Category: Protonic Reversal

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Ep177: Dan Gatto (BABYLAND, Continues)Ep177: Dan Gatto (BABYLAND, Continues)

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The revolutionary and incredible electronic junk punk band BABYLAND was a huge influence on Conan, here they discuss that iconic band’s origin, moving from one off art project to DIY paragons. The world around early 90s weird music in LA. Moving on with Continues and quite a bit about the general state of everything in these Covid-19 times.
(note: this episode takes place before the George Floyd killing and subsequent uprisings)

Here is a youtube version of the show (a grand experiment!)

Ep176: David Scott Stone (LCD Soundsystem, Melvins, Unwound, Big Business, Slug, Get Hustle, etc.)Ep176: David Scott Stone (LCD Soundsystem, Melvins, Unwound, Big Business, Slug, Get Hustle, etc.)

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Dave Scott Stone has done a *LOT*, being an auxiliary member of Big Business, Unwound and the Melvins. To joining LCD Soundsystem, to making soundtracks with a member of Duran Duran! Listen in on this talented man’s incredible journey in music and hear the true story of the falling out with Melvins. 

Ep175: Gerald V. Casale (DEVO) pt. 2Ep175: Gerald V. Casale (DEVO) pt. 2

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Jerry Casale’s full length appearance in episode 159 was expansive in scope and covered quite a bit, but we didn’t get to everything. Soooo… Mr. Casale returned for what WAS to be a quick 20-30 minute followup.

Listen in as Jerry and Conan talk about the insane story of the movie Human Highway and DEVO’s association with Neil Young. The anniversary of the Kent State shootings. The Are We Not Men? / ChiChi Rodriguez artwork story, the 50 by 50 winery, the (still yet unreleased) DEVO documentary and yes… the source of “Show me some of what’s about to happen.” (Hint: Ben Orr of the Cars) and lots more.

Ep174: Martin Atkins (PiL, Pigface, Killing Joke)Ep174: Martin Atkins (PiL, Pigface, Killing Joke)

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Martin Atkins has had an incredible lifetime in and around music, listen in as he and Conan go into great depth on the historic and iconic Flowers of Romance record by Public Image Limited, including performing on American Bandstand (!) and doing everything the most difficult way possible with that group. Working with Killing Joke and non-relatable songwriting, the inception and continuing wild ride of Pigface, borne off of Ministry touring. Reveling in the unexpected and using the chaos as a change agent. Abandonment of ego to create a greater whole.

All of this plus his journey into academia and his excellent (and very funny) general advice for working smart as a band and finding what it is that makes the band special. Some of which can be found in his (FREE!) book: Band Smart: Succeed On the Music Business on Your Own Terms.

Ep173: Ryan Christopher Parks (B. Hamilton)Ep173: Ryan Christopher Parks (B. Hamilton)

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Ryan Parks fancies himself a blues man. But the songwriter behind Oakland rockers B. Hamilton is a lot deeper than just that… listen in on the crazy train of Oakland’s B. Hamilton. Songwriting, process, inspiration and history, the Gilligan’s Island of “covers of others”, and being part of the hit song from Sorry to Bother You.

Ep172: Tad Doyle (TAD, Brothers of the Sonic Cloth)Ep172: Tad Doyle (TAD, Brothers of the Sonic Cloth)

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Tad Doyle is a rock pioneer, who was around and working during the “gold rush days” of grunge and well after, as well as the proprietor of Witch Ape Studios. Hear about the rise and fall of Tad, a little bit of Hog Molly, the incredible rebirth with Brothers of the Sonic Cloth and everything else. This talk gets deep! From artwork cease and desists to serious discussions on mental health.

Ep171: Ronnie Barnett (the Muffs)Ep171: Ronnie Barnett (the Muffs)

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Ronnie is/was 1/3 of the mighty Muffs! He’s a raconteur of the highest order and has had an incredible career in music with the amazing Kim Shattuck (R.I.P.). Listen in on the tales of an incredible rock and roll career, from a surprise hit song in the movie Clueless as well as a detailed accounting of the final Muffs record. Which was completed during Kim’s two year battle with ALS.

Ep170: Mario Rubalcaba (Earthless, OFF!, Hot Snakes, Rocket From the Crypt, Clikitat Ikatowi)Ep170: Mario Rubalcaba (Earthless, OFF!, Hot Snakes, Rocket From the Crypt, Clikitat Ikatowi)

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It is another “stay at home” Protonic Reversal with special guest: drummer Mario Rubalcaba (Earthless, OFF!, Hot Snakes, RFTC, Clikitat Ikatowi)! This guy has done it all… six degrees of Rubalcaba. Hear about joining RFTC and Hot Snakes, punk rock basements and the wild and wooly path of the mighty Earthless! All this, a little pro skating stuff and some serious record geek talk. OK!

Ep167: Alexander Hacke & Danielle De Picciotto (Hackeddepicciotto)Ep167: Alexander Hacke & Danielle De Picciotto (Hackeddepicciotto)

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Hackedepicciotto are itinerant nomads making soundtracks for life, and it’s a pandemic. You may know Alexander from his other band Einstürzende Neubauten, this here episode is a talk with the duo about tour, the nature of performance and connection, and yoga music for people who hate yoga music. (apologies for less than ideal sound quality on Conan’s part, there was a bad piece of equipment, since rectified)

Ep166: Lori Barbero (Babes in Toyland)Ep166: Lori Barbero (Babes in Toyland)

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Lori Barbero is a living legend. As the power behind the propulsive drumming of Babes in Toyland, she was a participant in several incredible epochs of crazy music. Although she’s currently going through a crazy picture archive during the pandemic, she took time out to talk to Conan Neutron about all things Babes in Toyland, DIY, music and the year Punk Broke and well after. 

Ep164: Brian Walsby (Cartoonist, Shiny Beast, Polvo)Ep164: Brian Walsby (Cartoonist, Shiny Beast, Polvo)

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Brian Walsby is a cartoonist, he also played drums in Polvo and in a band called Shiny Beast (which features a member that went on to be in Red Fang), he’s also known for running merch for the Melvins where his cartoon parodies of popular books, records, movies and tv shows are the delight of discerning music fan. He’s also written a book on being self-employed called “self empunishment”. Anyway, the guy has stories for days and is a treasure trove of music knowledge, even if he isn’t actively playing it now. Dig in!

Ep163: Kate Wakefield (Lung)Ep163: Kate Wakefield (Lung)

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Kate Wakefield is a cellist, vocalist and part of the incredible duo Lung. Lung tour hard, and have an unforgettable and powerful live show. An incredible and intense performer and an undeniable talent.
Kate took the time to talk to Conan about everything from touring, poetry, Brock Turner and the American patriarchy. There’s a lot to learn from this iconoclastic lady, listen in.

Ep161: Chris Spencer (Human Impact, Unsane)Ep161: Chris Spencer (Human Impact, Unsane)

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Chris Spencer is most known for the brutal, uncompromising and iconoclastic rockers UNSANE. Whose gory and explicit album art was equally as vicious as the music contained within. After 30 years of Unsane he’s teamed up with some friends and collaborators for a much different kind of band, the moody and often slow-burning Human Impact. Chris sits down with Conan to talk about all that during the pandemic. 

Ep160: Matt Gentling (Archers of Loaf, Band of Horses)Ep160: Matt Gentling (Archers of Loaf, Band of Horses)

Matt Gentling

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Ep160: Matt Gentling

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The mighty bass man of the NC indie rock heroes, the Archers of Loaf comes back on Protonic Reversal to have a talk. It’s been what, 5 years? Time flies! How could it have gone long without an appearance from this swell fella? This time it is everything from the first inklings of “Go Loaf”, all the way to the end… and after! A new single and record, and a tour… right during the pandemic. It’s all discussed.
Oh yeah, he also plays in a band called Band of Horses that you may have heard of, did you know that? We talk about that too.

Ep159: Gerald V. Casale (DEVO)Ep159: Gerald V. Casale (DEVO)

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Jerry Casale is a legend. An iconoclast, a prophet and a pioneer who got scalped. As a founding member, and mastermind behind the incredible genre bending band DEVO, Jerry pushed the boundaries of music, music video and mainstream culture.
In these insane times, it is true. We are ALL DEVO. Jerry Casale sat down for a long form episode of Protonic Reversal.

(note, while this is a fully formed and fully produced episode there is another episode that began as an addendum and later became it’s own episode. You can find that here.)

Ep157: Andrew “Falco” Falkous (mclusky, Future of the Left, Christian Fitness)Ep157: Andrew “Falco” Falkous (mclusky, Future of the Left, Christian Fitness)

Andrew “Falco” Falkous

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The inimitable and unstoppable Andy “Falco” Falkous comes back on Protonic Reversal for another long term episode. Does this qualify him for guest host status? Nobody knows.

A freewheeler you will want to hold onto your hat for, key discussion points include an *ACTUAL* discussion of the American Left (if not the Future of it.) Covid-19 and Misfits beshirted minor villainy. All things *mclusky, and a little discussion of the last christian fitness record.

“So… You Are the Ambulance

Ep156: Toshi Kasai (Producer, Plan D, Big Business)Ep156: Toshi Kasai (Producer, Plan D, Big Business)

Toshi Kasai

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Toshi Kasai is back on Protonic Reversal! He has a brand new record/project called PLAN D!

Plan D: Working with tons of different drummers to make a very cool record.
-Lieutenant tour (Nate Mendel)
-Solo sets opening for Melvins
-Working with a number of different bands/clients
-Overpreparing/underpreparing for recording.
-Making a band/artist feel comfortable
-bands arguing for 10 minutes over a part that is 5 seconds.
-Tracking at sound of Sirens vs. tracking in other places/studios.
-Upcoming bands recorded
-“the wrong end of adventure” with destination recording.
-“partying” in the studio/recording process

Dale Crover

Ep155: Dale Crover (Melvins)Ep155: Dale Crover (Melvins)

Dale Crover

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It’s Dale Crover! of the Dale Crover Band, Melvins, Altamont and… well, Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends! He’s been on before, but never in his own episode. And here it is. Awesome. 

