Vinyl Emergency podcast

1:31:22

Harvey Danger vocalist Sean Nelson makes a good case for his group being, in his words, "the last band through the door" of the alternative revolution: Though the quartet went gold thanks to the frenetic, inescapable "Flagpole Sitta" as the nineties closed, the landscape for them (and cohorts such as Cake, Semisonic or Fastball) would look much different a year later. By 2000, a sudden contingent of beefy backwards cappers, led by the likes of Limp Bizkit and Papa Roach, had commandeered arenas and the airwaves as an antithesis to pop radio. Paired with a massive label shake-up, this left Harvey Danger's expansive second album King James Version DOA. But like a lot of unsung masterworks, many have praised King James Version over the last quarter century for its dialed-in cacophony and sarcastic swagger -- enough to drum up major excitement for a first-ever vinyl pressing, which hit shelves as a Record Store Day exclusive recently from both Barsuk and Latent Print Records. Today, Nelson gives us the full arc of how King James Version was born, died and rose again, taking its throne on 12-inch format to mark the album's 25th anniversary. Follow @officialharveydangerarchive and @actualseannelson on Instagram for updates. You can also hear The Wonder of It All, Sean's engaging podcast on the blessings and curses of fame, via this link or wherever you listen.…

Vinyl Emergency

1
Episode 215: Minus the Bear on “Menos El Oso,” Track-By-Track 1:40:11

25 days ago1:40:11

1:40:11

After 15+ years on the road, Seattle's Minus the Bear said goodbye in 2018... but not for long. Marking two decades since the release of their second album, Menos El Oso -- heralded by both critics and fans alike -- the five-piece are back this year to play the album in full across the country. A sprawling, math-rock masterclass, Menos takes listeners on a globetrotting trail through Spain, Ireland, Los Angeles and more, while vocalist/guitarist Jake Snider inhabits characters seeking escape, be it from fever dreams, crime scenes or soul-crushing day jobs. Today, Jake is joined by guitarist David Knudson, as the pair breakdown Menos track-by-track. Along with host Jim Hanke, they dive into the meanings behind some of the band's most impactful songs twenty years later, and how the genre-bending experimentation of Danger Mouse and DJ Shadow influenced the LP. Catch Minus the Bear at this year's Best Friends Forever Fest in Las Vegas, or on tour cost-to-coast, this fall. Visit minusthebear.com for tickets, social media and more.…

Vinyl Emergency

1
Episode 214: Bob Mould 1:07:39

6 weeks ago1:07:39

1:07:39

On the heels of a fiery new album (Here We Go Crazy), influential indie icon Bob Mould reflects on how record store culture informed Hüsker Dü's formation and why the jukebox singles of his youth still help him get out of the occasional songwriting stalemate. Visit bobmould.com for tour dates, social media and more.…

Vinyl Emergency

1
SECOND SPIN: Tommy Prine (August 2023) 46:55

7 weeks ago46:55

46:55

This is an encore presentation of a previous episode, originally airing in August 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 — 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.…

Vinyl Emergency

1
Episode 213: Adam Richman (Man v. Food) 1:07:53

9 weeks ago1:07:53

1:07:53

Long before Hot Ones became a viral sensation, there was Man v. Food. Over four seasons on the Travel Channel, host Adam Richman cruised the country going toe-to-toe with fiery chicken wings, monster-sized pizzas, pizza-sized burgers and more. Though the Brooklyn native demolished eating challenges that boggled both the mind and the belly, the heartbeat of MvF was in the small sandwich shops and hole-in-the-wall diners that were suddenly given a national stage. Since then, he's remained an in-demand, jovial educator of eating -- whether helping demystify menus via the YouTube series Pro Moves, embracing UK cuisine through Discovery+'s Adam Richman Eats Football, or tracing the origins of our favorite culinary brands on The Food That Built America (now in its sixth season). On today's episode, Adam dissects the similarities between food and music culture, his vinyl collecting habits, the classic rock staples he first heard through Beastie Boys samples, and the connections he's made with world-class performers who just so happen to be huge MvF fans -- ranging from Warren G to Green Day. Follow @adamrichman on Instagram and watch The Food That Built America on the History Channel, Sunday evenings at 9pm EST/8pm CST.…

Vinyl Emergency

1
Episode 212: Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy 54:03

11 weeks ago54:03

54:03

Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon (Knives Out, The Shape of Water, Boardwalk Empire, Groundhog Day) and acclaimed musician Jason Narducy (Split Single, Bob Mould Band, Superchunk, Verböten) discuss their friendship through song, and their current tour performing Fables of the Reconstruction -- R.E.M.'s third album -- which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Tickets are available at concertedefforts.com , and you can watch Michael and Jason perform “Driver 8” with their band on The Tonight Show here . Follow @jasonnarducy on Instagram, plus catch the drama Eric Larue -- Michael's first film as director -- arriving in theaters this spring.…

