com and ORGMusic.com for more information!

Episode 81: Ben Carter, co-founder of U-Turn Audio Mar 02, 2018

Within the last five years, U-Turn Audio has gone from the Kickstarter dream of three east coast college students to one of the biggest names in turntables. In a fanatical vinyl market, they've managed to stand apart by making each deck to order, keeping their manufacturing in Boston and offering audiophile-like quality at a price tag that's nearly half of those of their largest competitors. U-Turn's customization factor is also a huge selling point, with listeners having the ability to add a pop of color, a higher-end cartridge, a cue lever and more to an already stellar piece of equipment. Co-founder Ben Carter drops in this week to discuss the company's genesis, how the audiophile community influenced U-Turn's original designs, the endless debate between belt-driven and direct-driven turntables, his affection for Bob Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" and the impact of Pennie Smith's iconic photo on the front of The Clash's "London Calling," plus dealing with feedback and customer satisfaction in the age of social media. Visit uturnaudio.com to learn more!

Episode 80: Garon Cockrell (Never Not Funny / Pop Culture Beast) Feb 16, 2018

A music lover from an early age, author and screenwriter Garon Cockrell is rather new to the obsessive world of vinyl. Yet, he's fallen deep enough down the rabbit hole to know that his penchant for classic country, modern pop and horror scores -- especially those reissued by labels like Death Waltz, Mondo and Waxwork -- is unlike any other hobby. As a cast member of the pioneering and award-winning podcast Never Not Funny (hosted by comedian and previous Vinyl Emergency guest Jimmy Pardo), Garon talks today about the genesis of his Pop Culture Beast website, why his new love for vinyl came from not wanting to take music for granted and how Paula Abdul's "Forever Your Girl" started the whole damn thing. Never Not Funny's 9th Annual Pardcast-A-Thon, benefitting cleft palate charity Smile Train, streams live on YouTube and NeverNotFunny.com March 3rd, and you can also follow Garon on Twitter and Instagram @MyNameIsGaron!

Episode 79: Creed Bratton (NBC's The Office / The Grass Roots) Feb 02, 2018

Founding member of classic rock staple The Grass Roots ("Let's Live For Today," "Midnight Confessions"), musician and actor Creed Bratton turns 75 this month, and has seemingly led multiple lives both before and after his departure from the band in 1968: Dude wrangling in California; Working in an electronics factory in Munich; Literally being chased out of an Algerian town; And most notably, playing a far-weirder version of himself during The Office's iconic eight-year run on NBC. Today, Creed remembers his Dual turntable and collection of 45's, the country-western band his grandparents played in, listening to legendary disc jockey B. Mitchel Reed as a kid, the work of the legendary Wrecking Crew, and his sage advice to anyone pursuing their passions. We also discuss his imminent new album While The Young Punks Dance, his upcoming film The Sisters Brothers (starring Jake Gyllenhaal, John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix) and whether the Creed of Dunder Mifflin really was "the Scranton Strangler." Visit CreedBratton.com for tour dates, news and more! Link for corresponding Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/jrhanke/playlist/0gM8hCCwhNa80r3yHkLvU8

Episode 78: Perfect Vinyl Forever Jan 19, 2018

Today's show is all about getting -- and keeping -- your records clean! Perfect Vinyl Forever is a relatively new service based in Wisconsin, determined to restore albums to "better than new" condition through more scientific means than your standard over-the-counter methods. Founder Steve Evans joins us today to discuss the do's and don'ts of commercially available cleaning processes (like brush-and-solution combos and Spin-Clean Record Washers), how PVF strives to improve the fidelity of brand new LP's, the different types of record collectors he encounters, and the joy he gets from working on Perfect Vinyl Forever with his daughters, who also appear on today's episode to discuss their own appreciation for records as well as their feelings as young women in a collector's culture that isn't always inviting or inclusive. If you're in the Milwaukee area, check out Perfect Vinyl Forever's next record cleaning clinic at Ultra Fidelis in Wauwatosa, WI on January 27, and visit PerfectVinylForever.com for more info!

Episode 77: Justin Perkins (Mystery Room Mastering / Bash + Pop) Jan 05, 2018

Having cut his teeth within the small but tight-knit Green Bay punk scene of the early 2000's, Milwaukee-area producer/engineer Justin Perkins gives tips on mastering records both digitally and for vinyl and discusses temporarily joining Screeching Weasel, being in charge of documenting the final Replacements reunion show in 2015, and how trying to change an album's audio mix after the mastering process is like attempting to cook an already-burnt pizza. Visit mysteryroommastering.com for more info on Justin's studio work, and check out BashAndPop.bandcamp.com to hear his recent musical project, backing up the Replacements' Tommy Stinson!

Episode 76: Lydia Loveless (Live in Chicago) Dec 15, 2017

Ohio-born singer/songwriter Lydia Loveless has been hailed by Rolling Stone, Spin, Pitchfork, NPR and Stereogum, with the latter of which declaring her "sophisticated wordplay and gloriously messy emotions the kind of moody Midwestern rock that sounds best around 2AM." Recorded in front of a live audience at Pinwheel Records in Chicago, Lydia performs acoustically and discusses her newest release Boy Crazy & Single(s) -- a collection of previous non-album tracks and covers, released by Bloodshot Records -- as well as early record store memories, being the subject of filmmaker Gorman Bechard's recent documentary "Who Is Lydia Loveless?," and how her recent acoustic tour has allowed her more time to write not only songs, but journal entries as well. Visit lydialoveless.bandcamp.com to download a digital EP of Lydia's live performances from this episode (with all proceeds benefitting Faith Mission Ohio), PLUS check out @VinylEmergency on Facebook or Twitter for our corresponding Spotify playlist to this episode!

Episode 75: Lilly Hiatt Dec 01, 2017

2017's Trinity Lane, the third album from Nashville-based Lilly Hiatt, is a true triumph within the alt-country/Americana genre, from an artist who has not only overcome personal tragedy, addiction and heartbreak, but has done so while standing outside of the musical shadow of her dad, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter John Hiatt. NPR nailed it earlier this year by saying, "Her willingness to portray herself in moments of anger or neediness that others might deem unseemly, particularly coming from a woman, and to examine gender divisions in emotional labor at close range, is courageous and affecting." Today, Lilly talks about digging through vinyl dollar bins on the road, how her turntable played a part in her newfound independence, playing everything from Cat Stevens to Kendrick Lamar while in the van, what her dream vinyl pressing of Trinity Lane would entail, and the romance that blossomed through the recording of her recent Third Man Records seven-inch. Trinity Lane is available wherever you buy physical or digital music, and visit LillyHiatt.com for upcoming tour dates, social media and more. PLUS check out @VinylEmergency on Facebook or Twitter for our corresponding Spotify playlist to this episode!

REPOST: Benmont Tench of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (October 2016) Nov 17, 2017

The recent, sudden passing of Tom Petty has been rough for all who knew him and adored his music, so this week we're rerunning our chat last fall with Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench. Ben's memories over the last 40 years of performing with Tom, and his passion for vinyl and music in general, make this one of our favorite interviews we've done. Follow @BenmontTench on Facebook and Instagram, as well as @BenchTen on Twitter.

Episode 74: Autumn de Wilde Nov 03, 2017

Surrounded by her parents' jovial and eccentric group of friends as a youngster -- whom she likened to "the Marx Brothers in tie-dye" -- photographer and director Autumn de Wilde has captured a venerable who's who list of artists on film, such as Willie Nelson, Prince, Ryan Adams, the White Stripes, Death Cab for Cutie, Sonic Youth, Fiona Apple and the Decemberists. This week, Autumn and Jim discuss how her shots on iconic record covers for Beck's "Sea Change," Elliott Smith's "Figure 8" and Jenny Lewis' "The Voyager" came to fruition, the comedy albums that she loved growing up, some long-lost photos Autumn took of Jim during a shoot for "Wilco the Album" back in 2009, and how she uses a certain improvisational wildness within her art while ensuring her subject never feels trapped by it. Follow @autumndewilde on Instagram and Twitter, and keep an eye out for the latest video she has directed for Starcrawler's "I Love L.A.," coming later this month. SPONSORS: Vinyl Me, Please; Pinwheel Records; Vinyl for a Cause; flipbin.

Episode 73: Dan Didier of The Promise Ring and Maritime Oct 20, 2017

Through four distinctively different albums, The Promise Ring became a staple of post-punk independent rock in the late 90's and early 2000's, with each of their records going on to influence bands worldwide that proudly consider themselves part of today's emo revival. In the 15 years since their break-up (aside from some 2012 reunion dates), singer/guitarist Davey von Bohlen and drummer Dan Didier -- who already had another group together, Vermont, with fellow Milwaukeean and Volcano Choir guitarist Chris Rosenau -- carried on to form Maritime, whose upbeat power-pop never toured as vigorously as The Promise Ring yet has thankfully sustained a longer life-cycle (Maritime's fifth and latest LP is 2015's "Magnetic Bodies/Maps of Bones"). Currently, Dan has been focused on "Don't Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker," the recently-released, feature-length documentary on the seminal Bay Area punk trio that he co-produced. This week, we cover the fandom around Jawbreaker, how a Monty Python sketch caused Dan to accidentally destroy his first Promise Ring test pressing, a debate about Men At Work records, and how he strikes a balance between avoiding his previous albums but appreciating the nostalgia and memories that they hold. Dan's latest musical project Dramatic Lovers can be found online at dramaticlovers.com, and though Maritime remains on hiatus, you can grab their music at maritime.bandcamp.com. Learn more about the Jawbreaker film at dontbreakdown.com. SPONSORS: Table Turned; Pinwheel Records; Vinyl for a Cause; flipbin.

Episode 72: Remembering Tom Petty Oct 06, 2017

Friend, fellow record collector and previous guest Chris Fitzgerald joins us to talk about the songs and memories we'll hold of the late Tom Petty.

Episode 71: Alt-Country Roundtable with Dig Me Out Podcast Oct 06, 2017

This week, our host Jim Hanke guests on Dig Me Out as part of a roundtable discussion about all things alt-country! Touchstone albums, current favorites, what defines the genre and more are discussed with DMO hosts Tim Minneci and Jason Dziak, Jim Kopeny of Chicagoist.com, and the Dallas Observer's Eric Grubbs. Visit DigMeOutPodcast.com for great weekly album discussions and other great episodes. PLUS -- We announce our next LIVE Vinyl Emergency episode, at Pinwheel Records in Chicago this November!

