Steve has a new record with Ira Ingber Baring All – There Goes My Compass. Ira is an accomplished player as well, having played with Bob Dylan, the Mothers of Invention and Captain Beefheart amongst others. He also played that awesome slide guitar on the Midnight Run soundtrack. We speak of that as well as tales of Sam Raimi, Jon Brien (Lady Bird soundtrack, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind, etc.). Lots about the Oingo Boingo Farewell concert, live album and video . Bear McCreary. The interesting tale of Former Members of Oingo Boingo. Possibly the only tribute but that features members of the band being paid tribute to? Anyway, it’s another long deep dive into the world of the amazing Steve Bartek. Guitarist, Conductor and Danny Elfman’s right hand man.
Deep Tunnel Project is a chicago band! Featuring, two members of Tar, one from Silkworm and one from The Bomb it is a unique pairing creating new music and new sounds. 3/4 of them, all returning guests respectively, come on Protonic to talk in-depth about this great new record, the mindset and origin of the band and lots more!
The Red Scare is back! No, not the podcast, the legendary late 90s/early 00s’ Knoxville hardcore band. Kip (Panthers, Cloudland Canyon) and Matt (New Brutalism, Manhandle, Obstructures) join Conan to talk all about the new retrospective/reissue Smoky Mountain High. A track by track breakdown, as well as a hilarious recounting of touring, songwriting, relearning songs from 20+ years ago and so much more. Genuinely hilarious!
Protonic is back! First show since the 10 year anniversary episode. Let’s go! This episode is Jake Smith of heavy band Eye Flys, who have a great new heavy rock record. (self-titled!) It’s a song by song of that record, as well as hearing about how they ended up on Thrill Jockey… the THRILL of having the dude from Full of Hell in the band for a good amount of time and many other stories of enjoying making records and touring while making heavy music. I mean, they are named after a Melvins song, what did you think it was gonna sound like? Let’s do it!
Doni Blair is best known as bassplayer for 90s legends The Toadies, but just like his brother Zach. Conan knows him from his old band Hagfish! We talk all about the Hagfish days, and van touring, as well as the glory and the allure of the Rickenbacker bass., a father who was a rock DJ, the “selling out” argument, and no thanks at all the MTV. The book Doni wrote and his journey (over 40!) with martial arts. Even if it Kills Me: Martial Arts, Rock and Roll and of course Dia De Los Toadies, the new record (!) Toadies has recorded with Steve Albini, what to expect for the future with that band, and being a catalog band with loyal fans and finding new audience members as time goes. It is the great Doni Blair! Dive in.
Danbert is a anarcho-punk icon that cofounded Anarchist collective punk group Chumbawamba in 1982, yes that’s right the one with the “I get knocked down, but I get up again” song. All about the origin and the journey of “the song” that changed the band’s world for quite some time. Split release with Noam Chomsky, dumping water on hypocrite politicians and his newest record Kochtopus’s Garden – Now That’s What I Call Capitalism – The Musical. A very direct political record about two song-bots that escape their confines and flee across America all while “Dark Money Anon,” the entity that has taken control of the States, tries to hunt them down. Punk, folk, reggae and while slashing at capitalism, militarism, authorism, sexism, racism and all the various isms. All this from the guy who fronted the band that released “Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records” “Never Mind the Ballots” and many other cheeky, too-smart irascible and funny records. And took ad money to give it explicitly to anti-corporate groups.
The legendary guitarist for Mission of Burma arrives to talk about dream interpretations for solo guitar, silent film accompaniment, Vs., reunions, how the world caught up to Mission of Burma, Alloy Orchestra/The Anvil Orchestra (scoring Dr. Caligari at MFF soon!), Moving Parts, working on soundtracks, tapes, drones, Maximum Electric Piano, conceptual art like Transmuting the Prosaic, chamber music and so much more!
293 episodes since Rick Sims last protoniced, did they even have podcasts then? Was it on wax cylinders? Probably. Anyway! Strictly Dynamite is the new Best of and Rarities Didjits collection. It’s got all of the best stuff, but also has some stuff that even the true heads don’t have. We get into the confrontation and “monster voice” of the some of the Didjits stuff, how some of that probably, possibly, definitely hasn’t aged too well, what that means for music now. Why rock ‘n roll should be dangerous, and lots of other stuff! Supersuckers! Gaza Strippers! Just Fred with Fred Schneider of the B-52s and of course the Lee Harvey Oswald band. Hey! It is Rick Sims. Let’s go!
