My pals Sean and Todd McGinity guest-hosted another episode, this time with Saskatoon shoegaze/alt-rock band Blind Commentary! Incidentally, one of these guys has the same first and last name as me (except spelled slightly different). Tune in for the confusion, and make sure to check out Sean and Todd on the Seangeek and FastFret Podcast. Want to s…

Over his lengthy musical career, A.B. Kapone has continued to carry the torch for reggae and dancehall in Winnipeg. Here's our conversation about the local scene, balancing roots and culture with mainstream sounds, the two records he’s currently working on, and much more! Want to support the show? Get access to loads of bonus content and more on th…

Singer-songwriter Fuller Hull popped by on the ol’ internet video device for his third appearance on the podcast, in which we talked about the excellent new record, ‘The Unsuspected and Unstoppable’. We also get into sheep emergencies, teaming up with members of Heartsleeve, getting inspired by living in a rural/farm setting, and the joy-filled rel…

A good chat on this episode with the members of 'Canadian rock' (it's a vibe that you know when you hear it) band Car 287! We talk about their new singles and upcoming LP, lineup changes, Italian cruises, physical albums, and much more! Need more Car 287? Check out episode #757 (Jan. 2023). Want to support the show? Get access to loads of bonus con…

The first time Greg Rekus was on the podcast was way back in 2014 — so he’s been appearing on the show for a full decade now — and he remains one of my favourite people to interview. Here's our conversation about his latest LP, 'Sinners go to Church, Saints go to Jail' the ins and outs of heavy touring, and the idea that while DIY is great, DIT (Do…

A few years back, I was on an episode of 'Unscripted Moments: A Podcast About Propagandhi', talking about the ‘90s Winnipeg ska scene alongside members of Whole Lotta Milka. Also on that episode (in a separate interview) was Aaron Carnes, author (and podcast host) of 'In Defense of Ska'. Aaron has a new expanded edition of his book coming out soon,…

Guest hosts, get yer guest hosts here! That familiar voice behind the mic on this one is Stefan Richard, one-time host of Ever Sick! Podcast, Thick n' Sweaty, etc. You may have also seen him hanging out in a wrestling ring or two. Stefan filled in on an episode and interviewed alt-rock singer-songwriter Orvis (Thomas) about his new EP, his country …

If Sheena Legrand’s name doesn’t ring a bell, her music might — before a decade-long hiatus from recording, she released three albums under the name Sheena Grobb. On this episode, I chat with Sheena about her new name, new sound, and new outlook! We also get into her recent singles, the experience of direct — rather than cryptic — songwriting, and …

It should come as no surprise to regular listeners that I really dig the work of local drummer/composer Tetyana Haraschuk (making her fourth appearance on the podcast), but her new record, ‘Until the Sun Comes’, takes things to the next level. Here's our conversation about the album — an emotional, boundary-pushing companion piece to a new document…

More than a decade since his last release as Ripping Hammer (and since his last appearance on this podcast!), Damian Purdy is back with an excellent new tape, ‘Ripping Hammer III’! Here's our conversation about the album, releasing music every 10 years or so, personal music that doesn’t necessarily sound personal, and much more… Need more from Ripp…

I caught up with Evan Chandler, frontman of local rawk powerhouse Northern Royals, to talk about their upcoming EP, introducing heavier elements to the band’s sound, embracing the “radio rock” label, and much more! Need more Royals? Check out episodes #306 (Aug. 2018) and #517 (Sept. 2020). Want to support the show? Get access to loads of bonus con…

Two very different albums, one blockbuster release show! Great conversation on this episode with Devon Gillingham and Theresa Thor, both of whom are dropping brand new records on Aug. 24 at the West End Cultural Centre! We chat about the releases — one free-jazz meets alt-rock, the other sad avant-pop piano songs — as well as the mechanics behind d…