Episode 70: Dana Colley of Morphine / Matt Block of Run Out Groove Sep 22, 2017

In the pantheon of 90's alternative-rock, you could say Boston trio Morphine were one of the most alternative. Leader Mark Sandman's seductive vocals and two-string slide bass, partnered with only baritone saxophone and drums, created a sound Sandman himself dubbed as "low rock" but almost 30 years after the band's inception, their fans as well as newcomers still struggle to put Morphine's uniqueness into words. Since Sandman's tragic death in 1999, saxophonist Dana Colley (along with surviving members of Morphine and other collaborators) has kept that distinct sound alive through Orchestra Morphine and currently Vapors Of Morphine, as well as an upcoming limited LP release from Warner Music Group imprint Run Out Groove of Morphine's 1997 set at The Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, cut to vinyl by Jeff Powell at the legendary Sam Phillips Recording. On today's show, Colley discusses his fascination with liner notes and how vinyl records act as an archive for a moment in time, while Run Out Groove's Matt Block visits to talk about the label's fan-driven voting process, why a Morphine live show was chosen over studio albums that have yet to see vinyl pressings and how quality digital recordings have as much of a right to exist in the vinyl market as analog. Visit RunOutGrooveVinyl.com to find a store near you that will carry Morphine's Live At The Warfield 1997 next month, and check out VaporsOfMorphine.com for news and tour dates.

Episode 69: Charles Berry Jr., son of Chuck Berry Sep 08, 2017

Over the last 25+ years, the legendary Chuck Berry, an inarguable architect of rock n' roll and known worldwide for hits like "Johnny B. Goode" and "Roll Over Beethoven," had been working on what would become his final album. The aptly-titled Chuck is his first studio record since 1979 and was finished prior to his death this past March. The LP features current rock staples like Gary Clark Jr., Nathaniel Rateliff and Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello alongside members of his family, including son Charles Jr., who had already built himself a successful career in IT, but had virtually zero music experience, before joining his father's band in the early 2000's. This week, Charles Jr. remembers 16RPM records, his mother's vinyl collection and his dad's guitars over the years, plus we discuss his own vinyl buying habits and why this final album took over a generation to complete. He also talks about the memories he's made through his father's music with his own son, Charles III, including their recent appearance together on The Tonight Show. The album Chuck is available on Dualtone Records wherever you buy music; go to ChuckBerry.com for more info. SPONSORS: Vinyl Me, Please; Pinwheel Records; Vinyl For A Cause; Flipbin.

Episode 68: Olivia Chaney of Offa Rex Aug 25, 2017

Born in Italy and raised in the English city of Oxford, Olivia Chaney is an acclaimed and classically-trained pianist/folk singer who -- thanks to a Twitter dialogue with Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy -- recently partnered with the group to form the side-project Offa Rex, providing a psychedelic motif to traditional British folk songs from as early as the 17th century. This week, Olivia talks about being intrigued by Bob Dylan's John Wesley Harding LP as a child, the vinyl care package she recently received from her label Nonesuch, opening shows for the legendary Robert Plant, the song selection process for Offa Rex's debut album The Queen Of Hearts, how our discussion has potentially influenced her to record direct to analog from now on and how cassette tapes on family road trips not only formed her earliest musical memories, but also became the focus for the cover of her debut album, 2015's The Longest River. Visit both oliviachaney.net and offarex.co for music, social media and more! SPONSORS: Vinyl Me, Please; Pinwheel Records; Vinyl For A Cause; Flipbin.

Episode 67: TW Walsh (Lo Tom / Pedro the Lion) Aug 18, 2017

As one of indie-rock's busiest mastering engineers, TW Walsh has tackled almost 1,000 different projects, including releases for Sufjan Stevens, Ben Gibbard and The Shins. He's also had a longtime friendship and working alliance with former Vinyl Emergency guest David Bazan, writing and performing on albums for Pedro The Lion, Headphones and most recently Lo Tom, as Walsh and Bazan are joined by Starflyer 59's Jason Martin and Trey Many. As Lo Tom's debut full-length was released last month by Barsuk, and his newest solo effort Terrible Freedom came out in April, Walsh joins us to discuss his father's extensive record collection, the future of mastering in the age of digital DIY, how the benefits of streaming have prevented albums from growing on us, Elvis Costello's vast and diverse discography, whether Walsh will continue to press vinyl on his own and how he became the subject of one of Bazan's best-known lyrics. Visit twwalsh.com to buy his releases on vinyl or digitally, and pick up Lo Tom's new album from Barsuk.com or wherever you purchase music. You can also follow @LoTomLoTom on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. SPONSORS: Vinyl Me, Please; Pinwheel Records; Vinyl For A Cause; Flipbin.

Episode 66: Victor DeLorenzo & Janet Schiff (Violent Femmes / Nineteen Thirteen) Aug 11, 2017

Original Violent Femmes drummer Victor DeLorenzo and his Nineteen Thirteen bandmate/cellist Janet Schiff discuss their own relationships with vinyl over the years, the unique sounds they're creating as a portable two-piece band and how a chance meeting at a diner spawned their musical kinship. Janet recalls "inventing" her own cello as a child, spinning records in her makeshift basement roller rink and whether or not to buy your bandmate's classic LP while he's in the record store with you, while Victor talks about the iconic artwork of the Femmes' self-titled debut and sets the record straight on their now legendary gig opening for The Pretenders at Milwaukee's Oriental Theatre in 1981, plus how it feels to have sports fans in packed stadiums around the world clapping along with his seminal percussion on "Blister In The Sun." Check out their two most recent albums, Music For Time Travel and The Dream, on Spotify and visit nineteenthirteen.com for upcoming gigs, their social media and more!

Episode 65: Bassist David Guy (G.E.D. Soul Records / Amanda Shires) Aug 04, 2017

Despite vinyl's comeback, selling it online as a small, independent label is an uphill battle; Now imagine doing so door-to-door. As former Director of Operations for G.E.D. Soul Records, there were times when Nashville native David Guy would do just that: visit record stores across the country unannounced, selling funky 45's and adding to his own vast record collection along the way.

Currently, David is a hard-working bassist for hire, having spent time in many G.E.D. Soul projects like The Coolin' System and DeRobert & The Half-Truths -- as well as Time Is Tight, a Booker T. & The MG's tribute act -- before joining up with Amanda Shires last year, touring behind her 2016 album My Piece Of Land and playing some of the largest shows he's ever done, opening for Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit.

With even more excitement coming soon (Amanda and her band hit Red Rocks next month and film a set for PBS' Austin City Limits in a few weeks), David discusses some of his recent soul jazz finds on vinyl, the remarkable history of United Record Pressing's Motown Suite, which albums he picks up for Amanda while on tour, how race can wrongfully decide who reaches a wider audience, and much more. Follow David's record collection and life on the road via Instagram @davidandguy, check upcoming tour dates at AmandaShiresMusic.com and pick up some of David's releases via GEDSoulRecords.com!

Episode 64: Rosanne Cash Jul 21, 2017

2017 marks a big vinyl year for veteran singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash: Written primarily about the lives and deaths of her mother, father and step-mother (Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash and June Carter-Cash, respectively), her 2006 record Black Cadillac was just pressed for the first time by Capitol as part of their 75th anniversary, and a 30th anniversary reissue of King's Record Shop -- the first LP to ever give a female country singer four number one Billboard singles from one album -- was also recently released by Sony Legacy/Columbia. Today, Rosanne discusses those albums making their way back to vinyl, her adoration for detailed liner notes, fair pay for artists in a digital world, the message she had carved into the dead wax of the first press of 1981's Seven Year Ache and spending an entire Christmas transfixed by the Beatles' White Album. We also talk about her role in the restoration of her father's boyhood home and her upcoming performance at the Johnny Cash Heritage Festival in Dyess, AR. Follow @RosanneCash on Facebook and Twitter!

Episode 63: Producer John Congleton Jul 14, 2017

Texas native John Congleton's production, engineering and mixing résumé is as diverse as they come, spanning projects with everyone from Blondie to The Roots & Erykah Badu to Angel Olsen to Talking Heads' David Byrne to gospel legend Kirk Franklin. A Grammy-winner for his work on St. Vincent's 2014 self-titled album, Congleton also fronted The Paper Chase for over a decade, crafting some of the most feverishly manic and intriguing music known within indie-rock -- thanks to, in his words today, being "willing to destroy the integrity of a completely reasonable song for the effect of an audio hallucination." Last year saw the release of his first post-Paper Chase album under The Nighty Nite moniker, titled "Until The Horror Goes," and he's already produced five albums that have come out so far in 2017 from Nelly Furtado, Blondie, Future Islands, Xiu Xiu and Goldrapp. On this episode, Congleton recalls his early memories of ZZ Top and Fawlty Towers, the influence of Pink Floyd, Public Enemy and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop on the Paper Chase, what artists of all walks ultimately want from an engineer or producer, where exactly he keeps his Grammy and why we're still fascinated with the Zodiac Killer. Be sure to follow him @congletonjohn on Twitter and Instagram!

Episode 62: The Secret Sisters Jul 07, 2017

Despite dubbing themselves a "baby band" when comparing their short history in the music business to those that have championed their work, Muscle Shoals, Alabama siblings Lydia and Laura Rogers have a strong connection to the history and romanticism of vinyl records. From putting on mini-concerts for each other on their parents' waterbed -- in sync with Highway 101 and Linda Ronstadt albums -- to Jack White recording and putting the duo to vinyl for the first time, the Secret Sisters' love for the medium matches their undeniable devotion to the art of songwriting. Since that first Third Man seven-inch, they've continued to work with producers who eye authenticity as an integral part of their aesthetic: the legendary T. Bone Burnett, current Nashville staple Dave Cobb and most recently Brandi Carlile, who helmed the Sisters' emotional new album You Don't Own Me Anymore, a title that speaks volumes to the trials and tribulations of heartache, bankruptcy and professional distress that nearly killed the Sisters' career since their last record. Today, Lydia and Laura sit down to discuss touring United Record Pressing and watching their first vinyl release being pressed, why vinyl continues to be the measurement by which the Sisters gauge how well their own albums sound, how You Don't Own Me Anymore's exemplary cover art is a familial response to their recent struggles, and some stellar stories involving Levon Helm, Fiona Apple, Elton John and human-sized catfish. Visit SecretSistersBand.com for tour dates, social media and more.

Episode 61: Speech of Arrested Development Jun 23, 2017

Grammy-winning Atlanta hip-hop collective Arrested Development exploded in the early 90's with hits like "Tennessee," "People Everyday" and "Mr. Wendal," as the band's debut LP -- 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of... -- would quickly be certified 4x platinum. 25 years since that first record, and with a limited orange vinyl repress newly released by Universal Music, Arrested Development frontman Speech joins us to talk about the influence and legalities of sampling, his first exposure to vinyl through the promos his father received as a nightclub owner, the fascinating LP artwork of Funkadelic, the Ohio Players and Earth, Wind & Fire, being the first rap artist in his native Milwaukee to be on vinyl, and how crate digging in the 80's fueled not just hip-hop, but the music industry as a whole, while turning producers and DJ's into audio historians. Follow @speech__ on Twitter and Instagram, and get the band's music, tour dates and more at adtheband2.com!