Long time coming! Ryan Patterson has a great new Fotocrime record called Accelerated. And there’s also a TWO OFF Coliseum reunion/celebration coming up shortly! We dive into all the aspects of the act of creation and connection and what should and shouldn’t be tied to expectation. The wondrous J. Robbins and Ryan’s long time working relationship and friendship with the man. The legacy of Coliseum (with some distance), while there could be more Coliseum stuff in the future, but a world tour shouldn’t be expected, genre boxes and picking up on sounds and ideas that others cannot do anymore and lots more. The C.L.S.M. Infinity Shit Coliseum record as a cul-de-sac. Shirtkiller and lots more! Dive in!
Tarantula Heart. The latest Melvins record which was created in an unorthodox way with Ray from Ministry , and the King Dunn tour (Buzz and Trevor Dunn from Mr. Bungle) is finally happening after nearly 4 years. Eclipse madness! AI Art! Taking pictures and being on instagram. Melvins stuff being more or less free on youtube the collector’s mentality and handmade aspect of the limited edition Melvins things. Wayne Kramer, fantomas, Alice Cooper Band, Helms Alee, Toshi Kasai, Allman Brothers, Cheap Trick, Five Legged Dog (the acoustic record) and the slow methodical creation of that. Re-recording things, Hipgnosis and the old style album cover, the AMREP singles series and lots, lots more! Dive in!
Greg Norton is back! It’s been almost three years since last time. Ultrabomb! Cancer. So much to discuss. The new record Dying to Smile is almost here, we also discuss Time to Burn (the first Ultrabomb record), music discovery and becoming an advocate for the things you love. Progress and patience, New Day Rising, the influence of the Dü, the Ultrabomb story, last years tour with Bar Stool Preachers and this tour coming up with Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, and of course Greg’s successful battle against prostate cancer.
Kid Congo Powers has a brand new record called That Delicious Vice with his band The Pink Monkey Birds. Pair that with his book (Some Kind of Kick), and the recent Wolfmanhattan Project record (with Bob Bert and Mick Collins) and you have a very busy guy! But that is nothing new, The Gun Club and Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Lux, Ivy and the Cramps! Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Wings of Desire, and so much more. From zines and fanclubs to being on stage. Punk rock as community for the freaks, nerds and weirdos of the world as well as safe haven for gay folks. Tucson vs. New York and Los Angeles. It is the legend! Kid Congo Powers!
Victims Family has an awesome new split lp with Nasalrod! “In the Modern Meatspace“. We talk about that as well as a comprehensive history of Victims Family, a band who blazed their own trail throughout the 80s independent rock, the 90s gold rush and beyond. White Bread Blues, The Germ and lots more. Victims Family family, The Freak Accident, and of course Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine, from the start to current. It’s a career spanner with one of the great “weird guitar players” of the bay area.
The Bronson Arm self-titled record is still fairly recently released. We get into a detailed song by song of that debut, preceded by a bit of history of the band and how it all came together with so long to gestate. Pedals with Emerald Circuits, Dynamic Sound Mastering and a detailed deep dive into mastering itself, what it does and why it is important, baritone talk, split signals, space and inspiration from unique sources. It is Blake! It is Bronson Arm.
That’s right it is weirdo guitar LEGEND Norm Westberg! Here not just to talk about the genre defying brutality of Swans or his magnificent ambient solo work, but to also speak about at length about the radically underrated Heroine Sheiks with Shannon Selberg of the Cows! So all things Gira and Jarboe, some King Crimson, Sonic Youth borrowing gear, as well as how to use Etsy to sell limited edition ambient works. All of that plus: “Which Swans song is their Louie, Louie?”
Mud Ride is the name of Steve’s book. A messy trip through the grunge explosion. Steve of course, was there for all of it as a first hand participant with Mudhoney and before that Green River. We talk about all of that, along with The Thrown-Ups, folk records, crate digging, Monkeywrech, day jobs and lots more. Lukin and Maddison, March to Fuzz, Protest songs. Punk rock. I’m Now! Chardonnay! Fearless Doctor Killers! You Got It (which version! And which song is the best introduction to what Mudhoney does and so very much more. Been trying to get this one done for literal years and HERE. WE. ARE.