-Quarantine life.
-Dale Crover Band – Sell Out 
-The Who – Sell Out
Being on a split single and being on both sides. (DCB/NeutronFriends)
-Drum record on JNR
-Bringing the Dale Crover Band into being an actual band.
-Altamont
-Recording with Mark Arm and Steve turner of Mudhoney!
-Collaborations (Helms Alee!)
-Sound of Sirens!
-A sense of adventure in the studio/trying new stuff with Toshi
-Plan D!
-Working on others stuff vs. your own
-Nocturnal Habits record
-Different kinds of percussion
-The KISS style solo records
-Melvins @ Gilman/Covered Wagon (San Francisco Days)
-Atlantic
-Lysol / Lice-all (copyright/trademark vs. generic term) 
-Mark Deutrom/Lori Black
-Covering Going Blind/KISS and then later playing it live with Gene Simmons. 
-Playing with KISS and playing with Rush. 
-Double drums with Coady Willis and playing with Jared Warren
-Hold it In
-Mike and the Melvins
-Reconciling with Kevin Rutmanis
-P.I.L./Flowers of Romance/Martin Atkins/American Bandstand
-Setting up the Melvins space for Ministry
-Steven McDonald in Melvins
-General quarantine wrap-up, QUARANTIME!

Ep153: Steven McDonald (Redd Kross, OFF!, Melvins)Ep153: Steven McDonald (Redd Kross, OFF!, Melvins)

Steven McDonald

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Steven McDonald has been playing music since he was 12 years old and making records and touring with his brother Jeff as the band Redd Kross the whole time. He’s also played in such bands as OFF!, Melvins, and a live incarnation of Sparks. Redd Kross has a new album out called “Beyond the Door” and Steven and Conan talk about… well, a lot of stuff.

-Postponed tour
-Beyond The Door
-Dale Crover on drums
-Sparks Covers / “When Do I Get To Sing My Way?”
-Sparks talk with Conan and Steven.
-Georgio Moroder
-There really haven’t been that many Redd Kross records for as long the band has been around.
-40+ year career/starting in with Redd Kross as a kid!
-First show with black flag. (Keith and Robo era)
-Then playing with Keith in OFF! years later.
-Redd Kross being influence by rock and… well KISS.
-Neurotica and recording with Tommy Ramone (after learning to play along to the first Ramones record.
-Influencing GRUNGE
-Dale Crover interlude
-“Big Time Records”
-Major label stuff/the “Alternative era”/manuf
-Major or minor, anybody can be a dick.
-Right thing/right time and taking a 10 year break from actively being in a band.
-Getting out of ruts, overlooking things, liking things as identity (punk rock)
-Thrift stores over hardcore
-oh yeah… THE MELVINS
-Joining the Melvins.
-Melvins logistics
-Superhero team logistics
-The wild world of the Melvins.
-Bringing the Rock ‘n roll show energy to the Melvins.
-“Don’t listen to the records!”
-Melvins fans/trolls
-Please do not throw things at Steven McDonald.

Ep151: Tim Midyett (Silkworm, Mint Mile, Bottomless Pit)Ep151: Tim Midyett (Silkworm, Mint Mile, Bottomless Pit)

Tim Midyett

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Tim Midyett returns to Protonic Reversal, for the first #StayHome edition of the show. Tim comes back with a brand new 2xLP Mint Mile record, as well as new experiences from recording and touring with legends of drone: SUNN 0)))

-Quarantine life
-Cancelling shows
-Playing live vs. not
-Ambertron!
-Baroque elements and Showing Ambertron to a younger Tim.
-Listening to old stuff from way back when.
-Playing with people more skilled than you are/playing with people better than you.
-Inspiration.
-playing with and entering the world of SUNN 0))), a detailed journey!
-Michael Dahlquist tour diaries.
-Bottomless Pit revisited.

Ep150: Steve Albini (Shellac, Big Black, Rapeman)Ep150: Steve Albini (Shellac, Big Black, Rapeman)

Steve Albini

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For the 150th episode, one of our favorite guests is back, the unmistakable and always interesting Mr. Steve Albini.

-Making ends meet in the age of quarantine.
-The American Health Care system
-The slow escalation of risk with a midwest Shellac tour
-Playing new songs live, 1/3 of the set is unreleased stuff.
-Live experience vs. vegas stage show (the art of surprise and stage expectations)
-Billiard Player Song and live evolution of songs
-Cheap Trick vs. the Ex
-Do the internal meanings of the songs change.
-Scrappers
-Old songs
-Accountability for song content/flawed thinking
-Culpability v/ doubling down on dickery.
-Jokes vs. just being a jerk (comedians)
-Chappelle
-Big Black art aesthetic (it was cheaper!)
-Big Black: Jordan, Minnesota
-Big Black: Seth (his DOG hated black people…)(race in America and privilege)
-The Mentors
-The name of the band Rapeman
-Rapeman: “I have not been held to account”
-Blitz tattoos.
-Dave Riley of Big Black remembered
-The Girl on the Third Floor soundtrack (with Tim Midget and Helen Money)
-The End of Radio Peel sessions

Ep149: Billy Gould (Faith No More/Talking Book)Ep149: Billy Gould (Faith No More/Talking Book)

Billy Gould

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The one and only Billy Gould finally comes on Protonic Reversal! Billy and his coharts have an awesome new The Talking Book album. A project that evokes eno-like soundscapes as well as 70s film soundtracks. Conan and Billy talk about that, many things Faith No More and… Milk Cult?

-Talking Book II-70s film soundtracks
-9 year gap
-Structured but not structured
-“It’s not ready until it’s ready”
-Adding a member to a very subjective and subconscious enterprise
-Not the same as getting a new band member.
-Milk Cult!
-Faith No More going into new directions the audience didn’t necessarily expect
-Being known as a “rock guy.”
-Old San Francisco
-(Men of) Porn
-Playing in Jello Biafra’s band
-Faith No More reunion and complex relationships.
-Songs with problems “We fixed ’em!”
-Getting the call from Wayne Kramer to play in the MC50
-The pressure.
-Playing with Brendan Canty
-“If you do something, see it though
-Choose a journey where you don’t care about the destination.
-The many moods and styles of guitar players of Faith More.
-FNM as alchemy
-Slap bass demo tapes
-touring vs. recording
-Live shows with Talking Book
-Kool Arrow: the genre is “good”

Ep148: Buzz Osborne (Melvins)Ep148: Buzz Osborne (Melvins)

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Buzz Osborne returns to Protonic Reversal to discuss quarantines, the new acoustic(+) album Gift of Sacrifice, songwriting, gear and lots, lots more.

-Quarantine Life
-EP, Acoustic Records and covering Six Pack
-Trevor Dunn!
-Limited edition handmade stuff
-“You don’t HAVE to buy it.”
-Suiting songs to the player
-Steven McDonald in the band
-How people listen to music
-Vintage vs. useful
Hilbish Design!
EGCs
-Vinyl vs. cds
-Songwriting and “banking songs”
-Picking up a guitar to write vs. just to play.
-“You don’t want the fourth of july at all times.”
-Letting the lightning strike

Ep147: Jonathan Nuñez (Torche)Ep147: Jonathan Nuñez (Torche)

Jonathan Nuñez

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Jonathan Nuñez of the mighty Torche joins Conan for a talk that includes:

-Nuñez Amplification and pedals
-The current “golden age” of small scale, handmade gear.
-Moving from bass go guitar.
-Parting ways with Andrew
-Parting ways with Juan
-The extended family of Miami rockers.
-The absolutely insane journey of Torche’s post-Russian/Greece Covid-19 tour
-Covid-19 lifestyle changes
-Torche “Part Time Punks” sessions
-Jonathan’s path into recording and playing music.

And tons more!

Ep146: Mark Lanegan (Mark Lanegan Band, Queens of the Stone Age, Gutter Twins, Screaming Trees)Ep146: Mark Lanegan (Mark Lanegan Band, Queens of the Stone Age, Gutter Twins, Screaming Trees)

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-Doing the video with Travis and Joe (and Donel!)
-Video with Jimmy the cab driver (reprising that character after years)
-Making the other video at the Salton Sea with still photographs
-“Don’t mind the crickets.”
-The book! “Sing Backwards and Weep” (and companion piece record)
-Recording the companion piece record to the book and linking the songs to it.
-“A pandora’s box of shitty memories.”
-Working with Rob Marshall of Humanist.
-Making a double record/great double records.
-Opening for Watt
-Blues Funeral
-Meet and greets at the merch table and getting ghost pain from shaking hands.
-Complicated hand shake non-engagement
-Older audiences.
-Picking a setlist with so much material.
-Ripping off Leonard Cohen
-Rated R and joining Queens of the Stone Age
-Gutter Twins with Greg Dulli
-Playing on each other’s records, vs. working on things together.
-Meeting Greg Dulli (and initially wanting to kick ass ass)
-“Secret beef!”
-Josh Homme in Screaming Trees
-Walking the streets with Josh Homme, and Josh being misidentified as a cop!
-The Conner brothers.
-The story of the Screaming Trees.
-Publically learning how to make records
-Different crowds knowing different eras of the music.
-Artist vs. entertaintainer vs. guy who stands there and sings.
-Stooges and being in Iggy’s sights

Ep144: Kevin Rutmanis (hepa.titus, The Cows, Melvins, Tomahawk)Ep144: Kevin Rutmanis (hepa.titus, The Cows, Melvins, Tomahawk)

Kevin Rutmanis

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At last! Kevin Rutmanis comes on Protonic Reversal, a delightful conversation with a self-identified genuine musical weirdo that is not heard from NEARLY OFTEN enough! In this episode Conan and Kevin talk about:

-Covering Night Goat in Hepa.Titus
-Boutique vinyl, human hands touch almost ever piece!
-Finding Alice Cooper (who also hated everybody)
-AM Radio inspiration and enjoyment
-Da Blues!
-Not picking up the bass until 28, he was very busy.
-The Cows, a nasty bunch of creeps that also played music.
Inspiration by other bands not being great.
-SLIDE bass!
-New generations getting into “weird” music and finding music in general.
-Cape Fear guy.
-Recording the last “Cows” record and then joining the Melvins.
-Buzz wanting the Kevin thing.
-The story of Tomahawk, Kevin’s tale. A contrast in musical approaches. (thanks Buzz!)
-the story of Hepa.Titus, from early to now.
-How great is Paul Christensen?
-The Bass V-I… Kevin R. is NOT a gear guy
-Electrical Guitar Company necks.