Vinyl Emergency

1
Episode 211: Eef Barzelay (Clem Snide) 1:06:14

13 weeks ago1:06:14

1:06:14

Championed over the years by the likes of Americana superstar Scott Avett and music mogul Seymour Stein, the music of Clem Snide mainstay Eef Barzelay has become an optimistic, yet matter-of-fact touchstone in a weary world, whether crafting his own musings or covering the inspirational hits of Journey. NPR dubs him "the most underrated songwriter in the business today, with a sneakily firm grasp on poignancy and humor," and while Eef's evocative tone is of a similar caliber to Jeff Mangum or John Darnielle, his sentimental and visual lyricism puts him in a unique category. On this week's program, Eef discusses embracing the unknown, diving back into vinyl with his adult son, and the quandary of carrying on the Clem Snide moniker. Plus, a run-in with a New Jersey state trooper while shooting the album cover for 1999's Your Favorite Music . Eef hits the road later this month; tour dates and tickets are available at clemsni.de . His latest album Oh Smokey is available digitally, or on vinyl from foreignleisure.com . Follow @clemsnidemusic on Instagram.…

Vinyl Emergency

1
Episode 210: Jeff Parker (ETA IVtet / Tortoise) 1:02:58

17 weeks ago1:02:58

1:02:58

With high marks from The New York Times, Pitchfork and more -- plus overwhelming support from the indie record store community -- Jeff Parker's latest album The Way Out of Easy is inarguably one of the most discussed and heralded jazz LP's of the 2000's. Fully improvisational and recorded live to tape with the ETA IVtet, monikered after Parker and his bandmates spent nearly half a decade playing weekly at the Enfield Tennis Academy (a since-defunct Los Angeles cocktail bar), the album is a transcendent 80 minutes of hazy ambiance and nuanced exploration that rewards both devout jazz enthusiasts and genre newcomers at every turn. This week, Jeff speaks about his first time on vinyl with the influential Chicago collective Tortoise, paying tribute to his parents through two different albums, a recent exuberant conversation with Flea, and which rapper he dreams of working with. Follow @jeffparkersounds on Instagram and find The Way Out of Easy at intlathem.bandcamp.com or wherever you get music.…

Vinyl Emergency

1
Episode 209: Atmosphere (Slug & Ant) 1:13:40

20 weeks ago1:13:40

1:13:40

In 1995, a fervent and wry rapper (Sean Daley, aka Slug) and a dexterous deejay (Anthony Davis; Ant for short) helped co-found a platform to help put Midwest -- and more precisely, Minnesotan -- hip-hop on the map. Three decades later, Rhymesayers Entertainment is one of the most popular and influential modern rap labels in existence, releasing seminal LP's by MF Doom, Freeway, Aesop Rock, Brother Ali, and Atmosphere: Slug and Ant's infectious repartee that helped define the Rhymesayers aesthetic from the jump: While Daley puts the listener in a metaphorical chokehold -- thanks to a volatile delivery of vulnerable self-reflection -- Davis' textured musical milieu allows plenty of room for revelry within a hybrid of soul, gospel and rap's golden age. On this week's episode, the pair ponder how record shopping has actively made their lives better, why racially integrated album covers usually lead to great music, and when their first-ever appearance on vinyl became a time capsule of their first-ever collaboration. Atmosphere will commemorate the 20th anniversary of their landmark release You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having by kicking off their aptly-titled Imagine The Fun tour in January. Tickets, social media and pre-orders for Ant's third volume of his Collection of Sounds series (dropping next month) are all available at atmospheresucks.com .…

Vinyl Emergency

1
Episode 208: LIVE! with Craig Finn of The Hold Steady 58:48

22 weeks ago58:48

58:48

Bruce Springsteen once said that the secret to good songwriting was striking a balance between the personal and the universal: Get specific with people and locations first before shading in the rest with the kinds of generalities that make your listener relate, and hopefully, feel something. Craig Finn -- leader of the rough-and-ready, Grammy-nominated outfit The Hold Steady -- has subscribed to this philosophy in spades, garnering a cult-like fandom over 20+ years. On critically-acclaimed albums like Separation Sunday and Boys & Girls In America , the band has wheeled-and-dealed jaw-dropping tales of overdoses, arrests, confessional debauchery, and post-party pathos on par with any binge-worthy crime drama. Yet, despite those circumstances, the most fervent fans of The Hold Steady often connect most with the undying optimism that lies within Finn's brash and bewildered characters -- many of which show up on multiple tracks. Recorded in front of a live audience at Pinwheel Records in Chicago, Craig spotlights a lyrical trick he learned from Paul Simon, the babysitter who schooled him on Led Zeppelin, and the intriguing plot of his next solo album, due in spring. Visit craigfinn.net and theholdsteady.net for news, social media, tour dates and more. You can also subscribe to That's How I Remember It -- where Craig examines the connections between art and memory -- wherever you listen to podcasts. Live sound engineer: Manny Medina…

Vinyl Emergency

1
Episode 207: Superdrag's John Davis 1:08:52

25 weeks ago1:08:52

1:08:52

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.…

Vinyl Emergency

1
Episode 206: DC Glenn of Tag Team ("Whoomp! There It Is") 1:14:05

27 weeks ago1:14:05

1:14:05

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.…

Vinyl Emergency

1
SECOND SPIN: Amythyst Kiah (January 2022) 58:42

30 weeks ago58:42

58:42

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

Vinyl Emergency

1
Episode 205: Smoking Popes 1:26:30

32 weeks ago1:26:30

1:26:30

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.…

Vinyl Emergency

1
Episode 204: The Get Up Kids' Rob Pope & Jim Suptic 1:03:08

34 weeks ago1:03:08