Feel Worse is the new record by USA Nails, Steven also plays in the incredible BLKLSTRS as well, and was in Kong and Oceansize. So let’s get into that, as well as recording a record where 3/4 of the band are in the same city and one isn’t. BLKLSTRS eps, subbing in Future of the Left, Song by Song breakdown of Feel Worse and lots, lots more!
Peter Prescott is the impresario and driving force behind Minibeast. To this day though, he is known to most as the drummer for the mighty Mission of Burma. We talk about the iconic album, ep and single by that band, and how it was somehow out of time and ahead of their time, and the reunion, hearing protection measure (the cone of silence!), record score discoveries, rocking while aging, moving to Providence and more. The rise of Volcano Suns, Kustomized and moving from behind the drums to get rhythmically krautrock with Minibeast.
J. Robbins returns! He has a brand new record called Basilisk. It has been awhile since last he was on. How long? Well his LAST album Un-becoming wasn’t even done yet then and that was 2019. So there you go. In-depth with a song by song on Basilisk as well as For Your Own Special Sweetheart turning 30 years old. Post-Bill Barbot Jawbox, the impartial overview tour and whether that will be the end of the reunited Jawbox or not. Brooks! Gordon! What the hey, it is J. Robbins folks. Let’s go!
John Wright of NoMeansNo and Dead Bob returns! And this time he has the NMN biographer Jason Lamb, author of NoMeansNo: From Obscurity to Oblivion: An Oral History, with him. which has just come out. We speak of the great history of the band and the challenge of getting it all down and doing it right. Casual fans and folks with NMN tattoos, getting across the humor of the band in an informative way, the thrill of the hunt for NMN esoteria, What was left out. The need to focus on the music without the visuals distracting you “The Eyes are Thieves” (and a side conversation about the nature of music and video), And of course much more DEAD BOB.
It has been 1031 days since Falco’s last appearance on Protonic Reversal and mclusky’s US tour is imminent (for real this time). So much has happened since then, let’s start with the return as a “real” band (or as real as any band is) of the mighty mclusky. Hearing protectiong! The recent double A side single released on bandcamp. New record. Venue respect! that was my brain on elves, Christian fitness. and creating songs that will not be played live, Arbiter of Sneers, stagediving, Gallagher Coats, and autozone, music journalism, slagging off bands, etc. Falcoisback!
Zach Blair has had an incredible career in music. He and Conan talk about finding a voice with guitar, Anti-Heroes is Zach’s podcast. Anti-Heroes is a podcast about guitar players that aren’t on the covers of the guitar magazines but who Zach thinks should be. Sounds a little familiar? Hmm. No wonder they are such kindred spirits. Hagfish remembrances (including Conan remembering what a huge fan he was of that band), GWAR antics and logistical nightmares and secret Gwar superfans. Where shredding is and isn’t important. The nostalgia Industrial complex of things like When We Were Young, but honoring the fan experience. Sonic Highways with the Foot Fighters, Joining Rise Against and bringing his own skills to it, DRAKULAS, Only Crime, and Bill Stevenson and living as a working musician in the year 2023. All that and a lot, lot more. It’s Zach Blair!
Steve started off writing songs and playing flute (!) with the Strawberry Alarm Clock then joined Don Randi’s band (Wrecking Crew). All of that BEFORE Oingo Boingo. So what else? Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo into Oingo Boingo, Forbidden Zone, Danny Elfman, Little Girls, Only a Lad, KROQ, Bassman vs. Jazz Chorus, The Police, the Cuphead show., Machine-Man “The Museum Mayhem of Raymond Scott” with Ego Plum, Learning important lessons in the studio, and of course collaborating with DEVO’s Gerald V. Casale. Composing vs. Guitaring. The first of two parts!