Ep143: Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE, the Stooges)Ep143: Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE, the Stooges)

What happens when you get two rock ‘n roll talkers together? Good, good stuff. Sit tight for a momentous protonic with the legendary Mr. Mike Watt. The movement! Minutemen! Stooges! more…
Mike Watt

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-Technology! As tool of punk rock/DIY
-DROOOOOOONE
-Composing with BASS! (…and leaving room for the others that way)
-Contemplating the engine room
-Ballhog or Tugboat?: band as comp tape!
-Pedro
-Nautical imagery and Watt’s dad, ships and touring bands
-Gigs v. flyers
-Taking turns in punk rock.
-Bumper stickers/No Littering, etc.
-Perception is 9/10 of the law.
-Driving the van
-Il Sogno del Marinaio
-taking turns and different roles.
-Playing stuff that you didn’t write.
-Plowhard (not blowhard!)
-The story of Watt joining up with the Stooges. J. Mascis and the Fog, etc.
-“First you rip of a guy, then you play with him.”
-The songs end when they end.
-Little Doll/Pharoah Sanders
-Uniform music and punk rock.
-“Steve, BLOW!”
-Stooges crowd age.
-Delivering the songs of the Stooges.
-IGGY!… focus on Iggy.
-Letting the freak flag fly.
-Double Nickels on the Dime
-Keeping it succinct: Ummagumma
-Zen Arcade v. Double Nickels: friendly arms race/game of chicken
-wearing the (proverbial) Carmen Miranda hat.
-Treble v. Bass
-Recording budgets for Minutemen.
-Jam econo: way of life, not slogan
-The Watt from Pedro show.
-If you want a good crop, use a lot of manure.
-Why do you do what you do?

Ep142: Matt Cronk (Qui, Cunts)Ep142: Matt Cronk (Qui, Cunts)

Matt Cronk of Qui

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First episode of 2020 is up! Matt Cronk of Qui and Cunts speaks to Conan about all things rock!

-Quite a bit of talk about midwest vs. L.A.
-Cunts origin story
-AmRep/Touch and Go style or Hardcore Band?
-The name, reactions or non-reactions thereof. “If you’re offender by it, it’s probably not for you… and that’s fine”
-Being in a band that is getting a little bit of attention while being a musician approaching middle age.
-“While they argue about riffs, I can look at girls on tinder”
-Qui… and Anything Goes!
-Genre vs. Emotional Response.
-Qui on recharge status
-Covering “Goin’ Out West”
-Hardcore bands lack of originality.
-“I just want to listen to Captain Beefheart and REM
-David Yow joining Qui
-Qui recording Ashtry Heart with Buzz Osborne, Dale Drover, Trevor Dunn and Kevin Rutmanis
-Ramones vs. Eric Dolphy: respect to both, different skill sets.

Ep140: Greg Saunier (Deerhoof)Ep140: Greg Saunier (Deerhoof)

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It’s long overdue! But Greg Saunier of the mighty Deerhoof is finally on Protonic Reversal!

-Blueberry tea.
-San Francisco then vs. now and various tech stories.
-Music scenes where everybody participates
-Deerhoof finding it’s audience, an audience that likes to be surprised.
-Corporations consolidating music together.
-Greg and Conan talk about the early beginnings of Deerhoof.
-Halfbird
-Major label sell outs being an anachronism.
-George Horn and mastering the crazy first Deerhoof 7″ for Kill Rock Stars
-Satomi joining the band after only being in America a few weeks.
-Brief forays into politics.
-The complete lack of “development” in music now, and it’s vitality to Deerhoof becoming it’s thing.
-tourin’ tourin’ tourin’, at medium sized places around the world.
-Spotify and the gross insustainability of things that “seem like the future” but benefit everybody but the artist.
-Underground and independent spaces worldwide!
-Ed and John.
-John’s pickup soccer games.
-Political stances in 2019.

Also be sure to check out part 2 and part 3!

Ep139: Mark Deutrom (Bellringer, Melvins)Ep139: Mark Deutrom (Bellringer, Melvins)

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Mark Deutrom

Many people only know Mark as “the guy with the Hat”, but he was not only the bassplayer for the Melvins in their high profile “Atlantic” period in the 90s weird rock “gold rush”, he also has a long history of interesting bands before, during and after Melvins. This is an in-depth discussion of ALL of that, solo albums/Bellringer and a lot more. Far reaching stuff!

Ep137: Bill Barbot (Jawbox, Foxhall Stacks, Burning Airlines)Ep137: Bill Barbot (Jawbox, Foxhall Stacks, Burning Airlines)

Ep136: Bill Barbot (Jawbox, Foxhall Stacks, Burning Airlines)
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The mighty Bill Barbot! Guitar player for Jawbox, singer and guitar player for Foxhall Stacks, Bassist for Burning Airlines and thorn in the side of Brett Kavanaugh comes on the mighty Protonic Reversal to talk about Jawbox reunion shows, work/life balance, living punk rock vs. just playing it, his new power-pop/glam band’s cassette and so much more. Come on in!

Ep136: Brainiac (John, Juan, Tyler)Ep136: Brainiac (John, Juan, Tyler)

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  • -Documentaries, keys to the city and being Brainiac in 2019
  • Honoring Tim’s memory
  • revisting material and the perspective of age.
  • Tyler, coming back to playing music and his son “getting” Brainiac.
  • Multigenerational audiences
  • the reunion industrial complex
  • Tim’s dad: “are you going to keep going?”
  • Getting back together for a benefit and reconnecting
  • Familiarty for better or worse.
  • Idiosynchratic music, context and impact
  • Tim Krug (the missing link/understudy)
  • Picking who does what (singing songs, etc.)
  • Subbing for the local legandary hardcore band and destroying the floor in the process.
  • “We’ll Eat Anything.”
  • “oh, that was awful” “That was the best show ever!”
  • Being claimed as an influence and embracing doing something different than what others do.
  • Hostile or baffled audiences?
  • the band playoffs (and WINNING it)
  • The Brainiac – internationale ep with Kim Deal
  • When John joined the band, Bonsai Superstar, etc. 
  • Brainiac as the all boys Brady Bunch.
  • Hissing Prigs
  • Tyler gets new drums, and how they shaped the sound of that record.
  • Recording “nothing ever changes”Recording Electro Shock for President, distortions and learning how to record (usually the wrong way)and bringing that hodge podge to Jim O’Rourke
  • Keyboards, samplers, etc. and bringing that out live.
  • Playing “New/unreleased songs” for the reunion show, songs that might have been on the next (major label?) record.
  • Being a “weird” band and infiltrating mass cultureB
  • Brainiac covers and legacy, overall take on things, and the rights to the back catalog.

Ep129: Craig Wedren (Shudder to Think)Ep129: Craig Wedren (Shudder to Think)

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(stream and download – Episode 129)

Hey hey hey! This episode of Protonic Reversal features a talk with the mighty Craig Wedren of Shudder to Think, we talk to Craig about:

-Hacking the Polaroid Spectra.
-My 90s (new book and photo show)
-Analog vs. Digital in very specific incidents.
-Making unique videos, such as the X-French T-shirt one
-The label that picked Hit Liquor to start the album???
-All Hits on Planet Shudder
-Daisy Chainsaw!
-Improvising a vocal chorale.
-Putting your best glam foot forward on the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack.
-Higher and Higher.
-How to bring the various quadrangs of your art to the others.
-Group songs in a solo context.
-Bassassery or Bad-assy
and lots, lots more!

Ep128: Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, Jon Spencer & the HITmakers)Ep128: Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, Jon Spencer & the HITmakers)

Bob Bert

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(stream and download – Episode 128)

Well, hello there! Guess what? You bet it’s another episode of Protonic Reversal! This week, Conan and Josh talked with the legendary Bob Bert, drummer for Lydia Lunch Retrovirus, Jon Spencer and the HITmakers, Pussy Galore, Sonic Youth, and many more! We talked about:

-Touring more than ever before
-Playing shows with Jon Spencer again
-Getting the proper “junk” for the kit
-Starting the tour without knowing the songs
-Meeting Pussy Galore
-The guitar skills of Jon Spencer
-The night-and-day difference between the HITmakers and Retrovirus
-The dream gig with Lydia Lunch
-The encyclopaedic Weasel Walter
-Getting to know the Melvins
-Hearing protection
-Bad Moon Rising
-Setting up the first Sonic Youth European tour
-The historical wonder of Youtube
-Being there for the glory days of Max’s and CBGB
-Playing a better “Nature Scene” than Jim Sclavunos
-Bewitched opening for SY on the Goo tour
-The Action Swingers and the Chrome Cranks

Ep127: Steve Albini (Shellac, Big Black, Electrical Audio Studio)Ep127: Steve Albini (Shellac, Big Black, Electrical Audio Studio)

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(stream and download – Episode 127)

Well hey, hey there Protonic Reversal devotees. Time for another episode, Steve Albini is back with us after a 106 episode break. Conan and Steve talk about:

-Steve inadvertently ruining the “perfect run” of 9 continuous guests for the 100th episode of Protonic Reversal (not out of malice)
-Winning the World Series of Poker (and why that might not be as impressive as it sounds)
-Why recording records is still satisfying.
-Fluffy coffee shop
-A story of two competing magic shops
-Thoughts on the internet equalizing things for music.
-How this helps those passionate about music as opposed to those passionate about profit.
-The hive mind as a filter.
-The internet as a discovery tool for lost art.
-Nick Drake’s mother.
-Pegboy play South America
-Streaming Services and the next logical progression of decentralization.
-“how do you stop something that doesn’t store anything?”
-Longevity in studios = flexibility
-dislike of meritocracy as a term.
-the value of record stores are the maniacs that work there
-On hating nostalgia the first time
-On the lack of appreciation of nuance and allegory in past compositions
-Specifically: Prayer to God
-Appropriation of past art and public figures for political end
-the mind opening power of punk rock
-You don’t make anything better by assuming your audience is stupid and dumbing down
-Kindred spirits with the devout.
-Making records with people who also record at home or in unorthodox ways.
-Who gets told “no”?
-Fleetwood Mac (and the like) helped create punk rock
-Overdubs and Harmonies, and how they can be life lessons.
-Who would Steve most like to record?
-Rerecording In Color by Cheap Trick
-The End of Radio is the end theme song for Protonic Reversal, the ideas behind the song.