Episode 60: Mastering engineer Ed Brooks (R.E.M., Death Cab for Cutie, Pearl Jam) Jun 16, 2017

Seattle-area native Ed Brooks has engineered, mastered or lent a hand on some of the biggest indie records of the last two decades, such as Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism, the self-titled Fleet Foxes debut and dozens of releases from Minus the Bear, Cursive, the Decemberists, Mastodon and more. His résumé also extends to albums for R.E.M., Heart, the B-52's and an astounding 70+ projects alone for Pearl Jam, including the mastering of their enormous bootleg CD series, which kicked off in 2003. Today, Ed fondly recalls some early vinyl memories of Buck Owens and Alice Cooper, his obsession with speakers as a teenager and why he shifted from engineering and producing into mastering in the late 90's. He also recommends a few Seattle-area record stores, chimes in on the vinyl vs. digital debate, and shares what it was like to be present for the creation of one of R.E.M.'s biggest hits, "Man on the Moon." Visit ResonantMastering.com or follow them on Facebook for more info on Ed's work!

Episode 59: Collector's Club with Andy Menchal (Dramatic Lovers / Decibully / Temper Temper) Jun 09, 2017

Milwaukee isn't necessarily known worldwide for musical diversity, but it's safe to say that Milwaukee-area bands of all genres often share members, stages and a mutual respect for one another vs. a divisive, competitive mentality that might take place in a larger city. Andy Menchal is just one of the many versatile MKE musicians who has played in an array of acts over the years, from The Goodboy Suit's brand of intense indie-rock to the sweat-inducing dance-punk of Temper Temper to Polyvinyl alt-country troubadours Decibully to current five-piece Dramatic Lovers (featuring members of The Promise Ring, Maritime and Decibully). They recently released their debut 7" of Brit-pop-influenced shoegaze -- which wouldn't be out of place if released by 4AD or Creation Records -- and as a massive vinyl enthusiast, Andy talks today about his record collection, the Milwaukee music scene, how food and craft beer culture intersects with the world of vinyl, the record label he started with Sylvan Esso's Nick Sanborn, and more! Follow Dramatic Lovers on Facebook and Twitter, and pre-order their new 7" from ForeignLeisure.com.

Episode 58: Dave Porter (Better Call Saul / Breaking Bad) Jun 02, 2017

As an award-winning composer, Dave Porter communicates mystery, tension, levity and everything in between with riveting instrumental music for film and television. Whether through Breaking Bad's hauntingly iconic theme or a percussion-heavy backdrop that emphasizes panic on Better Call Saul, Walter White himself Bryan Cranston has called Dave's work "evocative, meaningful and an essential part of the storytelling" we see every week. With highly-respected boutique record label Music On Vinyl releasing Dave's score to Better Call Saul's first two seasons June 9th -- and a terrific third season wrapping up June 19th on AMC -- Dave joins us to discuss why he wrongly assumed the score for Breaking Bad would never sell on vinyl, where he was the first time he heard Prince, his process behind the scenes, how his time in both Washington DC and New York City shaped his artistic growth and much more. Follow Dave on Twitter @daveportermusic, and visit his website at daveporter.tv.

Episode 57: Tim Minneci of Dig Me Out Podcast & Music Reissues We Need May 19, 2017

Since launching in 2011, Dig Me Out has been essential podcast listening for music fans, as Tim Minneci and his co-host Jason Dziak dive head-first into classic albums, one-hit wonders, specific music scenes and more -- all within the alt-rock/indie universe -- often accompanied with an intriguing artist interview or a roundtable of journalists, musicians or fellow podcast hosts chiming in. Today, Tim drops in to discuss the current (and future) state of vinyl reissues, his work as a college radio DJ and program director, record stores near his native Buffalo NY suburbs, how fans of Dig Me Out are constantly introducing him to music he missed the first time around, and his captivating new blog -- Music Reissues We Need -- that focuses on albums that need a first time pressing on vinyl or at least a quality, commercially-available repress. Visit DigMeOutPodcast.com and MusicReissuesWeNeed.tumblr.com to follow the podcast and blog, and order Tim's two books -- 2013's Power Ballad and this year's Small Stories -- via Amazon!

Episode 56: Mark Piro of Analog Spark and RecordNerdz Podcast May 05, 2017

As a longtime employee of Razor and Tie -- known for their compilation and reissue work in the 90's -- Mark Piro is living the dream that any record collector would want: Founding your own imprint and putting out high-quality represses of classic albums that haven't seen the light of day on vinyl in ages. Inspired by the work of Mobile Fidelity, Analogue Productions and ORG, Mark heads Analog Spark, dedicated to using only the best original sound sources, vinyl plants, jackets and sleeves while repressing favorites of yesteryear (Dave Brubek, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald) as well as much-needed alternative-rock reissues for Blind Melon, The Cranberries and Ben Folds, where original copies still go for several hundred dollars. Today, Mark discusses his journey in founding the label, his completist tendencies with The Beatles discography, how playing Rock Paper Scissors with Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha led to him scoring one of his prized Oasis possessions, how his vinyl habits differ from his co-hosts on the popular RecordNerdz podcast and much more! We also geek out on specific pressings from The Zombies, The Beach Boys, The White Stripes and Elvis Costello, PLUS you can win Analog Spark's recent colored represses of two Ben Folds releases: The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner on opaque red, and Songs For Silverman on clear! Visit analogspark.com and @analogspark on social media for upcoming releases, as well as @recordnerdz on Instagram!

Episode 55: Andrew Winistorfer (Senior Editor of Vinyl Me, Please) Apr 28, 2017

Not only has record subscription service Vinyl Me, Please been supplying record lovers with exclusive album presses each month -- whether they be well-known classics, brand new releases or long-buried gems -- since early 2013, but they've also amped up their written content substantially since hiring on Oshkosh, WI native Andrew Winistorfer as their Senior Editor. The written portion of the site has become so popular in fact, that VMP recently had their first book published -- 100 Albums You Need In Your Collection -- a 250+ page, hardcover must-have for any record addict, available now at your preferred independent book retailer as well as Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble and other major chains. Today, Andrew schools me on mainstream country as well as discusses his career in journalism, the incredible backstory to Marvin Gaye's "Here, My Dear" album, why major names in hip-hop aren't clued in to vinyl's resurgence, the popularity of VMP's recent Gorillaz and Fiona Apple pressings, some gems in his vast vinyl collection, recommended record stores in Madison and more. PLUS tune into learn how to win your own copy of the new Vinyl Me, Please book!

Episode 54: Kevin Bergeron (Waxwork Records) / Record Store Day 2017 Apr 21, 2017

If you're a vinyl collector, a film buff or both, you likely know Waxwork Records' attention to detail, as they've pressed horror movie and cult classic scores and soundtracks on lushly-colored vinyl accompanied with extensive liner notes and mind-blowing packaging since 2013. Today, Waxwork CEO and co-founder Kevin Bergeron discusses his favorite New Orleans record stores, the process in selecting and pressing Waxwork releases, being a member of the first U.S. band to ever tour Cuba, working with Martin Scorsese on 2016's Taxi Driver release, his thoughts on this year's runaway hit thriller Get Out, and EXCLUSIVE news on upcoming Waxwork pressings for Queen Of Earth, The Exorcist, The French Connection, several Friday The 13th sequels and more! Tune in as well to enter to win a beautiful purple pressing of the score for 1980's Altered States by legendary composer John Corigliano! Visit WaxworkRecords.com for more info on the label and upcoming releases. Plus this week, we discuss this weekend's Record Store Day releases with Nick Digilio on WGN Radio 720AM in Chicago!

Episode 53: Strand of Oaks Apr 14, 2017

Timothy Showalter -- the voice and mind behind Strand of Oaks -- describes himself as a "smiling, sweaty, straight-out-of-a-river wild man" this week, and the vibrant album cover of this year's "Hard Love" encapsulates his aura so well, it nearly jumps off the shelf. His infatuation with vinyl and music in general is contagious and vast, expressing his adoration in this episode for anyone from "Weird Al" Yankovic to Endless Boogie. Today, we also discuss the crazy night that led to the cover photo for "Hard Love," why having his face on his album covers plays into his joy of digging for vinyl, what some of his discography is going for online (and why he won't buy anything on vinyl over the internet), what the best sounding album in his collection is, loaning Basic Cable Band leader Jimmy Vivino his guitar when Strand of Oaks recently played Conan, his obsession with dub music, whether one can truly be present while listening to music alone, and much more! Visit StrandOfOaks.net for tour dates, social media, etc.

Episode 52: Levi Seitz of Black Belt Mastering RETURNS Apr 07, 2017

Previous guest Levi Seitz of Seattle's Black Belt Mastering has an impressive résumé, including work with Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie, Macklemore collaborator Wanz and doing vinyl cutting for last year's Pearl Jam Vault Series release and Mother Love Bone reissues. This past December, another previous guest Rocky Votolato recorded three nights of performances at Levi's home, which has now been spun into "Live At Black Belt," Rocky's first live album, cut to vinyl by Levi and limited to 500 vinyl copies on pink/white swirl. This week, Levi returns to discuss how this new project came to be and how it was recorded, the distinct difference between "vinyl mastering" and "mastering for vinyl," working recently with Halo composer Marty O'Donnell, true sound differences between 1LP or 2LP releases cut at 33RPM vs. 45, how you can tell if records in your own collection have had to be re-cut, the importance of matrix numbers within the deadwax, the myth of the "hot stamper" and a fun Paul McCartney story.

Episode 51: Free Vinyl Friday! -- Ross Hammond, Lincoln Barr and La Historia Mar 31, 2017

Last week, we hit our 50th episode of the show, and as a thank you for your support, it's time for an episode devoted entirely to vinyl giveaways! Tune in this week to hear some great new tunes and learn how to win free, limited-pressing LP's from instrumental jazz/folk guitarist Ross Hammond (Sacramento, CA), traditional pop vocalist/songwriter Lincoln Barr (Seattle, WA) and indie-rockers La Historia (Rockford, IL). And if you're an artist or record label that would like your music showcased or your vinyl given away via our podcast, don't hesitate to get in touch over email: vinylemergency@gmail.com! SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records at 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; Vinyl For A Cause, promoting charitable good, one record sale at a time; Flipbin: the handy as hell, flip-thru, now-playing, keep 'em close, flip/play/display storage for your favorite vinyl records. Use promo code EMERGENCY to save $10 off your order, for a limited time! Follow @VinylEmergency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Questions and feedback are always welcomed. Please consider making a donation over at vinylemergency.com, leaving an iTunes review or sharing our program with a friend!