Rejoice! For the first time since 1999 there is a new Arcwelder! CONTINUE is out now. What better way to celebrate than to have the amazing drummer and co-primary vocalist Scott Macdonald on. We get into all of the details of recording it, as well as constant comparisons to another Minnestota band…. the original sound of grindy, angular riffs with huge hooks and melodies. Tilt-a-whirl to Arcwelder (improvement), Jacket Made in Canada, PULL, Xerxes, Everest, Entropy and lots, lots more. IYKYK, first Arcwelder interview in at least a few Presidents. Let’s go!
Matt Cronk returns, and so has CNTS. This time you can lose the U. let’s hear some stories of what THE CRONK has been up to since Feb 2020 and he was on last. Did anything happen? Medical tragedies, musical triumphs, thoughts on controversial names and sensibilities about that and an eye to a bright future in 2024 where CNTS are concerned. Also, find out more about Fake Legs and Cowards, and… Qui is back?
Ignore Grief, is the latest album from Xiu Xiu, it came out in 2023! However, Conan’s history with the band goes way back to the first record. So, how about a relatively comprehensive album by album history? From the very beginning, all the permutations and eras to today. Along with some reasonable derivations on the way. Covering Under Pressure with Michael Gira, the story of Xiu Xiu Plays The Music of Twin Peaks, the story behind the artwork for A Promise, reissues, album commentary tracks, art not having anything to do with the person that made it. OH NO collaborations, PAHRUMP, Sal Mineo, Merzbow. Bottle of Rum and other dancey songs, All of it and so very much more.
Absolutely is the new record from Chicago heavy swagger rockers Something Is Waiting. The history of SiW. Going from a 5 piece to a 3 piece. NU-ROLL, The mad scientist nature of Bill Fay Refused. sounding full vs. sounding loud, playing smaller and bigger stages. Glam sound without glam excess, noise-rock, Metal bands faking they are bigger than they are, Helmet, At.the.drive-in. Putting together Absolutely, the Something is Waiting shirt series and a song by song breakdown of the album
Here is my annual show and list of records I really loved and spent a lot of time with. I hope you enjoy it and them. For the terminally impatient or ADD or for people that are only able to process things in the more or less unnatural format of lists. This is the list.
No video of this episode because youtube’s primary function is mindless copyright control and takedown notices on behalf of bands that would never initiate such a thing. Protonic Reversal is now and has always been a podcast first, tied to no medium of any kind. No Lords, No Masters, No Walled Gardens. But in the interest of those that would prefer to read rather than listen.
Here is a hilarious transcription of it… AI ain’t taking over just yet folks:
Every year, we do an episode. This is my favorite records that came out in the year 2023. And a lot of people say they find some value in it. It’s kind of a pain to put together, honestly, if I’m telling the truth. But I appreciate folks checking out the bands and doing it, as you might imagine. A lot of the bands that I play end up on the show. And that is not an accident, of course. But it’s something that I put a lot of effort into. So apologies to anyone that is expecting just another kick-ass episode of Patron Conversal featuring an interview of some kind. Not what we’re doing. Not what we’re doing right now. Additionally… I do need to mention that this is, I’ve expanded, it’s top 23 of 2023. So there’s 23 different bands and records here. And I really like all of them. But I put out a record as well. It’s a split LP with a band called Lung, who I love. By my band, Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends. If you like this show, you should really check it out. It’s very good, if I do say so myself. I consider putting the Lung side on. as one of the choices that just seemed, didn’t pass the sniff test as they say. But Adult Prom out Learning Curve Records, neutronfriends.bandcamp.com. Go get that because we’re very proud of it and it’s a great record. And I feel like it should be talked about a little more. Anyway, so we’re starting things off with number 23. This is Brett Bradford’s band, Suckling. And they are a very cool band. That’s Brett Bradford from the band Scratch Acid, if you’re familiar. And this is not the self-titled record. I did an episode with him in May, episode 333. Three, three, three. There is a really cool video for the song Sisyphus. And this is Suckling. And this is The Harvester. Which is, they’re a band from Chicago. Members of Big N and Salvation. I guess they used to have a horn