Guest host Greg Soden (of Unscripted Moments: A Podcast About Propagandhi) is back, and this one is right in his wheelhouse: it's an interview with Propagandhi drummer Jord Samolesky! Propagandhi recently announced that they're in the studio recording their eighth LP -- their first since 2017's Victory Lap. Greg and Jord talk about the band's lates…

Good chat about ‘90s funk rock, using jazz vocal training with heavy music, and more with two members of Sunbreather, who have a new EP coming out soon! Want to support the show? Get access to loads of bonus content and more on the Patreon page! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. As always, if you like the podcast, ple…

Hey hey! It’s everyone’s favourite American (he was born there, don’t hold it against him) Greg Soden of Unscripted Moments: A Podcast About Propagandhi, back in the guest-host chair again! This time, Greg chats with punk rock-inspired Winnipeg singer-songwriter Paul Hodgert about his new “Paul is Dead” album and much more! Big shoutout to Greg for…

After appearing as a guest on his excellent UMFM 101.5 show, Canadiana Suite, I returned the favour and talked to jazz pianist Gareth Rice for a new episode of Witchpolice Radio! Here's our conversation about the Wild Rice Quartet, campus/community radio, studying jazz, getting inspired by video game music, and much more! This episode brought to yo…

Sam Singer's ‘Where the Rivers Do’ was released just last month, and it is a lovely slice of singer-songwriterism (not a word) that blends folk, soul, indie rock, and a wide range of other styles (klezmer!) Tune in to our conversation about the record, recording expeditiously, collaborating on orchestrations, solo vs full-band songs, and much more!…

Another guest-hosted episode -- this time with Ronald George Moore of the Manitoba Moneyshot Podcast conducting things! RGM talked to local rapper BS Raps about his new rock/country/blues-inspired hip-hop record, I Made These For You. Tune in for their conversation about the origins of the project, collaborating with artists like (past Witchpolice …

It's a conversation about prairie rap, aging, beats, new music and more with Epic and Rob Crooks! At the time this episode is being posted, they're days away from the release of the excellent Nassau Manor LP (Saskatoon Folk Rap Records/Hand'Solo Records), which was recorded here in Winnipeg and is coming out July 26 on vinyl, CD, and that streaming…

It should come as no surprise to regular Witchpolice listeners that I'm a big fan of singer-songwriter Nic Dyson's music, so when guest host Sean McGinity suggested recording a new interview with Nic, I was all for it. Sean is joined by his brother Todd in the guest-hosting chair for this episode -- a familiar situation for the McGinitys, who have …

On this episode, the guest host spot is taken over by the illustrious Stiff Wiggle -- synthesizer enthusiast, art rock experimentalist, and now podcaster! Stiff sat down with two members of pop-indebted rock n' roll outfit VVonder, to talk about their unique sound, upcoming music, weird experiences at local record stores, and much more! (Speaking o…

Shattered Brain Orchestrations is a local label centred around Adam Lavoie’s various solo projects, including Varkt, Töt Bête Lögn, Don Calfa, and many more — covering everything from black metal to hardcore to powerviolence to electronic experiments. Here's our conversation about the compulsion to create, starting out as a piano player, getting mu…

The USA’s number one Winnipeg-music-appreciator, Greg Soden (of Unscripted Moments: A Podcast About Propagandhi), is back in the guest-host chair after a successful appearance on episode #910! On this episode, he sat down with acclaimed local producer/musician/engineer/multi-hyphenate John Paul Peters. Tune in for a chat about JP's extensive career…

I caught up with songwriter/producer Micah Erenberg to talk about his upcoming record as The Secret Beach, “We Were Born Here, What’s Your Excuse?”, and about fully embracing the Manitoba-ness of it all. We also got into the differences between the records as The Secret Beach and the early LPs under his own name, recording — music by himself and ot…