Ep126: J.D. Pinkus (Butthole Surfers, Melvins, Honky)Ep126: J.D. Pinkus (Butthole Surfers, Melvins, Honky)


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(stream and download – Episode 126)

It’s Jeff Pinkus of Butthole Surfers, Melvins, and Honky! It’s an episode of Protonic Reversal.
What more do you need to know?

ok, ok…
Greetings protonic friends, time again for a thrilling new episode of Protonic Reversal. Today is Mr. J.D. Pinkus of Butthole Surfers fame, he also plays in the Mighty Melvins, Honky and has recently released a solo banjo record called: Keep on the Grass. Interview starts at: 14:40
Conan and Jeff talk about the following topics:
-Keep on the Grass, the story behind it and the involvement of Danny Barnes (bad livers)
-different sequences for different formats
-the concept of the full length In general
-the cassette comeback
-Pinkus Abortion Technician
-joining up with Buzz and Dale because of Jared’s impending fatherhood
-picking BHS songs for a Melvin’s set
-Paul Leary songs
-the incredible depth of the Melvin’s catalog.
-different lyrical approaches.
-John Prine
-lots of headphone listening of Chicho music
-live interpretations of Melvin’s songs and arranging the songs for two basses.
-playing with Steven McDonald
-bringing the “creepy old man” vibe to the Melvins.
-playing bass with fingers (a study in contrasts!)
-using a Dark Glass amp from finland
-opening for Sleep with a banjo set
-432 tuning frequency
-playing Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill in Melvins w/Teri Gender Bender
-Daddy Longhead, Skinny Leonard, then Honky
-the double edged sword of Butthole Surfers not listing credits in the records
-Playing with Helios Creed on Activated Condition and the journey of making that into a record.
-half machine lip moves talk
-trash talk about Lenny Kravitz
-On joining the Butthole Surfers and making those classic records.
-drugs and cycles.
-Buzz doesn’t do drugs and probably shouldn’t.
-the Butthole Surfers chapter of “Our Band Could Be Your Life” is total bullshit.
-working with John Paul Jones on Indepdnent Worm saloon and playing banjo on “ballad of naked men” while he plays bass!
-Being a mixture of Steve Martin and Dean Martin.
-banjo as a songwriting tool.
-Doing covers.
-Hairway to Steven, pictographs haven’t translated well for the iTunes age.
-taping fire ants to cardboard and sending them to Chicago “a Texas Trip”
-cockroach snuff movies with Jem Cohen
-talking with Ian Mackaye about weed expenditures
-Double Live BHS, a self released bootleg.
-P.S.Y.
-is it wrong to be weirded out by the fans of your band?
-The band name Honky, and how that can (and has been) misconstrued. Different times and all.

Ep125: Sam Coomes (Quasi, Jon Spencer & the HitMakers)Ep125: Sam Coomes (Quasi, Jon Spencer & the HitMakers)

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Howdy there, friends and well-wishers of the Protonic Reversal, and welcome to another fine program! On this episode, Conan and Josh got to chat with Sam Coomes of Quasi! We talked of so many things:
Interview begins at 10:53

-recording with Jon Spencer
-the Roxichord
-contrasting music and lyrics
-playing in a two piece, and solo
-consistant learning
-being ill-prepared to start a tour
-the timing of switching keyboard patches
-playing with Jandek
-the three B’s: Ballads, blues, and brutal
-not being a session man
-playing favorites and covers in the set
-the Takeovers
-keeping Quasi fresh and why
-learning how not to resent the popular back catalog
-Hot Shit!/writing political songs during “Shock & Awe”
-keeping honest in songwriting
-musical rapport and confidence
-the role of a producer
-having confidence in your vessel on tour
-being where you were trying to get to

Ep123: Toshi Kasai (Engineer and Producer: Melvins, Tool, Helmet)Ep123: Toshi Kasai (Engineer and Producer: Melvins, Tool, Helmet)

Toshi Kasai

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(stream and download – Episode 123)
Hola, amigos! Welcome to another sweet sweet episode of Protonic Reversal! I know it’s been a long time since we rapped at ya, but we’ve got a great episode here with the one and only Toshi Kasai! We chatted about tons of stuff, like:

-the California fires
-Working with a wide variety of bands
-The JapaNeve
-Building a relationship with Melvins
-the secrets of Sound of Sirens
-How to prep for recording
-Coaching the vocalist
-Favorite equipment
-Recording intricacies
-Getting kidnapped by Big Business
-Altamont (the band)
-Networking via playing live
-the platinum records in the bathroom
-Analog vs. digital? Who cares

And much more! Or maybe not much more, but many more words in between. Whatever! It’s a really fun conversation, so we encourage you to enjoy it!
Interview begins shortly after the 17 minute mark

Songs played:
Melvins – Decay of Lying
Mud – Moonshine Sally
Tweak Bird – Lights in Lines
Qui – Awkward Human Interest
Hurry up Shotgun – Speedbath Megawaste
Shellac – End of Radio (end theme)

Ep122: Mike Greenlees/John Mohr (Tar)Ep122: Mike Greenlees/John Mohr (Tar)

Mike and John from Tar

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(stream and download – Episode 122)

Well, well, welcome to another episode of Protonic Reversal! Conan and Josh had fun chats with (separately) Mike and John from Tar! First up was Mike, with whom we discussed such whimsy as:
-A 25 year gap between radio call-in shows
-Getting back into show shape
-Picking songs for the set
-Aiming for Barry White, settling for KC and the Sunshine Band
-Being on Amphetamine Reptile, Touch & Go, Dischord AND Sub Pop
-Tar’s Static and Jawbox’s Static
-Cuddly scene beef with Poster Children
-Sharing a bill with Kyuss
-Fitting in on AmRep
-Various lost arts of record buying and making
-Being on T&G to remain control
-Page Hamiltron trash talk
-The effect of Tom’s arrival on the band’s songwriting
-Henry Owings

Then we got John on the line, and talked about:

-The disastrous last tour of Tar
-Writing the last album
-Picking songs for the reunion sets (yeah we asked him too)
-Being satisfied with the end of the band and getting back together
-Treating the vocals like any other instrument
-Guitars what are made of metal
-Henry Owings

Some circuitous topics, yeah? It was a fun conversation, to be sure! Have yerself a listen!

Songs played:
Tar – Barry White
Tar – Land Luck
Tar – G7
Shellac – End of Radio (end theme)

Ep121: John Yingling (The World Underground)Ep121: John Yingling (The World Underground)

http://www.theworldunderground.com/

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(stream and download – Episode 121)

Globetrotting punk rock documentarian John Yingling, of The World Underground, back in the U.S. for a limited amount of time comes back to Protonic Reversal after a 70 episode, and 3 1/2 year break. We speak of all things documentary, talk about his recent work in Indonesia and future plans for short missives, as well as the next chapter in the World Underground and everything to come. Culture shocks coming back to modern America PK14, All that and a hell of a lot of great music from abroad.

Songs played:

Hiperson – Football Game (Chengdu, China)
Dirty Fingers – School (Shanghai, China)
Lonely Leary – Flaneur (Beijing, China)
Grrrl Gang – Bathroom
hedge hog – Meng Ba La Na Xi​(​勐巴拉娜西) (Jogja, Indonesia)

Ep120: Jeff Mueller (June of 44, Shipping News, Rodan)Ep120: Jeff Mueller (June of 44, Shipping News, Rodan)

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(stream and download – Episode 120)

Hello, dear friends, and welcome to another episode of Protonic Reversal! On the day after Jesus’ birthday, we talked to the amazing Jeff Mueller (of June of 44, Shipping News, and Rodan!) and discussed such topics as:

-When your kids see you play
-Relearning via Youtube
-Being a NYC band that draws in Italy
-Packaging as part of the overall art project
-Having and ditching nautical themes
-Meeting social media friends in the real world
-the disappearing DIY aesthetic
-How certain bands don’t get the success they should have
-“Five thirty in the morning happens a lot over there”
-The Shipping News and Jason
-a commonality of experience
-Principal riff writers
-Using the “In the Fishtank” approach on your own records
-Stencilling anything for the merch table
-Distributors hate weird packaging
-The still dire state of record pressing
-Investing the time in finding new music
-Crain
-Half-Cocked
-Cycles of rediscovery

Interview around 14 minutes in.

Ep118: Rick Valentin (Poster Children, Thoughts Detecting Machines)Ep118: Rick Valentin (Poster Children, Thoughts Detecting Machines)

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(stream and download – Episode 118)

Hello, summer people! It’s time to put away the sweaters and break out the shorts, and while you do all that shuffling about with your damned laundry, you should listen to this great episode of Protonic Reversal! Conan and Josh welcome back to the show Rick Valentin, of Poster Children and Thoughts Detecting Machines! We talked about such things as:

-semi-accidental topicality
-there’s nothing wrong with writing music of its time
-putting out a record from your basement…again
-DIY and PledgeMusic
-the album as a complete package
-packaging multiple items/bundling
-members of Fugazi actually selling merch
-avant-garde smart-ass humor
-sequencing an album
-rejecting digital perfection and “Keeping in REAL”
-working with Albini after a 25 year gap
-changing songwriting techniques
-a record of songs vs. a “production”
-making a pocket band
-doing all the wrong things at the right time
-fully baking the half baked ideas
-a long digression on TV
-building autonomous community on the internet

Ep117: Andrew Elstner (Dead Now, Tilts, Torche)Ep117: Andrew Elstner (Dead Now, Tilts, Torche)

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(stream and download – Episode 117)

Hey hey hey!
it’s Andrew Elstner of Dead Now, and formerly of Tilts, Torche, Riddle of Steel and more.
He speaks of leaving Torche, the passing of Ken McCray, moving down south, boutique pedals. Putting on a show. It’s a whole thing.

Did you know that the original theme song for this show was a Tilts song?
Yup. He’s also a returning guest. All the way back from Episode 3. Holy moly! that’s 114 episodes ago. OK!