section. I’m not that familiar with their history. That was a long time ago, but just some flat out rock and roll. Noisy, if you will. Raucus. Good record. Kind of took me by surprise. I was not super familiar. I only ever heard the name. But that is, yeah, Cougs. Kind of a late entry for the list, but just goes to show you, people do their list too early, in my opinion. For the list, but just goes to show you, people do their list too early, in my opinion. Coming up next, Tunic. Tunic! This is the song Under Glass. Episode 341, David Schellenberg of Tunic. I had him on. And we did a song by song of this record called Wrong Dream. And it’s a good one. Got to see him in Phoenix, of all places. But yeah, David Schellenberg, Tunic. This is Underglass. Pontiac Grand Am. Mr. Flies. That’s P-H-Y-L Tripsy. That’s right. That is off of the Fat Chance record. And, of course, great episode with them boys. Danny and Clinton. And you can find that in the archives. That’s episode 347. Where we go into a song by song on that one. And that’s a good time. They had a good year. And a good band. Good band. Coming up next. Train Dodge. Rare talk. These fellas, they’ve been around a bit, and I like them quite a bit. And I had the pleasure of speaking to Jason before this record came out, episode 351. The Alley Parade is the name of the record, and it’s their eighth one, which is pretty astounding, but it’s a great one. So there you go. Alley Parade. This is Rare Talk. Invelatration by Sandrider. Invelatration. That’s right. It’s like penetration, but envelop instead. Big fan of those dudes. That is off of the record of the same name that also came out this year. Love Sandrider. Had John on. Did not have him on for this record. I’ll probably have him on in the future, but there is a great John Wazinski episode in the archives that from last year, I believe. And that’s, it doesn’t, you won’t hear about that record. It’s episode 288, but you get to hear some pretty cool stories from Akimbo and Sandwriter both. Cool. So next up is Nina Nastasia, the new band that she has. which is Jolie Laid. And this is an awesome record. And it’s quite the contrast to her last solo record. But it is a different band. So Jolie Laid, if you want to hear all about this record, Nina was on for a fantastic, in my humble opinion, episode. Episode 359. And this is Pacific Coast Highway. White Stone Eyes by Dead Bob. That’s next up on the Hip Parade. Dead Bob, of course, the project of Mr. John Wright of a certain band called No Means No. That’s a record called Lifelike. And that was a really cool episode and a really, really nice surprise. That’s probably, that is, as we learned in the classic, now classic, return to commercial episode. Episode 336. That is actually a No Means No record. b-side that that was repurposed for dead bob but that whole record is very cool very interesting episode 336 you can learn all about that record and what’s up with dead bob of which there’s gonna be more dead bob stuff and i’m very excited about that that was a good time uh this next up uh former guest of the show i didn’t have him on for this record but i do really dig it hey colossus all the way over from england This is off a record called In Blood. Came out earlier this year. It was not this year, but I did have two of these fellas on the show for their last record, which also was awesome. And that was Chris and Joe from Hey Colossus. That was back in 2021 for Dance’s Curses. And this is off In Blood. This is called Pearl. Borno Man off of the Young James Long record. Young James Long. Orogeny. Orogeny is the name of that one. It’s like orogenous plus progeny, I guess. No protonic to speak of for that, but that’s, of course, P.W. Long of The Incredible Mule. And I would love to talk to P.W. Long someday. That would be lovely. Really cool record out on Learning Curve. And good times. Coming up next is Rid of Me. This is I’m So Lonesome I Could Die. And this is… There is a… I did an episode with Mike at Rid of Me. I did it right before tour. And this wasn’t even out yet. Now it is. It’s a good one. Access to the Lonely is the name of the record. And you can find that… in the archives and not that long ago that is uh episode three five five you’ll find mike mcginnis he’s also in that fight amp lodos knife he does knife it’s records all that good stuff but this is rid of me i’m so once i could die access to lonely let’s go Royal Ray. Facet. Oakland Boys. Oakland Boys. That’s off of the latest record, which is just self-titled. It’s also called Facet. F-A-C-E-T. You can go get that on your local internet. Good stuff. Enjoy hearing from them Facet boys, for sure. Let’s keep it Bay Area. How about Shutter by The