…so, uh… what’s happening here? It’s an episode GUEST-HOSTED by the USA’s number one Winnipeg-music-appreciator, Greg Soden (of Unscripted Moments: A Podcast About Propagandhi), and featuring local punk Dylan James of Clipwing and Storyteller! The sheer quantity of episodes I produce for this show is getting a little overwhelming, so to avoid burno…

Legendary Winnipeg bluesman Big Dave McLean is still grinding away -- playing, touring and recording into his 70s. I talked to the local icon over the phone* about his new record, ‘This Old Life’, learning the blues as a young man from some all-time masters, his lengthy career, the challenges of being an artist during the pandemic, and much more! T…

I had a great conversation with singer-songwriter Milt Homely whose new album ‘Dirty Pain’ takes a noisy, grimy approach to country music. Tune in for a chat about blurring the lines between a humorous persona and true-to-life emotion, drawing from both rural Oklahoma and rural Manitoba, and much more. Note: as my robot friend mentions in the intro…

As many of you know by now, I don't only release two episodes of the podcast a week -- I also have a Patreon page chock full of bonus content for supporters of the show. Throughout 2022 and into 2023, I asked local artists for their recommendations of albums (or if they couldn't think of albums, just artists) with Manitoba connections, past and pre…

Beatboxing! Jazz collaborations! Slovenia! Circular breathing! Here's my conversation with vocalist/producer Beatox about his new LP, upcoming Jazz Fest gig at the Cube (June 22), collaborations between his self-taught vocals and technically adept jazz instrumentalists, and much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company.…

Great chat on this one with up-and-coming artist Jace Bodner about his imminent new EP (out June 15!), getting into the funk/soul groove, creativity during the pandemiic, limbo guitar solos, and more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon! You can help out for as…

You may recognize Trevor Tuminski from a time when his former band, Jet Set Satellite, was on MuchMusic and rock radio (seemingly) every 30 seconds… but he’s back with a new project here in Winnipeg, Omens! Here's a conversation about the debut Omens record, about (refreshingly) starting from scratch as an independent artist after going through the…

Sat down with a couple of members of indie rock outfit Witch Hazel for this episode. Too many ‘witch’-prefixes in one place! Here's our conversation about their new EP, Casa Rosso, leaning into heavier sounds, epic bass face, and much more… This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the pod…

When he was last on the show in 2020, author Nigel Webber's Gritty City project — an oral history of Winnipeg’s hip-hop scene — was still in the earliest stages. Fast forward four years and hundreds of interviews later, and Gritty City is on the verge of completion! Here's our conversation about the book, which drops this summer, the importance of …

This one's a little different. It's part of a series of episodes I'm doing in collaboration with local rapper Ezoman's Creative Side Entertainment for this year's 'Future of M"you"sic' competition, which is a six-month long showcase of up-and-coming local artists at the Limelight. Here's the third episode, which is similar to my old Quick Hits form…

Yes, my show is about local music, but I make exceptions for people who are ‘music-scene adjacent’, which absolutely fits longtime stand-up comedian Jared Story. Jared has a brand-new comedy album, ‘Good Ideas’, recorded live at the Park Theatre! Check out our conversation about Winnipeg’s comedy scene, the actual mechanics of recording a comedy al…

It’s been a while — a dozen years or so — but once upon a time, Sean Allum (of Duotang) and Aaron Young (JFK & the Conspirators) were the hottest DJs in town, packing the club each week (with lineups down the block) as the hosts of Mod Club Winnipeg. Did you miss ‘em? They’re bringing Mod Club back for a one-off party next month (June 14 at ANAF Cl…

Singer-songwriter Violet Vopni is back on the podcast, alongside producer Nick Rees (PhatFat Studios) to talk about their collaboration and upcoming record! We get into Violet’s experience performing at open mics in Dubai, the future of playing shows as a solo artist without a band, underground pop music, and more! Need more Violet in your life? Ch…