Episode 50: Noah Gabriel and Adam Gardner Mar 24, 2017

Whether performing solo or fronting the power-trio Noah's Arcade, Noah Gabriel's songs are powerful dissections of characters in desperate times, often taking even more desperate measures. Based just north of Aurora IL, Noah has opened for the likes of the Old 97's and Robert Randolph, crafting his own blend of Americana by pulling equally from the fiery blues of Stevie Ray Vaughn as well as the wry folk witticisms of Lucinda Williams. Recently, with the help of producer and longtime friend Adam Gardner, Gabriel has made his most introspective and best album yet with "Dead Reckoning"-- a concept record about terminal illness, death and the grieving process. Gardner, who recently moved back to suburban Chicago, built a strong reputation doing session work in Nashville with Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Beck, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell) and collaborating with artists like Sturgill Simpson, Keb' Mo', Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett and others. Today, Noah and Adam sit down to talk about their own record collections, the struggles of breaking into the Austin and Chicago music scenes, how "Dead Reckoning" was structured for vinyl since its conception, the history of Nashville's RCA Studio A, the specific family members that have influenced Noah's writing and certain records from Ryan Adams, Joni Mitchell and more that have changed their lives. For the release of "Dead Reckoning," Noah Gabriel will showcase his acrylic paintings and perform both a solo/acoustic and full band/electric set in Batavia, IL at Water Street Studios and Kiss The Sky respectively tonight, March 24th. You can also order the album, find additional show information and more at noahgabriel.com. PLUS tune in to learn how you could win a free copy of "Dead Reckoning" on vinyl! SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records at 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; Vinyl For A Cause, promoting charitable good, one record sale at a time; Flipbin: the handy as hell, flip-thru, now-playing, keep 'em close, flip/play/display storage for your favorite vinyl records. Use promo code EMERGENCY to save $10 off your order, for a limited time! Follow @VinylEmergency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Questions and feedback are always welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com. Please consider making a donation over at vinylemeregncy.com, leaving an iTunes review or sharing our program with a friend!

Episode 49: Allen Epley of Shiner and The Life & Times Mar 17, 2017

Kansas City, MO quartet Shiner are seen as giants of the indefinable mathy/space-rock scene, having built a rabid cult following while touring with acts like Jawbox, Hum and more during the mid-90's/early-00's. For the last five years, the band has done sporadic reunion shows in support of pressing their albums to vinyl for the first time, beginning with 2001's "The Egg," followed by "Starless" (2000) and most recently "Lula Divinia," coinciding with that record's 20th anniversary this year. Today, vocalist/guitarist Allen Epley discusses his journey from 70's AM favorites to indie heavyweights like The Jesus Lizard, his current musical role in Chicago's production of the Blue Man Group, recent happenings with his current trio The Life & Times, how the remastering process works for the Shiner vinyl pressings -- plus how Fall Out Boy's Joe Trohman got that reissue campaign going -- and more! You can order "Lula Divinia" on black or splattered vinyl at shiner.seenmerch.com as well as purchase the latest Life & Times covers EP "Dopplegangers" at thelifeandtimes.bandcamp.com. SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records at 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; Vinyl For A Cause, promoting charitable good, one record sale at a time; Flipbin: the handy as hell, flip-thru, now-playing, keep 'em close, flip/play/display storage for your favorite vinyl records. Use promo code EMERGENCY to save $10 off your order, for a limited time! Follow @VinylEmergency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Questions and feedback are always welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com. Please consider making a donation over at vinylemeregncy.com, leaving an iTunes review or sharing our program with a friend!

Episode 48: Ted Leo Mar 03, 2017

From highly-influential albums like 2001's "The Tyranny of Distance" and 2003's "Hearts of Oak" to his collaboration with Aimee Mann in The Both to the charming, seemingly effortless covers he's laid down in salute to Tears For Fears, The Pogues, Split Enz and more, it's abundantly clear that Ted Leo loves the art of songwriting. Through his kinetic guitar work and a voice that reaches for the rafters, he can jump remarkably from a protest motif to waxing nostalgic, or the 2 Tone movement to power pop, often within the same song. And while it's been a long seven years since his last proper album with the Pharmacists, that doesn't mean one of indie-rock's brightest and most passionate performers hasn't been busy. Announcing that he's honed nearly three albums worth of new material since 2010's "The Brutalist Bricks," the timing was right for a Kickstarter launch earlier this month to fund his upcoming full-length sans label structure. While admitting he had some fears about crowdfunding, Ted's fans and fellow musicians came out in droves to support him when the news dropped, crushing the original goal and then some in less than 24 hours. On today's show, Ted discusses the Kickstarter process, his days as a DJ at school dances as well as on Notre Dame campus radio, some favorite record stores to dig in, a few punk rarities in his collection, his favorite Pharmacists album cover, recording a show direct-to-acetate at Third Man Records in Nashville, whether or not his records with the Pharmacists will be reissued, what keeps him happy and motivated in today's political climate and much more. Follow @tedleo on Twitter, and through March 24th, you can pre-order the new album over at tedleo.com! PLUS we spin a new jam from Boston band Sinnet, who are friends of the show and need your help through PledgeMusic to get their next LP pressed to vinyl. Go to sinnetsongs.com for more info!

Episode 47: Austin Lucas Feb 24, 2017

Singer/songwriter Austin Lucas' unique, lush voice and DIY ethics have earned him tours with a vast array of artists -- ranging from Frank Turner to Willie Nelson -- and rave reviews from well-known music publications like Q Magazine and No Depression. Today, Austin chats about the influence of fellow Indiana native John Mellencamp, his early attraction to "We Are The World" and the La Bamba soundtrack, having an album rejected by his previous record label, how his background in opera and choir as a child helps him today, why women are too often the villain in country songs, the songwriting career and massive record collection of his father, and much more. You can help Austin fund the recording of his next album, Immortal Americans, by purchasing tickets to his house-show tour, which begins March 10th and goes through May. Those who purchase tickets can also get a download of the specific show they attended! All the details are at austinlucas.com. SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records at 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; Vinyl For A Cause, promoting charitable good, one record sale at a time; Flipbin: the handy as hell, flip-thru, now-playing, keep 'em close, flip/play/display storage for your favorite vinyl records. Follow @VinylEmergency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Questions and feedback are always welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com. Please consider making a donation over at vinylemeregncy.com, leaving an iTunes review or sharing our program with a friend!

Episode 46: LIVE 1st Anniversary with Bob Nanna and Chris Broach of Braid Feb 03, 2017

Recorded in front of a live audience at Pinwheel Records in Chicago, we celebrate Vinyl Emergency's first birthday with vocalists/guitarists Chris Broach and Bob Nanna of influential emo quartet Braid! On top of performing three rare acoustic songs, the guys also chat about working with J. Robbins on Braid's iconic 1997 album "Frame & Canvas," what they currently have been purchasing on vinyl, hilarious tour stories, their first introduction to vinyl as kids, the differences in writing and releasing albums now versus during their original tenure in the 90's, their upcoming side projects, and so much more! Check out some photos from this special evening over at facebook.com/vinylemergency and keep up on Braid news on Twitter or Facebook, @BraidCentral. Also, visit our social media this week to enter to win a rare copy of "Frame & Canvas" on picture disc, limited to 330 copies, courtesy of Polyvinyl Records! SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records at 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; Vinyl For A Cause, promoting charitable good, one record sale at a time; Flipbin: the handy as hell, flip-thru, now-playing, keep 'em close, flip/play/display storage for your favorite vinyl records. Follow @VinylEmergency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Questions and feedback are always welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com. Please consider making a donation over at vinylemeregncy.com, leaving an iTunes review or sharing our program with a friend!

Episode 45: Steven Hyden Jan 20, 2017

If you've read an album review, music article or artist interview in print or online in the last fifteen years or so, chances are you've read Steven Hyden's work. Aside from freelancing for Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Slate and more, he's also been a staff writer for both The AV Club and Grantland, and joined UPROXX as their culture critic last summer. He's also host of the Celebration Rock podcast and author of the fantastic 2016 book Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me, which breaks down the history of specific rivalries or beefs within pop music and explains their relation to our daily lives. Today, Steven and I discuss recent price hikes in vinyl, the thrill of riding your bike to and from record stores as a kid, the loneliness of being an author, the seemingly instinctual competitiveness between men, awkward moments with Ian MacKaye and Billy Corgan, and why his four-year-old son loves "Hotel California," but is scared of "Kashmir." Follow @steven_hyden on Twitter for links to his articles, Celebration Rock and more. SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records, 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; and Vinyl For A Cause, promoting charitable good, one record sale at a time. Follow @VinylEmergency on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Show questions and feedback are always welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com. Please consider making a donation over at vinylemeregncy.com, leaving an iTunes review or sharing our program with a friend!

Episode 44: Chris Brown of Bull Moose Records Jan 13, 2017

A longtime employee of indie record store chain Bull Moose in the US Northeast, Chris Brown is credited with having the original idea for Record Store Day, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this April. Also known for his detailed YouTube videos for RSD fans -- often showcasing the physical releases for the first time each year -- Chris discusses the history of RSD and his annually anticipated videos, his early love for classical vinyl, playing in bands and much more! Follow him on Twitter @RealChrisBrown, and shop BullMoose.com for your next record fix! SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records, 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; Vinyl For A Cause, promoting charitable good, one record sale at a time; Table-Turned, a new vinyl subscription service giving you your choice of genre for as low as about $12/album. Follow @VinylEmergency on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Show questions and feedback are always welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com. Sign up to be a part of our LIVE audience Sat., Jan. 14th in Chicago at vinylemergency.com!

Episode 43: Bill Janovitz of Buffalo Tom Jan 06, 2017

A seminal power-trio of early-to-mid 90's alternative-rock, Buffalo Tom are fresh off the funding of a brand new album via PledgeMusic, and plotting tour dates this year around the upcoming 25th anniversary reissue of their influential third album, Let Me Come Over. Today, singer/guitarist Bill Janovitz discusses the feeling of having his music on vinyl for the first time, discovering tons of classic 45's that were left behind by his neighbors, the eclectic sounds of 70's AM radio, the democratic nature of Buffalo Tom choosing their album art and earning some cool points with his daughter for getting a song dedication from Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard. Plus we delve into his work as an author on two Rolling Stones books, a bit of history on the recording of Buffalo Tom's Sleepy Eyed album and the enigmatic persona of J. Mascis. Visit pledgemusic.com/projects/buffalotom for info on contributing towards the next BT album and follow @billjanovitz and @BuffaloTomBand on Twitter for other upcoming announcements! SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records, 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; Vinyl For A Cause, promoting charitable good, one record sale at a time; Table-Turned, a new vinyl subscription service giving you your choice of genre for as low as about $12/album. Follow @VinylEmergency on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Show questions and feedback are always welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com. Sign up to be a part of our LIVE audience Sat., Jan. 14th in Chicago at vinylemergency.com!

Episode 42: Vinyl Me, Please Year In Review with Cameron Schaefer Dec 30, 2016

Instead of a typical Best Of recap episode at year's end, I thought it'd be fun for Cameron Schaefer -- partner and head of music at Vinyl Me, Please -- to return to the show to look back at each of VMP's 12 albums of the month for 2016 and talk about why each record was chosen, the reactions to each release from subscribers and other vinyl fanatics, and what challenges or unexpected awesome surprises awaited them during the process. From Nada Surf to Nina Simone, Big Bill Broonzy to Beck and everything in between, this is a great way to learn more about the how's and why's of the selection process for Vinyl Me, Please which continues to wow long-time collectors and first-time spinners year after year. If you'd like more info on VMP's back story and Cameron's own relationship with vinyl, don't forget to go back to episode 19 of Vinyl Emergency, when he made his first guest spot! SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records, 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; Vinyl For A Cause, promoting charitable good, one record sale at a time; Table-Turned, a new vinyl subscription service giving you your choice of genre for as low as about $12/album. Follow @VinylEmergency on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Show questions and feedback are always welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com. Sign up to be a part of our LIVE audience Sat., Jan. 14th in Chicago at vinylemergency.com!