Tunnel? That was a good record. This is also a Learning Curve Records joint. A lot of these are. Makes sense of theme. But they put out good stuff. And these guys are from the Bay Area, and they’re great. And I’ve had them on. Not for this record, though. But if you want to dig back into the archives to hear more about the tunnel and what makes them tick, episode 223. I guess it’s been a couple years then with Jeff Wagner, Michael Jacobs, and Sam Black, all three of those fellas. That was for their shapeshifter record. This is off of Shudder. This is off of Shudder, which is the new one. This is Zealot. Say what you got to say. That’s right. By MSSV, that is Stephen Hodges, Mike Watt, Mike Begetta. I had all three of those guys on the show to talk about this record. This is a human reaction OP. So 362 for Hodges, the drummer, Mike Begetta, 315, and of course the legendary Mike Watt, 314. And I think when I originally had WAD on, I don’t think the record was actually out yet, but of course it was out and toured, tested by the time I had Hodge on. But all three of those episodes are great. That’s a great record. Highly recommended. Different from the stuff with Keltner. But yeah, lean into those three episodes if you want to know more about it. It’s worthwhile. Okay, how about DC Special, Scream? The legendary punk band Scream. I had the brothers Stahl, Pete Stahl and Fran Stahl, who also were in Wool as well. Episode 339 for that one. I didn’t really get a chance to listen to this record before having them on, but I knew it was going to be awesome. And it is. This is DC Special. Sha-la-la. Episode 339 to hear the gentleman Stahl Bros and hear about this one. Ridley Scott Walker by the band John. You can find as John times two if you are a Spotify user. John and Johnny, right? John Newton. He’s episode 340. A Life Diagrammatic is that one. And Ray Adams is on that song as well. lot of ruckus for a two-piece band and i gotta see them play in arizona too strangely enough but very good highly recommended to check that out episode 340 for that life diagrammatic for the uh for the record you can find out where you where you find your records at uh next up here’s another one i had the whole freaking band on for i don’t do that that often But this is a long time coming. This is Maplestave. And of course, Maplestave, Chris Williams, the lead Maplestave, sure, lead Maplestave, has been on the show before. But I’m talking about episode 345 where we had Chris Williams, Chris Rasmussen, Andy Hall and Evan Rowe, whole band, most of which resides in Durham. And that’s a whole thing. This is Cincinnati Hairpiece, and this is off of their awesome record, Arguments, which is fantastic. If you want to hear all about that, again, episode 345 for the details from Maple State. Nothing is as good as they say it is by Sparks. That’s off of the Girls Grinder Latte. Came out this year. What can I say? I love Sparks. I would absolutely love to have the Brothers Mail on the show. And it has yet to happen. But I’m a huge fan of what they do. And this is no exception. Saw the show. It was fantastic. Would love to have the Sparks Brothers on. I like that that’s a song from the perspective of a baby. It’s already disillusioned just after being born. It’s a very Sparks thing to do. Next up, Resurrectionists. This is New Winter by Milwaukee’s Resurrectionists. Now, conflict of interest alert. I put this record out. So, of course, I like it. They’re great. And I highly recommend people take it out and give it a listen. Episode 328. I had Joe, Jeff, and John, three quarters of the band on. And we talked about it. Obviously, I’m a fan. This is the New Winter. And the record is Now That We Are All Ghosts. Icy, white, and crystalline. The legendary Oxbow. So rad. That’s off of Love’s Holiday that came out this year. That’s the latest Oxbow record. Another banger. They’re very consistently interesting, cool. And they’re turning around quicker now than they used to. But if you want to hear… I’m half about that and mostly about his latest book, Eugene S. Robinson, Return to the Show, for episode 350. So you can hear all about Love’s Holiday as well as A Walk Across Dirty Water and Straight into Murderer’s Row, which is his new book. And as well as everything else, Eugene’s a fascinating fella. Lovely guest. Love having him on. Good times. And yeah, Love’s Holiday. Icy White and Crystal in the name of that one. Next up, Dry Nurse. As opposed to Wet Nurse, right? Elephant Rifle. That’s Broken Water. And I had two of these boys on. Clint and Brad from Elephant Rifle. Pride of Reno. Pride of Reno. So this is Broken Water. It’s the name of the record. Dry Nurse is the name of the song. Love these