Andy Cole of indie rockers Great Wealth is on the show! We sat down for a chat about the band’s just-released 'Runaways' EP, having fun onstage, honing the lineup and navigating being a new band during the pandemic, being the old guy at shows, and much more. Need more from Andy? He appeared on episode #184 (June 2016) as a member of À La Mode, and …

Good hang on this episode with three-fifths of long-running crossover thrash outfit Solanum! Stay tuned for a conversation about the new ‘Mad Racket’ EP, lineup changes, the importance of great cover art, a dearth of thrash bands in Winnipeg… and I get my ‘Zombie Survival Guide’ theory confirmed about the band name. Need more Solanum in your life? …

Whalehammer is more than just a ridiculous (but kinda great) band name! Here's a conversation with the local trio about marrying heavy music with layers of synths, translating technically dense songwriting to a live setting, that bonkers drum kit (you need to see it to believe it), and much more! Plus, you get to hear a couple of new demos on this …

Touching has a fantastic new record, ‘I Can Be Two People at Once’, that has been getting a lot of spins around these parts. Here's my conversation with Michael Falk (ex-Les Jupes, Head in the Sand Records, etc.) about the freedom and challenges that came with stepping out of his comfort zone and making a weird, ‘jazz-adjacent’ experiment... and mu…

...so this one ended up with very serendipitous timing. I actually recorded it near the beginning of April, but it got bumped by a few time-sensitive episodes. By complete coincidence, its eventual release date -- today, April 30 -- is the 25th anniversary of CKUW 95.9 FM on the public airwaves! Tune in for a chat with CKUW’s program director, Scot…

This one's a little different. It's part of a series of episodes I'm doing in collaboration with local rapper Ezoman's Creative Side Entertainment for this year's 'Future of M"you"sic' competition, which is a six-month long showcase of up-and-coming local artists at the Limelight. Here's the second episode, which is similar to my old Quick Hits for…

Jared McKetiak is the longtime big wheel down at Winnipeg's mighty campus/community radio staple UMFM 101.5. We sat down for a conversation about falling in love with alternative radio, how the station navigated the pandemic, and the way UMFM stays afloat thanks to the generosity of its passionate listeners. Did you know that UMFM is one of the man…

I had a delightful conversation with singer-songwriter Keri Latimer about the new Leaf Rapids LP, which -- if you're listening right when this podcast comes out -- was just released today! Here's our chat about the record and subsequent tour (kicking off tonight, April 19, at Times Change[d]!), Americana/Canadiana, dreamlike songs, terrifying clown…

If you heard episode #886, which came out earlier this month, you know what this is. It's the second collection of interviews I did for the now-defunct YouTube show 'Mom's House', which was a project by local DIY filmmaking collective Young Media. This episode features three interviews I conducted as a guest host (plus live performances) for the sh…

Synthesizer enthusiast C. Samms has an imminent new LP, ‘Bouquet’ (out May 3), so we sat down to talk about the album — the first C. Samms release in five years or so. This episode features our conversation about adding a human element to machine sounds, releasing the new album on cassette (and vinyl), converting the songs to a live setting, and mo…

Remember Solhounds? It’s been a minute, but the 'heavy metal grunge' outfit is back this month for their first show in five years or so (April 26 at the West End Cultural Centre). They’ll be playing two sets: one of original music, and the other… heavy versions of music from the Shania Twain songbook. Here's our conversation about the reunion gig, …

I'm not the only one out here interviewing local artists. Beginning in 2017, a group of DIY filmmakers who operated as a collective called Young Media put out a YouTube show called 'Mom's House'. The short-lived channel featured a bunch of guest hosts, and I was lucky enough to have hosted a total of six episodes. 'Mom's House' is long-defunct, and…

The reason Quinton Blair is one of my favourite guests on the podcast is the same reason he’s one of my favourite local songwriters: dude can tell a story. I caught up with Q on the road outside a truck stop somewhere in Alberta. Here's our conversation about his new music, weekend jaunts out west, learning a songbook and a half of country covers t…