Episode 41: Jimmy Pardo Dec 16, 2016

Pioneer of podcasting and stand-up comedy veteran Jimmy Pardo joins me this week to discuss his memories of vinyl growing up, working in Chicago record stores, his sales career with MCA Records in the mid-80's, warming up audiences for The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and TBS' Conan, and possibly his shortest comedy gig ever, "opening" for Elton John! As host of the incredibly popular Never Not Funny podcast, Jimmy also talks about the fantastic work the show has done for cleft palate charity Smile Train during their yearly Pardcastathon, having raised almost $800,000 since 2009. Jimmy's 2005 album Pompous Clown is now available for the first time on vinyl from astrecords.bigcartel.com, and Pardcastathon 2017 takes place this coming March! Subscribe to Never Not Funny however you listen to podcasts, and follow @jimmypardo and @nevernotfunny on Twitter!

Episode 40: Jim McDermott of How To Fix The Music Business Dec 09, 2016

After a long break, it's the big 4-0 today, and I'm thrilled to have music industry guru Jim McDermott joining us for our fortieth episode! From Warner to PolyGram to Island to Universal to Sony, Jim's three decades of experience in marketing have seen him at the helm of album campaigns for the likes of David Bowie, New Order, Sheryl Crow, U2, Depeche Mode, Guns N' Roses, The Replacements and more. In July of this year, he began his own podcast -- How To Fix The Music Business -- where he chats with insiders and musicians to find out how the industry can survive and still fuel artists both creatively and financially. In this chat, Jim drops lots of great industry knowledge and we also discuss how ditching his vinyl in the CD era actually led to his career in music, his early and current vinyl obsessions, a funny backstage meeting with The Cure's Robert Smith and why sending fake dog poop in the mail can sometimes work wonders! Check out How To Fix The Music Business however you listen to podcasts or at HowToFixTheMusicBusiness.com, and follow Jim on Twitter @thetrickness. SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records, 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; Vinyl For A Cause, promoting charitable good, one record sale at a time; Table-Turned, a new vinyl subscription service giving you your choice of genre for as low as about $12/album. If you like what you hear on Vinyl Emergency, send us a screenshot of your iTunes review of the show or donate to keep us up and running (either by December 10th) and you'll be entered into the Mint Condition Coalition, giving you entry into a gigantic giveaway at the end of 2016 for records and swag from Vinyl Me Please, Warner Bros., Topshelf, Wax Mage, Hey Mercedes and much more. Visit vinylemergency.com and click 'donate' for more info! Follow @VinylEmergency on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Show questions and feedback are always welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

November Mini-Episode! Nov 18, 2016

While we're still taking a break from the regular weekly schedule between now and the end of 2016, you can get up to speed on some upcoming guests, our confirmed date for the LIVE first anniversary episode of Vinyl Emergency and more by checking out this mini-episode! If you like what you hear on Vinyl Emergency, send us a screenshot of your iTunes review of the show or donate to keep us up and running and you'll be entered into the Mint Condition Coalition, giving you entry into a gigantic giveaway at the end of 2016 for records and swag from Vinyl Me Please, Warner Bros., Topshelf, Wax Mage, Hey Mercedes and much more. Visit vinylemergency.com and click 'donate' for more info! Follow @VinylEmergency on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Show questions and feedback are always welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 39: Derek Jones and Gene Priest of Sharing Needles With Friends RETURN Nov 04, 2016

Derek Jones and Gene Priest -- hosts of the Sharing Needles With Friends podcast -- return to the show to help me go through this year's list of exclusive releases for the Black Friday edition of Record Store Day, happening November 25th. On top of discussing our own relationships with RSDBF and which releases seem worthwhile this year, we also talk about live albums, jazz favorites, whether additional LP's of demos on classic album reissues are worth the extra cost, the recent excitement around the Stranger Things soundtrack, an upcoming Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers box set and more! Visit Gene and Derek at SNWFRecords.com, subscribe to the Sharing Needles With Friends podcast, join their Facebook group, follow them on Instagram @sharingneedleswithfriends and check out their NEW radio show at mixcloud.com/snwf!

Episode 38: Pearl Jam's Yield with The Great Albums Podcast Oct 28, 2016

Here's something a little different this week! I recently guested for the second time on The Great Albums podcast -- a fantastic show hosted by Bill Lambusta and Brian Erickson -- that dissects classic records track-by-track, defining what makes them so special. I was ecstatic that they invited me back to talk about 1998's "Yield," recently reissued on vinyl and the fifth album from one of my favorite bands: Pearl Jam. So instead of me hosting this week and asking the questions, I thought you'd enjoy hearing the entire Great Albums "Yield" episode, as a gesture of solidarity and cross-promotion in music podcasting, and giving Bill and Brian exposure to the Vinyl Emergency audience, just as they've been kind enough to do for us. In this spirited round-table discussion, we get into deep Pearl Jam lore, nerd out on the various amps and guitars used on the album, PJ's relationship with vinyl and so much more! Be sure to subscribe to The Great Albums however you listen to podcasts, visit them at TheGreatAlbums.com and follow them on Twitter and Facebook @thegreatalbums.

Episode 37: Collector's Club with Trevor Ingerson (Record Nerdz Podcast) Oct 21, 2016

It's time for another Collector's Club episode, where we discuss the shopping habits, preferred record stores and unique experiences of your everyday vinyl collector! This time, it's Las Vegas native and current Brooklyn resident Trevor Ingerson from the Record Nerdz Podcast, which you should be subscribing to if you don't already. Today, Trevor talks about how hometown sports began his quest for vinyl, memories of the Las Vegas punk scene, recent digging experiences in Liverpool, that weird time Bob Dylan was on Pawn Stars, Trevor's career in literature and whether there's a link between music streaming and digital books, plus some thoughts on Hum, Mark Kozelek and The Promise Ring! Follow Trevor and the Record Nerdz crew on Twitter and Instagram @tingerson and @recordnerdz respectively, and find the Record Nerdz podcast on Soundcloud, iTunes or however you listen to podcasts.

Episode 36: Benmont Tench of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Oct 14, 2016

Benmont Tench, founding member of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, has played on nearly every Petty album over the years -- even the ones not credited to the Heartbreakers, such as Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers. His trademark keys are all over classic songs like "Refugee," "The Waiting," "Don't Do Me Like That" and so many more, which you can hear on the recently-reissued Greatest Hits 2LP set, now back on vinyl for the first time in over 20 years, with an alternate cover to boot! Tench is also a member of Mudcrutch with Petty and Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell (a group that pre-dates the Heartbreakers, who released and toured on their second album earlier this year) and has performed/recorded with a staggering list of music's elite, including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Emmylou Harris, Ryan Adams and Fiona Apple. Today, Benmont gives us one of the most passionate arguments for vinyl that we've been lucky enough to share on the podcast. There's plenty of Petty talk here, but Ben's strident defense of musicians getting their due, his concern about America's current "war on beauty," and his humility in having worked with some of the best songwriters in the business make this a must-hear episode. Ben's music can be found at benmonttench.com or tompetty.com. Follow Ben on Twitter @benchten and Instagram @benmonttench.

Episode 35: Gordon Withers (Office Of Future Plans) Oct 07, 2016

Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, rock cellist Gordon Withers became fixated with the Washington, DC music scene early on, making pilgrimages to cities with killer record stores just to pick up new releases from influential bands like Jawbox. Fast forward to 2016, where Withers is now bandmates with Jawbox frontman J. Robbins in Office Of Future Plans -- not to mention a collaborator with BELLS≥, We All Inherit The Moon and The Pauses, among others. He's also known for releasing solo cover albums where the likes of Jawbox, The Joy Formidable and even Pink Floyd's iconic "The Dark Side of the Moon" are done entirely by cello, adding depth and new dynamics to the work he so greatly admires. Today, Gordon chats about being one of the first clients Gotta Groove Records ever had, some advice for those wanting to do Kickstarter campaigns for vinyl pressings, making his own Radio Shack catalogs as a kid, the influence of King Missile, an upcoming Jawbreaker project he's a part of, adventures in licensing when releasing an album worth of covers both digitally and physically, and much more. Visit gordonwithers.bandcamp.com to hear/purchase his solo work and officeoffutureplans.bandcamp.com to get acquainted with Office Of Future Plans!

Episode 34: Levi Seitz of Black Belt Mastering Sep 30, 2016

If you heard my recent chat with Rocky Votolato, you may remember us discussing a new 7" he appears on as part of the Live On Lacquer series, where artists cover each other's work and do so without any overdubs or tweaking -- all sounds are directly recorded onto acetate as a lathe machine cuts the record's information in real time, before it's sent off for duplication. Today, Levi Seitz from Live On Lacquer as well as Black Belt Mastering joins me to discuss the 7" series, his iconic Scully Lathe, the art of mastering for both digital and vinyl releases, whether there's truth to some of vinyl's biggest buzz words and much more! Levi's résumé includes work with Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla, Macklemore collaborator Wanz and even vinyl cutting for upcoming reissues of Mother Love Bone's first two releases as well as a forthcoming live Pearl Jam 3LP set, so this is a great chat for anyone interested in how sound is cut directly to vinyl. Visit blackbeltmastering.com to learn more about Levi's work, and make sure to enter our contest this week where you and a friend could both win the Rocky Votolato / Noah Gundersen Live On Lacquer 7", graciously provided by Levi for our listeners! SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records, 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; KeepersRecordClub.com, where you can save 10% on all subscriptions with promo code VINYLEMERGENCY at check out. If you like the show, leave us an iTunes review or donate to keep us up and running and you'll be entered into the Mint Condition Coalition, giving you entry into a gigantic giveaway at the end of 2016 for records and swag from Vinyl Me Please, Warner Bros., Topshelf, Wax Mage, Hey Mercedes and much more. Visit vinylemergency.com and click 'donate' for more info! Follow @VinylEmergency on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Show questions and feedback are welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 33: Rocky Votolato Sep 16, 2016

When Seattle-based singer/songwriter Rocky Votolato began releasing solo albums in the late 90's -- at a time when vinyl was all but out of the mainstream consciousness -- it was important to him that every single release of his was pressed to wax. Fast forward to 2016, and he's now celebrating the 10th anniversary reissue of "Makers" on Barsuk Records -- his favorite in his discography, and viewed as his crowning achievement among his fans -- with a tour fronting a talented band that gives new thrilling dynamics to that album's intimacy. Downstairs at Chicago's famed Schubas Tavern, Rocky and I chat about his DIY aesthetic, the idea that music isn't truly real until it's on vinyl, sharing records with his brother and Waxing bandmate Cody (who later went on to form The Blood Brothers), motorcycle movie soundtracks, raising his kids on Neutral Milk Hotel, recording a recent seven-inch live directly to lacquer, recording stories with Chris Walla and Casey Foubert, bouncing around between some of indie-rock's most prolific labels, the differences between himself now and the Rocky who wrote and recorded "Makers," and much more! Visit RockyVotolato.com for all his music, social media and current tour dates. SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records, 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; KeepersRecordClub.com, where you can save 10% on all subscriptions with promo code VINYLEMERGENCY at check out. If you like the show, leave us an iTunes review or donate to keep us up and running and you'll be entered into the Mint Condition Coalition, giving you entry into a gigantic giveaway at the end of 2016 for records and swag from Vinyl Me Please, Warner Bros., Topshelf, Wax Mage, Hey Mercedes and much more. Visit vinylemergency.com and click 'donate' for more info! Follow @VinylEmergency on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Show questions and feedback are welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 32: Vinyl For A Cause / Jesse W. Johnson Sep 09, 2016