fellas. Great record. Also known as Learning Curve. So there you go. That there’s Fighting Talk by the St. Pierre Snake Invasion. Galore is the name of that record. It’s a bit different than their other ones, and I like that. I embrace the weirdness of it and the noisiness of it. I think that that’s a great record. Damien also plays McCluskey, of course. You can hear all about that as well as the St. Pierre Snake Invasion record. Episode 330. good times hell of a guy lots of moods lots of metallica talk on that record i’ve heard that specifically but uh yeah i i don’t know why people slept in that glory record but i guess that’s number three if we’re if we’re counting right number three out of uh 23 so good for them okay so last two arnie stern This is a working memory. This is off of the record, The Comeback Kid. This is real recent. This didn’t come out that long ago. I love Marnie Stern. I love this record. I think it’s one of her best records. And that conversation was killer, if you ask me. Really, really interesting. Super cool. And I… Love talking to Marnie Stern. Episode 361. Pretty recent. Last month to check that out. But let’s listen in here to number two. Working memory. Okay. And that was Faithan. That’s Juna. That’s Juna. Donna Diane. Repeat guest of the show. It’s been an incredible seeing Juna just give this larger skill of attention than the band had before and really connect with people because it is a hell of a record. So Femina Forenz is the name of that record. It’s an absolutely nuts video for Seven Winds of Sekhmet. Donna is a uncompromising, wonderful artist. And that’s my favorite record of 2023. So thank you very much for listening to this playlist. But if you want to hear a breakdown of that record, which is my favorite record of the year, the one I probably listen to the most as well, episode 325 to hear Donna Diane and I talk about deadbeat dad gods and suggestive Santas and things along those lines. That’s it. Those are my favorite records of 2023. Thank you so much for listening to the show. As always, you can find the show at ProtonicReversal.com for the archives. Always free. No ads, no sponsors. No kidding. Please like, subscribe, share on your platform of choice. All that helps people discover the show. Beats back the almighty algorithmic overlords. Does all the things. For people wondering why I don’t stream this on YouTube… There’s some really aggressive copyright control that happens, and I just… It’s not a YouTube show. It’s a podcast, and I put it on YouTube as well. So I understand that might be shocking for people that they might have to either read another format or listen to it in a non… Not on YouTube, but that’s why, in case you’re wondering. No harm, no shade, no foul. But yeah, patreon.com slash Protonic Reversal for the Patreon. You can get episodes sooner, $1 a month, advanced access, that gets you there. Helps the show, helps keep the lights on. Appreciated in these interesting times that we live in. Once again, Adult Prom as well, available. Learning Curve Records are split. Kona Neutron and Secret Friends split with the band Lung. Highly recommended for that as well. Always love sharing these lists. Tell me if any of this strikes your fancy or you find that one of these bands is your new favorite band or whatever. Let me know on social media. on, I think, all of the things for all I know. And otherwise, yeah, stay safe out there and take it easy. I’ll check you later. Thank you.
Hodge! Not only does this complete the mssv trifecta for protonic, we get to hear all about his work on those classic Tom Waits records, playing with Bob Dylan, working with David Lynch for the Fire Walk With Me Soundtrack (the PINK ROOM!) and beyond. Dave Alvin and Dave Jaurequi, Until the End of the World and Julee Cruise, Swordfish Trombones, Rain Dogs, Fox Bat Strategy, backing Mavis Staples, Bob Dylan and of course hooking up with Mike Watt for his first opera Contemplating the Engine Room and later again with Mike Watt and Mike Baggeta. Wotta career! Wotta drummer!
THE COMEBACK KID! It isn’t just the player, it is the name of the new record. After almost 10 years, Marnie’s back. The 8G band and the difference between playing music there and anything from the world of punk rock (or whatever). A whole lot of talk of music discovery, algorithms, press cycles, and making music in the year 2023. Playlists, Zach Hill, lost eras of music, lots of weird stuff happening all the time, aspiring to write something like a killer classic rock song, the drummer for arcade fire is a secret shredder, marnie montras, grilled cheese and Barbara Streisand. All of that and a quick run through of all of the songs on The Comeback Kid.