Ep116: Andrew “Falco” Falkous (Future of the Left, christian fitness, mclusky)Ep116: Andrew “Falco” Falkous (Future of the Left, christian fitness, mclusky)

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(stream and download – Episode 116)

Well met, all! Welcome once again to the home of the Protonic Reversal! This week’s guest was friend of the show Andrew Falkous! It’s always a blast chatting with Falco, as you can see by the list of topics we touched upon:

-All the Bongs, Vol. 2
-the binary of “California” and “Not California”
-pissing around until something good happens
-the story of a band vs. the quality
-the demented husks of humanity, at least they’re having a good time
-making the music is the most fun part
-the Cardiff post office
-Morrissey needs limits
-”proper music” (said with disdain)
-the misplaced optimism of the doomed
-cat updates
-”Of Wolf and Man”
-the future kings of Spain
-Halliburton: Radio Nope’s biggest listener
-parenthood and living in London
-the French are very attached to smoking
-the skill of further alienating a bad audience

Ep114: Keith Morris (OFF!, Circle Jerks, Black Flag)Ep114: Keith Morris (OFF!, Circle Jerks, Black Flag)

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(stream and download – Episode 114)

Howdy, all! Tonight’s special guest on Protonic Reversal is the legendary Keith Morris! Conan and Josh, delightfully, barely get a word in as Keith tells us all about such things as:

-Keith’s “turn” to write a book
-The Decline of Western Civilization Part XVIII
-Picking opening acts
-James Brown
-Taking opportunities when presented, or not
-Jeffrey Lee Pierce
-Early punk rock scenes
-Keith Levene
-the end of the Circle Jerks
-the beginning of Off!
-Playing festivals to build a new audience
-Getting the friends and family discount at the hotel

Ep113: Rose Marshack (Poster Children)Ep113: Rose Marshack (Poster Children)

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(stream and download – Episode 113)

Well, hello! Welcome to another fresh eppy of Protonic Reversal! Conan and Josh are thrilled to talk with their guest, Rose Marshack of Poster Children! While Rose attempts to interview them just as much as they interview her, much is discussed. Such as:

-Meta podcast referencing
-the origins of Radio Zero
-the pkids listserv community
-kids think nickelback is funny
-the epic story of Li’l Pump
-Conan’s Milwaukee conversations
-serious geography discussion
-driving and biking and efficiency
-recycling paranoia
-PRF
-writing the new record
-time signatures and drum terminology
-being an unwilling booker surrogate for Fugazi members
-aluminati and other basses
-Gram the Stickman
-Doing everything in a par
-enhanced CDs
-Yoko Ono
-Josh and Conan: How did you get into punk rock?

Ep111: Dave Catching (Rancho De La Luna, Earthlings?, Eagles of Death Metal, Desert Sessions, Queens of the Stone Age)Ep111: Dave Catching (Rancho De La Luna, Earthlings?, Eagles of Death Metal, Desert Sessions, Queens of the Stone Age)

Dave Catching – Rancho De La Luna

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(stream and download – Episode 111)

Once again, it’s time for the Percolator, and Protonic Reversal! Actually, it’s always time for the Percolator, but never mind. This week, Conan and Josh got on the ol’ phone once or twice with Rancho De La Luna’s Dave Catching! The fun, wide-ranging conversation was about, amongst other things:

-the Joshua Tree scene/weather report
-Rancho and busy times
-Desert Sessions
-the Rancho recording experience
-Poppy and Harriet’s
-the Splattering of the Tribes
-Yawning Man
-No Trespassing. Seriously.
-Any band can make great music
-Arctic Monkeys and Mark Lanegan
-the Fun Machine
-More organs than seats
-Being lucky enough to enjoy playing shows and not losing money
-Eagles of Death Metal: Always on tour
-Finding a Flying V in a closet
-Paris and Le Bataclan
-U2 doing some really cool shit
-Touring post-attack
-New Orleans
-Seven songs in 25 years
-Recording Iggy
-Working a relaxed schedule

Ep110: Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females)Ep110: Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females)

Marissa Paternoster – Screaming Females

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(stream and download – Episode 110)

Protonic Reversal welcomes you (and us) to 2018! We kicked off this year with a great guest, Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females! Conan and Josh had a great conversation with Marissa, and when we weren’t bonding over our love of one Stephen Sowley, we were discussing such topics as:

-the Bong Cyclone
-Mistaking Louisville for Michigan
-Playing the out-of-the-way towns
-Seeing Skrillex’s emo band in New Brunswick
-Punk being more than just music
-Wanting Conan to own up to everything being about Modesto
-Finding your forever band
-Curating your own media intake
-Playing leads, not talking shreds
-Cartooning
-Ted Leo
-Shirley Manson singing “Jigsaw Feeling”
-Sowley in a suit
-Making a live album
-Touring having not changed so much
-Lance Bangs and Bad Grandpa
-Jersey Pride

Ep109: Top 10 Albums of 2017Ep109: Top 10 Albums of 2017

Top 10 albums 2017

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(stream and download – Episode 109)

Conan
1. Oxbow – Thin Black Duke
2. Lardo – Sinking
3. christian fitness – slap Bass Hunks
4. Mountain Goats – Goths.
5. SEMINARS – Pricks Die Young
6. Magpies – Annex
7. Crystal Fairy – s/t
8. Dead Rider – Crew Licks
9. Out – Swim Buddiess
10. Fever Ray – Plunge

Josh
1. Palm – Shadow Expert ep
2. Power Trip – Nightmare Logic
3. Maximum Busy Muscle – s/t
4. Bon Air – the Blue Line
5. Fox Face – Spoil + Destroy
6. Radioactivity – infected/Sleep
7. Julie Byrne – Not Even Happiness
8. Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory
9. God Eaters – Xuma
10. Arto Lindsay – Cuidado Madame

all numbering relatively arbitrary

Josh #10: arto lindsay – ilha dos prazeres
Arto Lindsey
Josh: Danger Lady, this is fantastic, very much in the vein of what his recent solo career has been like. It’s this very odd combination of the Brazilian music he’s been playing for a number of years, but he’s still doing weird atonal guitar and he’s singing more melodically but it still sounds like Arto Lindsey. So there’s definitely an experimental edge to it… he played in Chicago… a few months ago with the Beauty Pill and it was just incredible.

Conan: Oh, I thought you meant he played in the BAND Chicago. I was like: where’s that record?

Josh I’d pay good money for that.

Conan “huh, they took an unexpected left turn on that one!”

It was an amazing show and this is a relaxing and romantic kind of record, which you wouldn’t necessarily expect.

Conan #10: Fever Ray – This Country
Conan: Number 10 for me is a band called Fever Ray, which is 1/2 of the Knife. This is the second Fever Record, I really love the first one it’s a weird, moody, messed up record. I dig it a lot, I dig this one as well, it’s kind of more of the same. I know some people that listen are super not down with Electro stuff or anything remotely that isn’t guitar bass and brash drums and stuff.

Josh: Geez, they are going to hate a lot of my countdown.

Conan: But I think everything that she does is wildly innovative and interesting. We talked a little bit during the break about that last the Knife record. It’s a harsh listen, but it’s awesome and I love that for a band that became so popular off of what was a very simple electro-poppy song with universal appeal, they just say: “ok, that’s done, we’re doing this now!”. I feel to a lesser degree perhaps, the same stuff happens with the Fever Ray material. I like that her viewpoints are LITERALLY written on her face for this record.

Fever Ray – This Country

Josh #9 god eaters – Signs of the Times
Josh: number 9 is a band we’ve discussed previously, as we’ve definitely played with them, seen them recently and they played Conan’s 40 birthday Party, the God Eaters.
Conan: To be perfectly clear, they would be on this list even if it was not for all of that friendship and cross pollination.
Josh: Oh yes, the friend rock, the only reason there are so many friends on this list is that that is what I listen to. That doesn’t have any affect on how amazing they are, and how much you should check them out.
Conan: Yes, this record kicks ass, this would definitely be on my list as well… I guess it would be a conflict of interest, because they play with *ME* as well. But I love it too.
Josh: Oh, don’t doubt that next year when we do this the Body Futures record will probably be on mine.
Conan: Right, so the God Eaters, it’s your pick… but one of the things I like about them is that they are a difficult band to describe. In mood and feel they remind me of the Minutemen, without sounding that much like the Minutemen.
Josh: Yes, and we were talking about this just recently so if you do listen to the show on a regular basis you will have heard something that sounds just like this. It’s how their sound is psychadelic in that it becomes enveloping, and there is some of that with the Minutemen as well. That there is so much going on with so few elements, but there is a lot happening within it. I feel like they echo some of that. Although they sound nothing like the Minutemen at all. It’s the precepts.
Conan: It’s a hell of a record, I’m sure they’ve already outdone it at this point. This is Zuuuma… that’s how you pronounce it right?
Josh: I would think so.
Conan: Hopefully it’s not exzema. Maybe it’s excema?
Josh: maybe, but the song we’re going to listen to is called Signs of the times.

Conan #9
Out – Wound Up.
Conan: This is a record, I feel was very popular amongst our circles, but needs to be heard by more people. It’s most of the band Minutes, but they should be given due difference on their own. It’s the band OUT, or OOT of you are Canadian.
This is off a record called Swim Buddies, because I guess hanging out and going to the pool or the river or something is at thing people like to do right?
Josh: Sure! They seem to like doing it.
Conan: Yeah! They like it.
Josh: But yeah, they discussed a little bit of our lists beforehand and…
Conan: NO DUPES!!! NO DUPES!!!
Josh: Exactly, we’re trying to get as many different songs out to you as possible, but they certainly would have been on my list. They are a fantastic band, they have a TRIUMPH.
Conan: Yes, they have a triumphant aspect to what they do… it comes from the fugazi/hoover-esque DC world, but there is definitely an element of what they do that… especially when they are all singing together… excuse me… SANGING.
Josh: Sanging! Sanging those unison vocals.
Conan: It’s a good record man, all the songs are pretty rock solid and there are some fist pumpers. This is put out by former guest of the show Jon Solomon.
Josh: friend of the show!
Conan: others have said it more eloquently myself, but to reiterate, this would have been on both of our lists if not for the NO DUPES rule.

Josh #8 Vince Staples – Homage
Josh: Number 8! I am still woefully underinformed when it comes to modern hip hop. I try my best to keep up with it, i’ve got some friends that try to keep me up with it. This is one that really stuck with me. Vince Staples, big fish theory. Just has a real fresh, awesome, noisy, weird fun sound. He has great flow. his lyrics are fantastic, there’s a real unique thing going on here. I listen to this one a lot.