Vinyl For A Cause is a Chicago-based record label based around music being a driver for charitable good. Every release features two bands covering each other on both sides of a limited-edition seven-inch record that'll never be repressed. Each band also chooses a charity of their choice, where a large portion of the record sales are donated to. Joining the show today are VFAC co-founder Adam Victorn and singer-songwriter Jesse W. Johnson, who appears on one of the VFAC's first releases -- a split 45 between himself and Coed Pagent -- expected to be out later this year. On this episode, we discuss the inspiration for Vinyl For A Cause and their partnership with the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, both Jesse and Adam's experiences getting their own records pressed for the first time, where they think the vinyl industry is headed, the age of crowdfunding and much more. Plus, Jesse plays "Stand to Smile" -- a new, unreleased song -- live and acoustic! Visit vinylforacause.com and jessewjohnson.com for more info on our guests this week. SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records, 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; KeepersRecordClub.com, where you can save 10% on all subscriptions with promo code VINYLEMERGENCY at check out. If you like the show, leave us an iTunes review or donate to keep us up and running and you'll be entered into the Mint Condition Coalition, giving you entry into a gigantic giveaway at the end of 2016 for records and swag from Vinyl Me Please, Warner Bros., Topshelf, Wax Mage, Hey Mercedes and much more. Visit vinylemergency.com and click 'donate' for more info! Follow @VinylEmergency on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Show questions and feedback are welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 31: Chris Banta (Brother O'Brother / Romanus Records) Sep 02, 2016

Brother O'Brother vocalist/guitarist and Romanus Records founder Chris Banta has been wowing vinyl collectors as of late with incredibly innovative pressings ranging from the world's first four-color, glow-in-the-dark, liquid-filled LP to a recent seven-inch on Fonoflo Records with customized Monopoly money inside. Based out of Indianapolis, the band's creativity when it comes to vinyl -- as well as their frenzied, retro sound -- have recently scored them gigs at Third Man Records' Nashville and Detroit locations, leading to Chris even using one of Jack White's amps during their set! You may have heard Heather and Sarah from Wax Mage Records sing his praises back on episode 17 of the show, and today he discusses Brother O'Brother's paint and confetti-fueled music video for "You Would," the rare hydra press he did for Third Man act The Greenhornes, how Third Man's Ben Blackwell purchased Chris' first glow-in-the-dark dinosaur bone record, his own pressings going for hundreds of dollars on Discogs, an upcoming Star Wars-themed variant Chris is working on and much more! Follow @brotherobrother_ and @romanusrecords on Instagram to check out all the crazy vinyl we talk about on this episode.

Episode 30: Joe Goodbody, stonemason of Westminster Abbey Aug 26, 2016

Visiting from England, one of my best pals Joe Goodbody stops by to discuss record shopping in the UK, the recent Brexit disaster, the Blur/Oasis feud and his dad's days booking bands for Socialist Workers Party benefit concerts in the 70's. As a stonemason at Westminster Abbey -- regarded as the Queen's church and the final resting place for some of Britain's most respected names -- Joe also discusses what it's like to work daily with material that goes back thousands of years and how he's likely the only person alive to have touched Charles Dickens' skull! Follow @JoeGoodbody on Twitter and Instagram, and visit Westminster-Abbey.org for more information. SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records, 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; KeepersRecordClub.com, where you can save 10% on all subscriptions with promo code VINYLEMERGENCY at check out. Follow @VinylEmergency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Show questions and feedback are welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 29: Matthew Sweet Aug 19, 2016

This year marks the 30th anniversary of alternative guitar-pop hero Matthew Sweet's debut album. His stretch of critically-acclaimed classics from 1991 through 1997 -- Girlfriend, Altered Beast, 100% Fun and Blue Sky On Mars -- delivered some of the most memorable college-radio hits of that decade, mixing sonic ambitiousness with a knack for lovelorn nostalgia and pristine vocal harmonies. Before he hits the road in September for a series of Midwest and east coast tour dates, Matthew talks about his recent Kickstarter campaign to fund his next album Tomorrow Forever, his early memories of vinyl as a kid, his cameos in the Austin Powers trilogy, his days in the Athens, GA music scene and fighting with then record labels about not wanting to appear on the cover of his albums, which leads to the story of how the iconic Girlfriend album cover came to be. Visit MatthewSweet.com for tour dates and album news, and follow him on Twitter @IAmMatthewSweet.

Episode 28: Tom Mullen (Washed Up Emo, Legacy/Sony) Aug 12, 2016

Through his various jobs in music marketing, Tom Mullen has always been and still is a fan, first and foremost. Making a website for one of his favorite groups led to a storied career with punk/indie labels like Equal Vision and Vagrant to larger companies like EMI and Legacy Recordings/Sony Music, where he is currently Senior Director of Creative and Marketing Partnerships. He's had the pleasure of working directly with icons such as Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Cyndi Lauper and more, though indie-rock fans know him well as the founder and voice behind the Washed Up Emo podcast and IsThisBandEmo.com, a search engine devoted to the seemingly ageless debate about where bands stand within the genre. Today, we discuss the venerable emo museum of videos, flyers and other memorabilia that fans and bands send his way, some out-of-print seven-inches he was recently gifted, why MTV called him about rare Nirvana video footage he unearthed and JeffBuckleyCollection.com -- worked on directly with the Buckley family -- which allows fans to digitally browse through the late singer/songwriter's record collection. Follow @WashedUpEmo and @tommullen on social media, and subscribe to the Washed Up Emo podcast on iTunes! PLUS: Learn how to win a rare split seven-inch from two Washed Up Emo favorites: Bob Nanna (Braid, Hey Mercedes, Lifted Bells) and Matt Pryor (Get Up Kids, New Amsterdams); Only 160 exist of this screen-printed gem, pressed on yellow vinyl! SPONSORS: Pinwheel Records, 1722 W. 18th St. in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood; MusicDirect.com, where you can get 15% off with promo code EMERGENCY for a limited time on all music orders; KeepersRecordClub.com, where you can save 10% on all subscriptions with promo code VINYLEMERGENCY at check out. Follow @VinylEmergency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Show questions and feedback are welcomed at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 27: David Bazan (Exclusive Live Performance) Aug 05, 2016

Through projects like Pedro The Lion, Headphones, Overseas and Lo Tom -- as well as his solo material -- David Bazan is known as one of today's most prolific, affecting songwriters. In recent years with manager Bob Andrews at Undertow, he has explored various ways to bring his music directly and more intimately to his fans, whether through his 7" vinyl subscription series, doing house shows vs. large club tours, his Alone At The Microphone DVD or various releases that beautifully reshape songs he's previously released, giving them new angles. Today, David chats extensively about America's current political climate, the richness of Tom Petty's "Wildflowers," what it's like to be in a band with those who made the first album he ever bought and much more. We also hear 2 EXCLUSIVE LIVE PERFORMANCES from David, recorded live at Chicago's Lincoln Hall. Follow @DavidBazan on Twitter and Instagram, and visit DavidBazan.com for tour dates and more.

Episode 26: Collector's Club with Kristian Sorge (Record Nerdz Podcast) Jul 15, 2016

Host of the Record Nerdz podcast Kristian Sorge joins me to discuss his 5,000+ collection of records, his urge to collect only the rarest forms of any particular album, digging at the world's largest record fair in Holland, and his day-job as a casting director, working on films like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist." We also talk about specific rare releases in his collection from The Misfits, Run The Jewels, Shellac and more, plus we find out what on earth a "vinyl hot stamper" is! Follow both Kristian and Record Nerdz on Instagram (@thepunkguy and @recordnerdz, respectively), and find the Record Nerdz podcast on iTunes, Soundcloud or however you listen to podcasts.

Episode 25: Doug Sohn of Hot Doug's Jul 08, 2016

For 13 years, Doug Sohn was the purveyor and head chef of Hot Doug's, one of Chicago's many must-eat establishments before the encased-meat emporium closed in the fall of 2014. During that time, Doug served up to 800 sausages a day -- with each usually being named after a musician, actress or former Cubs player. Lines wrapped around the block no matter the weather, and Hot Doug's gained acclaim from foodie household names like Anthony Bourdain and Graham Elliot. Those with the dedication to get the restaurant's logo tattooed on their body even ate for free for life there, as documented in 2013's Hot Doug's: The Book. But for those who missed out on experiencing the deliciousness of Hot Doug's the first time around, his frankfurters can now be found in the bleachers section of Wrigley Field -- along with Doug himself most home games -- as well at "takeover"-type events that raise money for local charities. Today, Doug discusses his vinyl memories, The Untitled Hour podcast he's co-hosted with Chicago musician Nick Marcos for the last year, various jobs he held prior to opening his own restaurant, his discovery of punk and new-wave in high school, thoughts about Instagram foodie culture, concerts that broke out at Hot Doug's, his partnership with the Cubs and much more! Visit hotdougs.com and follow @HotDougs on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with everything sausage-related. Also be sure to subscribe to The Untitled Hour on iTunes or however you listen to podcasts, and follow @UntitledHour on Twitter and Instagram!

Episode 24: Josh Caterer of the Smoking Popes (Exclusive Live Performance) Jul 01, 2016

Chicago's Smoking Popes are one of my seminal favorite bands, having released several crucial albums of lovelorn power-pop including 1994's Born To Quit and 1997's Destination Failure. Gaining notoriety via soundtrack appearances on films like Clueless, Tommy Boy and Angus, the band split up at the turn of the century, reformed 11 years ago, and have since added a few more proper full-lengths to their catalog while focusing their performances primarily around the Midwest. Recorded on a rainy night in his church office, singer/guitarist Josh Caterer -- now a pastor of music and worship -- discusses the influence of his father's record collection on he and his bandmate brothers, getting the first few Popes seven-inches pressed, the process of reissuing Born To Quit on vinyl, astonishing interactions with both Morrissey and Dave Grohl, the new EP Black As Midnight from his blues-focused band Jackson Mud, and so much more! PLUS Josh graciously performs two songs LIVE and exclusively for Vinyl Emergency! Follow @joshcaterer on both Twitter and Instagram, and visit SmokingPopesMusic.com and JacksonMud.com for social media, live dates and more info on both bands.