The Killer is the new record by the latest lineup of Crime & the City Solution, the band is embarking on a long tour of Europe with new member multi-instrumentalist Joshua Murphy not just playing in the band but also opening the shows with his own solo set. All this plus Simon’s tour with the late Mark Lanegan, Drawing inspiration from the lyricism and rhythm of hip-hop, Sly Stone, the journalists school of lyric writing, like Hunter Thompson, Wim Wenders, Six Bells Chime and Wings of Desire, writing the Adversary for Until The End of the World. A runaway success story with Bronwyn 45 years on, Simon’s international travels and experiences with anti-corruption in places like Papua New Guinea, living in Berlin and lots more.
The inimitable Nina Nastasia! Jolie Laide is the newest record, a collaboration between Nina and Jeff MacLeod featuring songs evoking classic California Ballads, Desert Dirges and the cinema of leaving behind. However, as somebody Conan has wanted to talk to for years there is discussion of the entire Nina Nastasia catalog. Collaboration with Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females, Jim White of the Dirty Three, Steve Albini and the complicated legacy of her former partner, manager and producer Kennan Gudjonsson. The impossible and unique heaviness of last year’s The Riderless Horse, John Peel, Dogs, Blackened Air, Run to Ruin, You Follow Me, Outlaster. All of it! Let’s listen to this distinctive, emotionally powerful singer songwriter whose work tends to be heavier than 5 dudes with downtuned guitars and full stacks, just in a different way.
Punk rock legend Gary Floyd of the legendary DICKS enters the lair of the Protonic Reversal! We talk about HATE THE POLICE, how it has sadly aged pretty well and is quite possibly one of the greatest debut singles of any punk rock band. The origin of the band in Texas (name and flyers first), and subsequently moving to San Francisco. Being an out queer punk rock front person in the days of punk rock and early hardcore. Visual art and health issues. Biscuit from Big Boys and the common cause with Dicks. David Yow and Wheelchair Epidemic (and the dildos), a surprise Butthole Surfers song title homage, Sister Double Happiness! Touring with Nirvana and Soundgarden. Oh yeah, and taking off two years to… live in a monastery? Black Kali Ma, reunion tours, San Francisco related minutia, and lots, lots more.
It is Brian Cook of BOTCH, Russian Circles, These Arms Are Snakes and SUMAC. Right before Botch tours the nation (well, the coasts anyway) in 2023! and SUMAC play a few shows in the midwest. Let’s talk about the why and how of a BOTCH reunion, as well as These Arms Are Snakes and why capstoning a band can be a wonderful thing. Russian Circles playing with Korn (!) and System of a Down (!), and larger concepts like: if you have to be an instagram influencer to be in a band these days, and how in the world people can find out about shows NOT the day after they happen. It’s a far ranging episode that covers a lot of ground with a guest Conan has been meaning to have on for a really long time.
Well hey there, it’s one of Conan Neutron’s very favorite drummers, here to give all the details of how the amazing Shellac came to be, thoughts on each and every Shellac record in depth. High cymbals, putting on a show, Italian Greyhounds, How many surveyors is enough, Dude Incredible and oh, so much more. Oh, and did you know he gives drum instructions? Give it up, everybody, for the one and only TODD TRAINER!
Access to the Lonely is the new record by Rid Of Me, and it’s a good’un! A song by song review of the Philadelphia band’s second record is in order, as well as a history of the band in general, methodology and influence, COVERS, Low Dose, Fight Amp (Wha’ happen?) and lots more. That includes Knife Hits Records as well.
STONE is the one new one by Baroness, no it is NOT named after a color. We get into all the albums that ARE named after colors, as well as the new one in a detailed track by track breakdown. Creating during the pandemic, the incredible YOUR BARONESS tour built off of FAN REQUESTS. The nature of creating, thin lizzy style harmony guitars, BLUE Having a record where there isn’t somebody new to the band. Sebastian and Nick Jost as a rhythm section that is always in friendly competition and lots, lots more.
Rob was on Protonic Reversal before the show hit double digits. It has BEEN awhile. Let’s hear all about his show 1001 Album Complaints, a music commentary show based on the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die book by Robert Dimery, they discuss the episodes and decide if they are worthy of inclusion, and of course, complain. (note: Conan has been on the show!) Let’s hear all about that, as well as the other going ons of The Chop Unlimited (metal themed Arby’s record? Blue Eyed Soul Ghostbusters record coming? Star Trek: TNG themed 70s funk and rock band?!?). Beverly Crushers, Ghost Beef, all of that.