Conan #8 Dead Rider – The Listing
Conan: my number 8 is from a little band from Chicago called Dead Rider. This is yet another in a series of records that… A good friend of mine once said: “I don’t know how music like this is made by humans.” i’m inclined to agree.
Josh: I feel that way about a lot of Dead Rider stuff, yeah.
Conan: It’s disconcerting, immediately familiar, but yet suddenly bizarre, everything about this band is just bad ass. This record managed to sneak through without me knowing about it. And suddenly i’m like: I’m in! I’m buying it immediately. Then I just listened to it on bandcamp and didn’t and decided that I really did need to buy it. It’s great, there are a lot of different moods to Dead Rider. It was hard to pick a song, but I picked this one specifically because the last movement has an auction announcer in it.
Josh: they call it an Auctioneer.”
Conan: yeah, yeah… Auctioneer. Thanks, Josh.
Radically unique and interesting band, super awesome… this is the listing!

josh #7 Julie Byrne – i Live Now As A Singer
Josh: My number 7, the album is called “Not Even Happiness” and the artist is Julie Byrne. This is a really wonderful, very mellow, beautiful… not really singer-songwriter thing, it’s there but there are interesting textures going on. The songs are so good, and her voice is so wonderful. I think Acme records had it as their record of the day when it came out, an instagram or a facebook post or something…
Conan: shout out to Acme records!
Josh: What Up Acme Records? Clicked on it on a whim, looked it up on bandcamp… and it’s just great late night listening.

Conan #7: Crystal Fairy – Crystal Fairy
This is a record, I think a lot of people forgot about. The Crystal Fairy record came out really early in the year. This is the collaboration between Buzz and Dale of the Melvins and former guest of the show Teri of Le Butcherettes… oh, and Omar from at the drive in, Mars Volta, and all that.
Josh: oh, sure why not!
Conan: It’s bad ass! To a certain degree it kind of sounds like a Melvins album with Teri singing. I’m totally ok with that. She’s one of my favorite front people period, former quest of the show. This is pretty much a product for me.
Josh: test marketed directly for Conan Neutron
Conan: I was trying to think of there was a way to make this more for me?
Swap out Omar for David William Sims or something?
Josh: Guest appearance by Malcolm Young?
Conan: Yeah! he managed to sneak in a guest appearance before he died. Anyway, this is Crystal Fairy… off of the album Crystal Fairy, with the song Crystal Fairy.

Josh # 6 Radioactivity – Infected
Josh: this is a 7″, not a full length. This is more indicative of the fact that I got into Radioactivity this year. They’ve been around a couple of years. Kind of an offshoot of the Marked Men
Conan: Oh yeah, ok!
Jiosh: so there were two big offshoots I got into… Mind Spiders last year, and this year I was DJing Tony Weber’s art opening at the Black Bird. Tony Weber who is in Heavy Hand
Conan: Who put out a great record this year too!
Josh: he was doing an art opening at the BlackBird and I was DJing and he came by with some records, after putting all his art up, he joined me for some records and one of the ones he played was off the last album and I was like: “What the fuck is this? It’s tightly wound… not really garage rock, got some of that vibe but too well produced. Tight and dry, and fast. It feels like everybody is playing their instruments at the fastest possible tempo all at once. It’s very well united and the songs are catchy as fuck.

Conan #6 Magpies – Next Three Exits
Conan: Next song for me is former guest of the show, very RECENT guest of the show. Hank Donovan’s band Magpies…
Josh: very recent indeeed.
Conan: Not as recent as the last guest, but very recent indeed. Great record! So this is Magpies from Missoula Montana, I think a lot of people slept on this. In fact, I *KNOW* a lot of people slept on this.This scratches the itch of people pining for the more rock based Sonic Youth stuff. That just likes cool, weird guitar rock. Co-ed vocals. Everybody killing it. I like the rest of their stuff, I like everything they’ve done. I think this is the best thing they’ve done.
I think it’s a really great record. That’s my story and i’m sticking to it.
Josh: and that’s the WAY it is…

Josh #5 Fox Face – Toxic
Josh: speaking of recent guests of the show, my number 5 is spoil and destroy from fox face.
Conan: awesome record, picked up the vinyl copy of that recently.
Josh: Super great record.turned out fantastic…
Conan: I wish we could have played more of it on the show when we had them on!
Josh: But now is your opportunity to play a little more.
I mean, you heard a couple songs from it that night if you go back to that episode it’s still there.
but I wanted to play their cover of Britney Spears: Toxic
Conan: oh yeah! it’s pretty bad ass.
Josh: I love it, I love how it’s still obviously that song, but they transform it and make it theirs. It’s a transformative cover.
Conan: first time I heard it, I was like: “what is this? I feel like I know this? OH! It’s Toxic.”
Josh: I think I told this story in the episode, but i’ll tell it again… first time I heard them play it was at a PRF in Chicago and Lindsay says: “I hope you guys likes Britney Spears”, and everybody chuckles they look at each other like: “Why are they laughing? This is serious.” And then they played this amazing song.

Conan #5 SEMINARS – Gaslight / Blacklist
Conan: Alright, we’re only halfway through… calm down
#5 is alive, baby!
He’s got laser lips
Laser lips?
That’s his insult to the other robot. Your Mother, Laser lips!
Oh man, i haven’t seen short circuit in awhile.
You know the Indian dude in short circuit isn’t Indian?

Josh: oh yeah, he apparently took that role and did a lot of research to get the accent right. Apparently he put everything into it…
Conan: You could also just hire an Indian dude. I mean that’s probably what I would do, but if you want to do it the hardest way possible and insult an entire culture.
ANYWAY, speaking of insulting!
hahaha

This is SEMINARS – Pricks die young. Let’s get something straight here people. this is a kick ass rock and roll record, this is mean and hard. If you are into riffs, things that are powerful and immediate and in your face. Songs that get in and get the fuck out. This is your record. This is another one I feel like people should be more hyped on.
Come on people.
This is James from Police Teeth, it doesn’t have any of the Police Teeth pop hooks or anything, but it’s got all those Police Teeth riffs though. SEMINARS has grown into it’s own band, and this is their best record.
It kicks ass, and i’m very pleased to have it on my #5 pick for 2017 play this loud, go break some parking meters and put a brick through a bank window

Josh #4: Bon Air – the Blue Line
Josh: …and here’s another record you should get right now
Conan: number four, you shall adore.
Josh: you should go get all these records right now, spend $10 each on bandcamp i’m sure you can find them all there. Well most of them anyway.
Conan: Click through our buy link to…. no, we don’t have that.
I don’t give a shit about that.
#4 is Bon Air: the blue line.
Bon Air!
It’s a hell of a record, it’s good wistful power-pop that rocks harder than that.
Conan: A little Sugar in there… both the sweetener and the band.
Sam does a very interesting thing where he splits his guitar into a bass, he has a splitter and it’s a whole thing where it’s a two piece and it has a bigger sound than that.
You don’t have to know any of that stuff to listen to this by the way.
Josh: It’s true, i’m trying to think of things to talk about. Besides: “This band is real good, I like ’em!”
Conan: It’s real good, I listen to it, you should listen to it, it’s real good.
Josh: I really do love them, the songs are so fantastic and i’m going with the title track. I bring up the power-pop again because a lot of it was home recorded and it sounds fantastic, but this and another song were recorded at Ardent studios, home of Big Star.
Conan: oh yeah! Of course.
Josh: and on this track, Sam actually played Chris Bell’s guitar.
Conan: Well, fuckin’ A.
Josh: and this song is so wonderful… it’s called the Blue Line

Conan #4: Mountain Goats – Shelved

Conan: number 4 for me is a record by a band I dearly love, who quite frankly haven’t put out a record I dearly love in awhile.
Josh: REALLY!?
Conan: Yeah.
Josh: REALLY, that’s interesting.
Conan: This is the Mountain Goats The last record I really loved by them were All Eternal’s Deck, which I thought was fantastic. I thought the last couple were fine, it’s ok.
Josh: I dearly loved Beat the Champ. I thought that was a top 5 record for them.
Conan: It’s got some tunes, there’s a little light jazz aspect to it I wasn’t loving so much. liked the show, loved some of the songs. but the latest record… GOTHS.
Josh: GOTHS!
Conan: top to bottom bad ass, and also kind of different somehow then anything they’ve done before but also very indicative of what they do.
Josh: Well, there’s no guitars right.
Conan: Yeah, and it’s very much a celebration not just of goth culture, but chosen family subcultures in general.
Josh: Which is not something he hasn’t written about before.
Conan: Yes, but it’s a slightly different way. It’s really cool. This song has a part that straight up sounds like New Order and I never would have expected it from a Mountain Goats record. And i’m totally into it, I think this is something where if you are a casual Mountain Goats record it might be time to check in with this record. I think it’s bad ass and one of John Darnielle’s best and I say that as not a fan of the last couple records.
Josh: Disagree hard!
Conan: Hey, I love the artist. I don’t know what to tell you.
that’s one of the nice things about the Mountain Goats.
I still love the Mountain Goats
There are records of his that other people are particularly huge on that i’m like: “that’s ok. it’s fine” but he’s always a good songwriter and he’s doing different things. If you are inclined to him at all, there’s a Mountain Goats record for you out there and this might be it.
Conan: I think this might be… so this is Shelved, my favorite song off of the Mountain Goats record called: GOTHS.

Conan: that is the Mountain Goats with shelved off of GAWTHS, which is my number 4 slot… some pronunciation right
Josh: that’s what they call them out here.
Conan: Got some gawths going down to the bat cave
Josh: Oh ya! The basement is just fulla gawths, oh boy.
Conan: Oh you got Goths, you gotta spray for that.
Josh: aw jeez.

Conan: You gotta fumigate!
John Darneielle, Come on the show.
Josh: Please, yes, alright… I was going to say that I promise we won’t be this punch drunk but.
Conan: I promise nothing.
Josh: Right.

Josh #3: Maximum Busy Muscle – Failure
Josh: We’re up to my number 3, it’s Maximum Busy Muscle.
Conan: MAximum… BIZZEEE… Mus-CLE.
Josh: from Athens, GA… we got to see them at a number of PRF events, one of their drummers is Erika of Motherfucker
Conan: conflict of interest of alert. Also: former guest of the show!
Josh: But she’s a later addition to the band, they started as a TWO piece. Just guitar and the drums with Mary, and just evolved into this wonderful four headed thing.
It’s kind of funny, the Motherfucker press line is “fist in the air rock”, this is a total headbanger. Some of these songs… especially this song we’re going to play Failure. Is the protoypical song on the record for me… immediately your head is banging… I’ve got short hair and i’m still doing it!

Conan: “I can’t even headbang properly and i’m still doing it so hard right now!”
Josh: But then there is so much more beyond that there’s so much to listen to with the way the drummers interact, how they interact with Adam on bass. All kinds of crazy shit, so it’s heavy and fun. If you took all the ponderous stuff out of early Don Cab. It just rips! it’s a ripper.
I love this record, i’m so glad that it finally got done and I got a hold of it, and you can get a hold of it too on the bandcamps.