Episode 23: MLB broadcaster Joe Block Jun 24, 2016

Aside from music and vinyl, baseball is my next biggest passion so it's a thrill this week to welcome former Milwaukee Brewers and current Pittsburgh Pirates play-by-play radio announcer Joe Block to the show! Today, we discuss record stores he remembers in his native Detroit growing up, how collecting vinyl is not unlike having baseball cards as a kid, his love for Motown and hip-hop over the years, working with "Mr. Baseball" himself Bob Uecker during Joe's tenure in Milwaukee, life on the road during the 162-game season, who gets him starstruck, what cities might be due for an MLB expansion team, and much more! Be sure to follow Joe on Twitter @joe_block, and follow the show @VinylEmergency on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Episode 22: Derek Jones and Gene Priest of Sharing Needles With Friends Jun 17, 2016

Music discussion and vinyl news podcast Sharing Needles With Friends has been both a favorite of mine for years as well as an inspiration for me to start Vinyl Emergency. Based out of Knoxville, TN and fueled by the nearly 20-year camaraderie of hosts Derek Jones and Gene Priest, SNWF is an always informative and hilarious listen, whether they're talking about their own record collections, what excites them about upcoming releases, or divisive topics, like whatever Kanye West is up to that particular week. Derek and Gene were kind enough to air this interview as their own SNWF episode a few weeks ago as a showing of solidarity and cross-promotion, but if you're brand new to SNWF, buckle up for a really fun episode! We also revisit our new segment Where's The Wax?, by bringing 15 more albums to the table that need a vinyl pressing.

Episode 21: Gramovox Jun 10, 2016

In 2015, Chicago-based company Gramovox launched a Kickstarter campaign for their gorgeous Floating Record Vertical Turntable. With over $1 million in backing and now almost a year to the date of their Kickstarter launch, Gramovox is still turning heads in both the vinyl/audio realm as well as the tech world, with both the Vertical Turntable and their Bluetooth Gramophone, as they strive to meld sleek, old-fashioned design with today's technology. I recently sat down with CEO/Co-Founder Pavan Bapu, Media Production Manager Jack Pochop and Customer Service Specialist Lewis McKinney to talk about Gramovox's early days, how the turntable itself works, what questions they hear from lifelong vinyl collectors and those buying their first turntable, how social media -- and #NowFloating -- plays a huge role in sharing their products, and of course, what their first ever album purchases were.

Visit Gramovox.com and follow them @Gramovox on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow this program on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @vinylemergency, and write me at vinylemergency@gmail.com with any feedback!

Episode 20: Collector's Club with WOXY's Matt Shiverdecker Jun 03, 2016

Matt Shiverdecker -- member of the Austin Film Critics Association and former music director/on-air host of WOXY -- joins me this week to discuss his record collection, how vinyl bootleggers are making a killing off of today's major hip-hop artists, the many phases of WOXY over the years, how Nielsen ratings currently work for radio, the struggles of music programming immediately after September 11th (when certain songs were under scrutiny due to their titles, subject matter or band names), how crazy it gets in Austin during SXSW and much more! We also debut a new Vinyl Emergency segment -- Where's The Wax? -- where we bring ten albums to the table that aren't currently on vinyl, discuss why they likely haven't been pressed and why we need them! Follow Matt on Twitter @shivvy and on Instagram at @mattshiv.

Episode 19: Cameron Schaefer of Vinyl Me, Please May 27, 2016

Vinyl Me, Please has been supplying record lovers with exclusive album presses each month -- whether they be well-known classics, brand new releases or long-buried gems -- since January 2013 as a subscription-based service. Today, VMP's head of label relations Cameron Schaefer and I discuss their growth over the last three years, the feedback they get from their subscribers, how each Album of the Month is chosen and what it was like to hold the original UK master tapes of The Beatles' "Abbey Road," when he visited Capitol Records' extensive archives! We also discuss his youth in rural Wyoming and his career as a pilot in the Air Force prior to joining VMP. Visit vinylmeplease.com for more info on how to subscribe, and follow @VinylMePlease on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow Cameron on Twitter and Instagram, @cjschaefer. Be sure to listen as well for details on our Everclear vinyl giveaway this week -- courtesy of Intervention Records -- and follow @VinylEmergency on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also write the show at vinylemergency@gmail.com!

Episode 18: Collector's Club with Nicholas Lynch (@ThirdManCollector) May 20, 2016

On this Collector's Club episode of the show, I chat with Indianapolis resident Nicholas Lynch -- an aficionado on all vinyl and novelties released by Jack White and Third Man Records! Whether a TMR release is liquid-filled, tri-colored, triple-decker, pressed onto old x-rays or can only be played at just 3 RPM, chances are Nicholas has it in his collection! We discuss how he's traded baseball cards with Jack in person, whether or not Nicholas hopes for a White Stripes reunion, his special behind-the-scenes Third Man tour, what makes TMR releases so collectable and rare, and the current market for some of the rarest Jack White-related gems... some of which are selling for nearly $20,000! Nicholas shares his collection visually at instagram.com/thirdmancollector, so go check it out along with today's conversation! Follow Vinyl Emergency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and write the show at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 17: Heather Gmucs and Sarah Barker of Wax Mage and Gotta Groove Records May 13, 2016

We all know what it's like to listen to vinyl, but what's it like to hand-pour or physically press them? Heather and Sarah from Gotta Groove and Wax Mage join me this week to talk about their side of the record industry and their unique, one-of-a-kind colored vinyl creations that are gaining them fans from all over the world. We also discuss the age old question of whether colored records sound better or worse than standard black pressings, Wax Mage's upcoming Heavy Haze compilation, what crazy requests for album variants they've heard from labels and bands, and much more!

Visit Heather and Sarah at instagram.com/waxmagerecords, facebook.com/waxmagerecords, be sure to enter this week's Wax Mage contest for a free shirt, stickers and pins, aaaaand use the code VINYLEMERGENCY for 50% off anything at waxmagerecords.com! PLUS our flipbin contest winner is announced! Follow @VinylEmergency on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, write the show at vinylemergency@gmail.com and while visiting our new sponsor MusicDirect.com, use the code EMERGENCY for 15% off any music purchase!

Episode 16: Ryan Arnold of WXRT Apr 29, 2016

Seemingly born into radio, Ryan Arnold is an avid music fanatic beyond what you hear him spin as a DJ on Chicago's WXRT. When he's not on the air, you can find him record shopping, checking out local bands and generally supporting any and all who are creating, showcasing or promoting music in the Windy City. I interviewed Ryan at the XRT studios after an awesome lunch at The Billy Goat Tavern, and we discussed his previous experience working on a railroad, what makes Chicago special musically, what he's been spinning lately, this year's Lollapalooza line-up and lots more! You can follow Ryan via @ryanarnoldrocks on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. And make sure to follow the show via @vinylemergency as well, and write the show: vinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 15: Live from Record Store Day / Ben and Chris from flipbin Apr 22, 2016

275 miles, 6 record stores and 2 states in 1 day. I made it my mission on Record Store Day 2016 to bring you a slew of interviews with vinyl collectors of all sorts in both Wisconsin and Illinois (fathers and daughters, aunts and nephews, couples, best friends and more) about their passion for records and what they wanted from this year's list of exclusive releases. Plus I chat with several record store owners about their prep for the big crowds and their love for their customers on the biggest music shopping day of the year! In Milwaukee, these chats took place at The Exclusive Company (Farwell Ave.), Rush-Mor Records, Off the Beaten Path and ACME Records & Music Emporium, plus there's audio from show-sponsor Pinwheel Records in Chicago as well as Rediscover Records in Elgin, IL. I also talk with Ben Robertson and Chris Baronner of flipbin, a new Chicago-made record display product whose Kickstarter campaign recently launched in order to help vinyl lovers better organize their "now playing" or "recently purchased" stacks of wax! Visit them at flipbin.com and listen in to learn how to win a FREE flipbin for yourself! Follow @vinylemergency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and write the show atvinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 14: Damon Atkinson (Hey Mercedes, Braid) / RNRHOF Induction Re-cap Apr 15, 2016

Fresh off our interview with bassist Todd Bell of Braid and Hey Mercedes, I sat down in Nashville with the other half of that incredible rhythm section, drummer Damon Atkinson! We discuss the Hey Mercedes reunion this year starting July 8th and upcoming re-release of their debut album "Everynight Fire Works," setting up his own drum kit and tour rig in his mom's basement at an early age, doing D.I.Y. cassette duplication and 7" sleeve assembly in early bands like Altered States and Figurehead, how drum-teching for groups such as Thrice and Senses Fail parlayed into a full-on career in tour management, why Shirley Manson from Garbage gave him her old Palm Pilot, and his connection to Nicoletto's Pasta Co., a new fast-casual Italian restaurant in Nashville! Follow @heymercedes2016 on Twitter and Instagram for all their updates this year, and you can also follow Damon at twitter.com/damonetm and instagram.com/damonatkinson. PLUS I announce our Black Sabbath vinyl winner, and chat briefly with return guest Rob Clark, to get a first-hand account of the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Follow @VinylEmergency on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Soundcloud, and write me at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 13: Nick Digilio of WGN Radio Apr 08, 2016

Since I moved to suburban Chicago almost ten years ago, Nick Digilio has been a constant audio companion for me in both radio and podcast form. During his 2-5am shift weekday mornings on one of the most storied stations in the medium, you'll often hear Nick -- an on-air host since 1998 and having been a part of WGN 720 AM for over 30 years -- engaging with listers on topics ranging from favorite comfort foods to misheard song lyrics to iconic movie lines, always sporting a genuine passion for the arts and a hilarious, self-deprecating levity along the way, while winning a handful of Illinois Broadcasters Association awards to boot. Today, I talk with Nick about how the resurgence of 70mm film relates to today's vinyl comeback, which album he has owned in every format imaginable, a little-known fact about High Fidelity's classic Beta Band scene and how his sobriety has improved his life both on and off the air. Follow @NickDShow on both Twitter and Facebook, and subscribe to his uncut podcasts on iTunes! PLUS: Learn how to enter for your chance to win all four 2016 Black Sabbath 2LP reissues, courtesy of Rhino Records! Follow this podcast @vinylemergency on Twitter, Facebook and Instragram, and write me at vinylemergency@gmail.com!