Conan: A lot of what they do kind of reminds me of some of the stuff that Big Business does. In a good way, where it’s a heavy groove but something anchors it and it goes around a thing or idea. I can’t believ eI didn’t pick up this record, I was literally in the room when they got them and I just gapped on it. Cool story.

Josh: Cool story, buddy. Well, I suggest you join the rest of the people and pick up this record. This song is called failure.

Conan: alriiiight, that’s failure off of Maximum Busy Muscle
Josh: It’s a rocker
Conan: Right, if you are into that kind of thing, i’m not… i’m more of a light jazz dude.
Josh: yeah, I bet you are. Is that your next pick.
Conan: Here’s some light jazz everybody!

Conan #3: christian fitness – Bruce Hated Puppies

Conan: I think there’s been a christian fitness record on every best of since I started doing them, I think… i’ll probably get a correction soon. Motherfucker puts out a lot of records, and they are all great! It’s Andrew Falkous, aka: Falco of Future of the Left and mclusky. He’s appeared on the show so many times, I’ve LITERALLY lost count. One of my favorite human beings and artists. This is off the record: Slap Bass Hunks.
Josh: How great is that? How great is that?
It’s pretty wonderful. I feel like if you know mclusky and Future of the left, you know what you’re getting into with christian fitness, but I mean that in a good way. It’s like a pleasant surprise, like being given a cupcake.
Josh: yeah!
Conan: Except the cupcake is incredibly sardonic and shouting.
Josh: that’s cool, i’m still going to eat it.
Conan: “I’m still going to eat you!”
This is a strange analogy.
Josh: In a weird way, but it’s still good
I feel like Flco would probably appreciate it.
Anyway, this is the song on Slap Bass Hunks that is the biggest earworm for me. This is one I invite you to listen to, get on bandcamp…
Josh: Bandcamp is great.
Conan: We love bandcamp.
This is Bruce hated Puppies, off Slap Bass Hunks by Christian Fitness.

Those songs get in… get out… and do exactly what they are supposed to do. As Tony Ash said to me: “What a weird chorus! I love it, but what a weird chorus!”
And he’s NOT WRONG.
Josh: He’s not wrong!

Josh #2: power trip – if not us then who

Conan: what you got next for us? We’re down to the NUMBER TWO RECORD OF 2017!
Josh: as much as that matters… it’s definitely on my top 10 list and whatever.
Conan: People love arbitrary designations, we’ve established this.
Josh: I can’t get used to it! So my number two slot is Power Trip, which is an awesome thrash band. That I heard about from a bunch of people I generally trust.
Conan: I thought you were going to say: “Generally ignore!” “I heard about it from a bunch of people I generally ignore.” “This time it was ahhhh… valid.”
Josh: But yeah, it came up in a discussion of thrash, modern thrash, whatever. And this was pointed out to me by a few people, it’s a fucking great record, this is from a record it’s called Nightmare Logic. It has that classic thrash sound, it rests in between Dave Mustaine and Kerry King, Vocals are more shouted than sung, there’s a modern element there. Best thing about it, it’s 38 minutes long
Conan: that’s the correct length, nobody is looking for a 72 minute thrash record.
Josh: Naw, it’s cool man. It’s just a really good, invigorating record. I like to put it on while i’m in traffic jams. When I have to pay attention and focus and crank it up fucking loud!
Conan: Fuckin’ wail!
Josh: This record is called if not us then who. Also pay attention to the lyrics when you can make them out, because they are very good and smart.
Conan: Alright, power trip!

Conan: That’s a very mysterious ending there.
Josh: echo out.
Conan: that was power trip, if not us then who, off of the record Nightmare Logic.
Josh: yes it is.
Conan: Yes, True. Correct statement
Josh: definitely check that out if you like metal of any kind. If you like good things.
Speaking of good things!
Conan: speaking of Good things!
Josh: Good, good things!

#2: Lardo – Nothing

Conan: I know this next one would have been on your list as well.
Josh: It was.
Conan: NO DUPES!
Josh: no dupes.
Conan: this is another former guest of the show. I realized that Brian Pennington was the first show that you co-hosted with me.
Josh: It was. And I want to point that out actually, for a lot of this list we keep saying “Former guest of the show” that’s because we get good fucking guests on this show.
Conan: And we like stuff that doesn’t suck.
Josh: That’s right!
Conan: It isn’t just because we like our buddies bands. There’s a reason why we talk to these people, we like what they do.
Lardo, it blows me away that a big label hasn’t snapped them up and said: “Whatever you want to do, we’ll put it out!” because everything they do is fucking gold.
Josh: And they just barely seem to care in the best way. “oh, we made a record.” “oh, you just crapped this record out? no you didn’t!” it’s so good.
Conan: I still can’t believe that they haven’t given Pennington a free Bit Commander!
Josh: I know!
Conan: the sound clips for the Earthquaker Devices sound page for this pedal should be this record and the first Lardo record.
Josh: Yeah! This is what you can do with that.
Conan: Right, and this is one of the reasons I love them, because they take when I feel has become a staid and conservative genre, noise rock. And they turn it on its ear, there’s hooks to it. And there’s weird fucked up guitar that sounds nothing like a guitar that’s going.
Josh: but manages to be catchy at the same time.
Conan: It manages to be catchy at the same time, they are a hell of a band, this is a hell of a record, they are in my #2 slot, this is the band Lardo off of the record Sinking and the song is called Nothing.

Conan: ok, there we go Lardo with nothing, that’s off of the record Sinking. Get that at your local bandcamps… man, I might not have bought the vinyl for that. i’ve got to look and see, I listen to that all the time. that was my #2 of 2017.
Josh: that was your number two, which means it’s time for my NUMMMMBERRR ONE RECORD!
Conan: I can probably do a drumroll here… I can make that happen.
Josh: sure. Ok, ok… wait for it.
Conan: Waaaaaait for iiiiiit… waaaaait for it.
(drumroll)
Josh: is there gonna be a crash?
Conan: *pssssh*
Josh: there we go.
Conan: oh! there’s apparently a doorbell after that.
(doorbell noise)
Josh: “hello, it’s the number one record! At the door.”
Conan: “Number one record calling, can I speak to the lady of the house please?”
Josh: Alright, so my number one record iiiiiiis…
(drumroll)

Josh #1: Palm
It’s Palm!

Conan: PALM!
Josh: The Shadow expert ep, I was so excited to hear this record. Thrilled! Knowing that this is their second record. They haven’t been around for too long.
Conan: You played one of the songs from this record didn’t you?
Josh: yes, I did.
Conan: I don’t remember which episode.
Josh: It was awhile ago. I played them on the show before, because I was so excited about this. Just knowing that the next generation of noise is getting into the weeiiiird shit.
Conan: Yeah, that’s always nice to see.
Josh: The rhythms are off kilter, the singing is melodic but odd, the interlocking things that reminded me very much of Rob Crow’s band Heavy Vegetable
Conan: oh sure!
Josh: And anybody that is doing that kind of thing these days, is in a weird spot that makes me very happy.
Conan: yeah, I think everything I picked was pretty much old dude music, except for MAYBE Fever Ray. I’m not sure if the kids like Fever Ray, so at least somebody is staying relevant.
Josh: Alright, so the song is called Trying, it’s off of the record Shadow Expert, a preview of their upcoming LP, even though that has new songs. But they’re already… well… we’ll talk about this after the song.
Conan: Alright, this is Palm, Shadow Expert…Trying… there will be a test!

Conan: Ok, cool! That was your number one, that was Palm. Those kids, they are progging out in the best possible way.
Josh: Yeah. Yeah, that indie prog thing. Again, it taps one of those buttons I love so much, which is just: “You went to the practice space and you sat down and you wrote… That?!”
Conan: Yeah, I mean, it’s awesome that… I think there are a lot of bands that like Deerhoof, but not a lot of bands really take the same lessons from them. They have that mix, the Rob Crow world, a little King Crimson in there. If King Crimson played punk rock.
Josh: So Red.
Conan: Yeah, basically Red era King crimson. Yeah.
Josh: They are already working on their next record that will be out pretty soon. There are a couple of tracks up on their bandcamp, and it’s even weirder they are using guitars and drums to trigger samples. Just doing weird shit. I love that this is already weird enough and it’s just going to ramp up from there.
Conan: FU, it’s getting weirder!
Josh: That’s fucking great.
Conan: it is fucking great. So go get that on bandcamp… that’s on there.
Josh: blue vinyl too.

Conan: Oxbow – Thin Black Duke
Conan: My #1 record of 2017 is…
*drumroll*
Oxbow
Again: former guest of the show, Eugene Robinson. Really amazing record, it took them a long time to make this and it shows… it’s dense, there’s a lot to it. I’ve always liked Oxbow, I’ve liked everything they’ve done. I think their first two records are great… and they also give me headaches.
Josh: yeah, sure.
Conan: …and I mean that as a compliment. When I heard they were doing an acoustic record, I was like: “whaaaaaa? REally?” That was amazing, everything they’ve done has been wonderful. But this is… this is their best record. It blows me away every time, it unveils itself in very weird ways, and it’s a fantastic record that I listen to constantly. I considered doing one of the deeper cuts because there is a lot to do this one, but boy… if that first song isn’t one of my favorite god damn things. A Cold and Well-lit place, it’s my jam
Josh: sometimes something grabs you and takes you right where you need to be.
Conan: Yeah! It’s great. There’s nothing wrong with that at all, this record is great. It’s awesome. Oxbow, Thin Black Duke, Cold Well-Lit Place, #1 record of 2017, Protonic Reversal.

This is how it go:

Conan: #1 record of 2017, for me. Mr. Conan Neutron
Josh: There we go, that’s our lists.
Conan: That’s our lists, Go buy them records.
Josh: I gotta say, we are two people that listen to a lot of music and if we say these are the twenty records that worth your time first. Not the only twenty!
Conan: Not the only twenty, but definitely twenty that you absolutely need to pay attention to for sure.
Josh: We don’t go into this lightly, although we may go into the numbering lightly. We put some consideration into this and hopefully you all will get as much joy out of these records as we did.
Conan: Absolutely, and thank you for listening to the show, Thanks for caring that… we care?
Josh: Caring about our caringness?
Conan: Thanks for caring enough to listen to us talk about the music that meant so much to us in 2017. Anything else?
josh: Keep staying tuned in for… 2018?
Conan: 2018!
Josh: See what records happen then.
Conan: of course, and stay tuned to Protonic Reversal. Radioneutron.com for the archives, every week 8PM Eastern, 7PM Central, 6PM Mountain, 5 PM Pacific only on Radio NOPE!
Josh: Except for the times that we don’t do it then.
Conan: Except for the times that we don’t do it then.
Josh: Just like thiiiis.
Conan: exactly, catch you later.