Episode 12: Brian Stack (Conan, Late Show with Stephen Colbert) Apr 01, 2016

April Fool's Day seems fitting to welcome the hilarious Brian Stack, who you've likely seen on shows like 30 Rock, The Office, Parks and Recreation or New Girl! Currently a writer on CBS' Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Brian started on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 1997, winning an Emmy for writing on the show ten years later and appearing as the caped and mustachioed Interrupter, hapless door-to-door salesman Hannigan and the ghost of old-time radio crooner Artie Kendall, among a slew of other characters. He followed Conan to both his truncated tenure at The Tonight Show and his current TBS program, but moved with his family back to New York and joined the Colbert staff this past September. Brian joins me to talk about his love for The Replacements, Late Night's strides to give new artists a stage (even providing Radiohead their U.S. television debut!), what vinyl box set he recently bought despite no longer owning a turntable, his improv comedy heroes while living in Chicago, and yes... what it's like to open for Slipknot. You can follow Brian at twitter.com/brianstack153, follow the show @vinylemergency on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and check out some great Late Night / Late Show segments we discuss in this episode below: NBC / Late Night: Radiohead, 1993 -- https://vimeo.com/1461741 NBC / Late Night: Artie Kendell compilation -- http://tiny.cc/LateNightArtie NBC / Late Night: Hannigan compilation -- http://tiny.cc/LateNightHannigan NBC / Late Night: Slipnutz open for Slipknot -- http://tiny.cc/SlipnutzSlipknot NBC / Late Night: Slipnutz tribute album -- http://tiny.cc/SlipnutzTribute TBS / Conan: Brian Stack Says Goodbye -- http://teamcoco.com/video/brian-stack-supercut CBS / Late Show: Foghat Holiday Gift Guide -- http://tiny.cc/LateShowGifts CBS / Late Show: Saddest Song Ever with Jason Isbell -- http://tiny.cc/LateShowSadSong

Episode 11: Todd Bell (Braid, Hey Mercedes) Mar 25, 2016

Back in 2014, I interviewed Braid and Hey Mercedes bassist Todd Bell about his record collection for a written piece on Modern-Vinyl.com, which led to us digging together on Record Store Day 2015. So when I began this podcast, I knew Todd would be a more-than-willing guest to discuss his vast stockpile of over 2,500 albums. In this episode, we chat about the benefits of Japanese pressings, the art of the mix CD (and trading said CD's with his pals in Jawbox and Texas Is The Reason), the good ol' days of sending cash and coins through the mail for records, Braid's love affair with off-kilter time signatures, still finding time to skateboard as a busy dad (with fellow musician and busy dad Dan Didier of Maritime/The Promise Ring), inheriting his father's classic Sansui receiver (purchased while stationed in Okinawa during his time in the Air Force) and much more! We also get some EXCLUSIVE, not-yet-announced Braid repress news direct from Todd, and you can enter our Braid vinyl prize pack giveaway! Follow the show at instagram.com/vinylemergency, twitter.com/vinylemergency or facebook.com/vinylemergency and write me at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 10: Josh Modell of The Onion / A.V. Club Mar 18, 2016

Long before his current position as Editorial Director of Onion Inc., -- and his freelance work for Magnet, Spin and Rolling Stone -- Josh Modell created Milk Magazine (along with his buddy Jim Minor), a D.I.Y. publication responsible for introducing me to independent music when I was just a high-schooler. Josh and I discuss his vinyl obsessions when he was younger, his tenure at Milwaukee's storied Atomic Records (with memories of in-store performances from The Wedding Present, Frank Black and Jason Molina), pressing vinyl for acts like Clem Snide and Crooked Fingers on his Foreign Leisure label, how The Promise Ring's "Very Emergency" album got its title (and his role as a milkman in the band's "Emergency! Emergency!" music video), his favorite A Very Milky Christmas memories and A.V. Undercover segments, the benefits and drawbacks of internet commenting and much more! Follow Josh at twitter.com/joshmodell and tune in as well for details on our current giveaway: A hand-crafted wood album jacket display, courtesy Sand & Stain! Visit instagram.com/sandandstain to have a look, and follow the show at twitter.com/vinylemergency, facebook.com/vinylemergency and instagram.com/vinylemergency for details on entry!

Episode 9: Evan Weiss of Into It. Over It. Mar 11, 2016

A massive record collector with an inspirational work ethic that rivals the busiest musicians in the business, Evan Weiss has released more material just under the Into It. Over It. moniker than most bands do in a lifetime. Throw in his side-projects Pet Symmetry and Their / They're / There, his production work for acts like Xerxes, Annabel or You Blew It, and releasing friends' albums on his own Storm Chasers Ltd. label, and you'd wonder how he has time for even *listening* to music, let alone touring and recording. On this episode, Evan talks about going completely analog with renowned producer John Vanderslice for his new album "Standards" (out March 11th on Triple Crown), the 12 different inserts to the "Standards" vinyl pressing, his early obsessions with Peter Gabriel and Depeche Mode, checking what his own catalog goes for on vinyl auction sites, what releases of his he'll never repress, and so much more! Visit intoitoverit.com for tour dates, PLUS learn how to enter this week's contest for a copy of Pinegrove's great new LP "Cardinal," courtesy of Run For Cover Records! Visit Vinyl Emergency on facebook.com/vinylemergency, twitter.com/vinylemergency and instagram.com/vinylemergency; Also write the show atvinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 8: Kyle Fasel of Real Friends Mar 04, 2016

It's a family affair this week as my cousin-in-law Kyle Fasel, bassist and lyricist of Real Friends, comes on to discuss keeping vinyl in stock in their merch store, his role as "band dad," what it's like having his ACTUAL dad on the road with him and what to expect from the group's new album, produced by Steve Evetts (Saves The Day, Dillinger Escape Plan)! We also chat about why specific album covers speak to him and how it felt to play their hometown 20,000-seat amphitheater on Warped Tour, as well as their upcoming sold-out $5 Tour, starting March 5th. Visit realfriendsband.com to connect with Kyle and crew. PLUS: I'll announce next week's guest as well our next vinyl giveaway from Run For Cover Records! Follow the show at facebook.com/vinylemergency and twitter.com/vinylemergency, and write the program at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 7: Josh and Chris Marcanti (Rock And Roll Brunch, The American Autumn, The Throwbacks) Feb 26, 2016

My good pals and self-described "crappy twins" Josh and Chris Marcanti -- both of the Rock And Roll Brunch Podcast -- join me for an in-depth talk about the current state of vinyl and what the future could hold for music fans and the industry as a whole. Having played music together for years (both in The American Autumn and now The Throwbacks), we also discuss whether twins indeed have a secret language, being in a cover band after years of performing original material, and the many reactions they would get while podcasting at diners and restaurants. You can check out music from The American Autumn at theamericanautumn.bandcamp.com, follow The Throwbacks at facebook.com/thethrowbackschicago and hear some of the old classic Rock and Roll Brunch episodes at rockandrollbrunch.tumblr.com! Be sure to follow us at facebook.com/vinylemergency and twitter.com/vinylemergency, and write the show with comments, questions or suggestions at vinylemergency@gmail.com!

Episode 6: Ryan Matteson (Muzzle Of Bees, C3 Presents) Feb 19, 2016

Ryan Matteson is the former editor-in-chief and founder of the popular music blog Muzzle Of Bees and he's currently employed by C3 Presents, where he manages a wide-range of bands including The Mountain Goats, Bully, Toro Y Moi, The Dismemberment Plan and Strand of Oaks. Both a devout Milwaukee Brewers fan and native Wisconsinite like myself, Ryan and I discuss how he went from blogging to artist management (with a few years of public relations work for Milwaukee's renowned Pabst Theater in between), as well as his vinyl white whales. We also delve into how we both personally held the birthday cake featured on the cover of Wilco The Album, how complete luck snagged him one of the rarest Pearl Jam vinyl releases there is, the thrill of booking bands on late-night TV, and lots more! Our winner for the Jay Ryan poster contest is also announced, and I discuss a bit of cool news about the podcast! Be sure to follow Ryan at twitter.com/muzzleofbees, and follow Vinyl Emergency at facebook.com/vinylemergency and twitter.com/vinylemergency

Episode 5: Jay Ryan (Dianogah / The Bird Machine) Feb 12, 2016

What a blast to have the incredibly talented Jay Ryan on the program! A world-renowned artist and screen printer, Jay has created iconic, hand-drawn poster and album art for the likes of Andrew Bird, Archers of Loaf, Hum, Shellac and countless others. He's featured prominently in Just Like Being There (a 2012 documentary film on the poster industry), and later this year, Akashic Books will release No One Told Me Not To Do This, Jay's third collection of his best work. Here, we discuss Jay's inspirations, his past and present connections with vinyl, performing in Dianogah, Hubcap, his most recent band Whelms -- as well as a very short stint in Braid -- and much more. Visit thebirdmachine.com to purchase Jay's work and follow his updates via instagram.com/thebirdmachine and facebook.com/actualbirdmachine.

Episode 4: Collector's Club with Rob Clark Feb 05, 2016

Jim's best record-shopping buddy Rob Clark (Rockton, IL) discusses both the up's and down's of online vinyl communities, how he navigated the CD revolution, sharing vinyl with his teenage daughter, potential retail price gouging vs. dollar bin digging, VPI machines, adoption, beekeeping, and lots more! You can view Rob's videos that we discuss viayoutube.com/user/EoLoVoX/videos and follow him on instagram.com/eolovox. Be sure to follow the program too at facebook.com/vinylemergency and twitter.com/vinylemergency, or write the show with any comments, questions or suggestions at vinylemergency@gmail.com!

Episode 3: Eric Grubbs Jan 29, 2016

Author, freelance writer and Do You Know Who You Are? podcast host Eric Grubbs comes on the show to discuss the wide range of influences that got him into vinyl - Face To Face, Eric Carmen, Pet Shop Boys and Bruce Springsteen among them - as well has how inspiration can literally come from being hit on the head! We also discuss his 2008 book "POST: A Look at the Influence of Post-Hardcore 1985-2007" at length, including anecdotes on interviewing members of Fugazi, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Promise Ring and more for it. You can listen to Eric's podcast at soundcloud.com/eric-grubbs, and become a fan of the show at facebook.com/doyouknowpod.

Episode 2: Collector's Club with Chris Fitzgerald Jan 22, 2016

Our first edition of Collector's Club is with Chris Fitzgerald (Grand Prairie, TX), who talks about how his vinyl obsession began, when he knows it's the right time to purge some his record collection and his day job as a contract administrator with one of the world's largest concert promoters! We also discuss the state of mainstream country music, how his 5-year-old daughter took to vinyl, meeting your musical idols on the job, and lots more! Be sure to follow Vinyl Emergency at facebook.com/vinylemergency and twitter.com/vinylemergency, and write the show at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

Episode 1: Nate Lanthrum of Troubled Hubble Jan 07, 2016

Troubled Hubble drummer and acclaimed photographer Nate Lanthrum talks with host Jim Hanke on this debut episode! Nate has photographed the likes of President Obama, U2, R.E.M. and Tom Waits, but the work he's most proud of was featured by the Chicago Tribune in 2014, spotlighting his interaction with the last families living in the Cabrini-Green housing projects. We discuss his original interest in vinyl (which then parlayed into collecting cameras), Troubled Hubble's early days and recent reunion after a 10-year hiatus, what it's like to be a juvenile probation officer in the digital age and he tells some hilarious stories about meeting both 30 Seconds To Mars and Fugazi's Ian MacKaye. Visit Nate's photography portfolio at nplanthrum.com and keep tabs on all things Hubble at troubledhubble.com!

Vinyl Emergency - Trailer Jan 01, 2016

Musicians, album collectors, recording engineers and those who press, design or otherwise celebrate vinyl records describe how this influential medium has shaped their lives and careers. Guests include Hozier, Rosanne Cash, Creed Bratton of NBC's The Office, plus members of Foo Fighters, Wilco, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Hall & Oates, Sylvan Esso, Jawbox and more.

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