Ep108: Darren Jackson (Kid Dakota)Ep108: Darren Jackson (Kid Dakota)

Darren Jackson – Kid Dakota

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(stream and download – Episode 108)

12/14 Darren Jackson

Hello, friends, and thank you for joining Conan and Josh for another episode of Protonic Reversal! Today’s guest is Darren Jackson of Kid Dakota, whose album So Pretty is about to get its first vinyl issue. We discuss that, and:

-mp3.com
-the So Pretty cover art
-a Low connection
-Shifting production ideas
-Spy mission band recruitment
-Precise music
-Lack of overdub ideas
-WWTTD?
-minimalism
-Selling the story instead of the music
-How the image fills in the vacuum
-Post-tragic euphoria
-Assessing the Kid Dakota discography
-The lasting popularity of a landmark early record
-Leaving room in the song for the listener
-Recording the new album
-and the next one upcoming!
-When your best album doesn’t catch on
-Getting burned out, recharging and focusing
-Craft pedals
-An unexpected soundtrack opportunity
-Vietnamese bootleg website

Ep107: Hank Donovan (Magpies, Rattlesnake Cable Company)Ep107: Hank Donovan (Magpies, Rattlesnake Cable Company)

Magpies, Rattlesnake Cable Company

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(stream and download – Episode 107)
12/7 Hank Donovan

Hey, everybody! Welcome to another episode of Protonic Reversal! Today’s guest on the phone with Conan and Josh is Hank Donovan, of Magpies and Rattlesnake cables. Our discussion includes such topics as:

-New drummer!
-Finding musicians in a small city
-a college-dependent scene
-Montana DIY
-Scene commitment
-Meal math
-Gear discovery problems
-Joining a three piece in progress
-Guitar influences
-Being a listener vs. listening as a musician
-Unintentionally starting a cable company
-Making cables cool, making something that lasts
-the Rattlesnake brand
-Not trying to hang out
-Tim Midyett’s Travis Bean baritone
-Hank’s Bean journey
-Schwinn Freestyle

Ep106: Keith Brammer (Die Kreuzen)Ep106: Keith Brammer (Die Kreuzen)

Keith Brammer of Die Kreuzen

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(stream and download – Episode 106)
Hail hail! Welcome to the Home of the Protonic Reversal. Today’s episode features another great in-studio guest (man, we’ve been lucky with these!) Keith Brammer, from Die Kreuzen, Wreck, Crime and Judy, et cetera! This wide ranging conversation touches upon such topics as:

-The weird novelty of listening to one’s own music
-Production quality and choices (You can do anything, and THAT’S what you want?)
-Punk as an encompassing thing vs. an ossified set of rules
-Bands whose sound indicated their record collection
-Solidifying songs in practice vs. at shows
-“I guess I can do that one and not feel physically ill.”
-Starting with no preconcieved notion of the “rules”
-Working at the top of your skill level, whatever it might be
-“A wide swath of nonsense and garbage” back then, just like now
-Touring and booking shows is definitely better with cell phones
-Lee Ving is the nicest
-The incredibly bad logic of throwing a shoe at a band
-Recognizing the opportunity for a situation that will make a great story
-Aerosmith
-Telling the Rick Nielsen story again (deal with it)
-“Gone Away” as the most realized DK song
-Daydream Nation doesn’t entirely lend itself to being played live
-The celebrated utility of a dry erase board in the practice space
-Doing useless demos for Mechanic Records
-Wasting the money of major labels
-Wreck, and the Carnival Strippers
-Picking a movie for your song to be in: PCU vs. Speed
-Cover choices
-All roads lead to D.O.A.
-Discovering bands way later than everyone else
-Picking bands to open the reunion shows, and doing the reunion shows in general
-Tom Hazlemeyer’s Bash
-Creating something that didn’t exist
-How just being able to fuck with people’s heads is extremely rewarding

Tim Midyett - Silkworm

Ep105: Tim Midyett (Silkworm, Bottomless Pit, Mint Mile)Ep105: Tim Midyett (Silkworm, Bottomless Pit, Mint Mile)

Tim Midyett - Silkworm

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(stream and download – Episode 105)
Good hello, and welcome to another episode of Protonic Reversal! Today’s EXTENDED episode features our in-studio guest, Tim Midyett (of Mint Mile, Bottomless Pit, Silkworm etc.) Our wide-ranging discussion features topics like:

-the Gerry Todd Show
-The Dancing Imperative
-12-string baritone guitars
-baritones: not guitars, not basses
-Tablecloth lint
-not actually sounding like Pavement or much of anything else
-100% vibe
-a band in a room, playing together at the same time
-the combination of people can be more than the sum of the parts
-solo vs. band
-Tim’s Electric Banjo Jamboree
-the incidental concept record: Firewater
-dealing with bullshit in various ways
-Missoula, MT
-Matador Records
-delineating between projects
-Justin the excellent pedal steel player
-Not interfering with what the band brings to the songs
-getting pickier
-taking all the most rocking songs off the album
-Steve Albini’s instincts are the opposite of commercial
-Modesto is terrible
-coming from the big city with real amps
-it’s better to be able to find your community with the internet than it was before, pretty much
-SWA
-Seattle in 1991
-no offense to Cat Butt
-the touring years
-easing back on touring to keep the band alive
-The Bottomless Pit of Partying
-learning bass via post-punk
-abstract album cover design indicating the contents
-New Order dealing with being of Joy Division
-putting the off topic song on the EP that’s otherwise all about fucking
-the three good clubs in the world
-breaking up the band
-changing strings
-how Andy fixed Doug Martsch’s guitar
-Midyett Rub and Tim’s turkey tips
-the multiple Silkworm tribute bands and the amazing skills of Chris, Chris and Evan
-if no one cared when you started, no one will care if you don’t stop
-a weird sloppy mix of Neil Young and speed metal
-”Man, that’s great, good for me.”

Ep104: Nick Skrobisz - Multicult

Ep104: Nick Skrobisz (Multicult)Ep104: Nick Skrobisz (Multicult)

Ep104: Nick Skrobisz - Multicult

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(stream and download – Episode 104)Weeeeeeeeeelllllllllllll howdy, folks! It’s time for another groovy installment of Protonic Reversal! In today’s episode, Conan and Josh chat with Nick Skrobisz of the kickass Baltimore band Multicult. Topics include, but are not limited to:

-Baltimore scene report
-the Oakland van break-in
-Katamari Damacy-ing the equipment (a step up from Tetris-ing)
-Robopedals
-Gear as a filler subject
-the elegance of early Danzig
-Good band names
-Indicative artwork
-Music that doesn’t cater to the audience
-Getting one over on the world
-Delivering a series of feelings
-Response/Reward
-No, really, Baltimore scene report
-DC’s proximity effect
-If ya get hungry…
-Tour advice/booking plot
-Doowutchyalike

Ep101: Lindsey Charles (The Cell Phones)Ep101: Lindsey Charles (The Cell Phones)

Episode 101 – Lindsey Charles – The Cell Phones

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(stream and download – Episode 101)
It’s Episode #101 of Protonic Reversal! Your hosts, Conan and Josh, are in a sour mood, due to living in the world. But never fear, a phone call with Lindsey Charles of the Cell Phones cures what ails them! After some discussion about Refused (overrated? Or rated just right?) and the fascinating concept of changing a band’s structure by adding in another ill-fitting member out of rock history.

Topics in this interview include:

-Lindsey’s talented brother
-The curse of buying more than you intended during any Target visit
-Everyone loving the Cell Phones’ “West Coast”
-People connecting differently to the same song
-Why don’t we discuss pregnancy?
-Wielding emotions like a weapon
-Playing for unexpecting crowds
-The puzzle of songwriting
-Hooks!
-Selling the album title
-Impressing one’s dad
-53% (Overrun)
-NEVER BE QUIET
-It’s not a joke, sometimes
-the Kool Aid Man full of period blood
-Mismatched bookings
-Well-matched bookings
-Encounters with Lesley Gore
-The outlet of performance

By the end of the episode, Conan and Josh are on Cloud Nine. We think you will be, too!c

The Cell Phones – West Coast
The Cell Phones – You Make Me Say No
The Cell Phones – 53% (Overrun)
Shellac – The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep099: Rick Sims (Didjits, Gaza Strippers)Ep099: Rick Sims (Didjits, Gaza Strippers)

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(stream and download – Episode 99)

Yes, yes! It’s true, Conan and Josh talk to the one and only Rick Sims of the mighty Didjits. It’s in the second hour, so strap in for some first rate entertainment or music or get that fast forward button ready.
-Just Fred (the record and the dude)
-The Cassette Revival
-The Killer + Tony Clifton
-Time Bomb Tom
-Touch & Go 25
-Didjits Reunion(s)
-Solos and quick hooks.
-The Gaza Strippers as a 4 course meal
-Writing Songs for the Supersuckers Record
-The Lee Harvey Oswald Band are assholes.
-Rey Wesham
-The Offspring
-Sound Design for Theatre
Songs played:

Fred Schneider – Whip
Didjits – (Mama Had A) Skull Baby
Didjits – Max Wedge
Piper – Who’s Your Boyfriend
Mr. Bungle – The Stroke
Lee Harvey Oswald Band – Surrender Earthlings
Didjits – Under the Christmas Fish

Didjits – Plate in My Head
Supersuckers – Born with a Tail
Fred Schneider – Bulldozer

Shellac – The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep098: Eugene Robinson (Oxbow, Whipping Boy, Sal Mineo)Ep098: Eugene Robinson (Oxbow, Whipping Boy, Sal Mineo)

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(stream and download – Episode 98)

What if Yella from NWA sang the hit of Yellow the band (of “Oh YEAAAAAAH!” fame), that and a few other things before Conan and Josh dive right into the remarkable Eugene Robinson and his many bands, projects, sojourns and creative exploits. Eugene conducts himself with alacrity and poise and a good time is had by all!

-The origins of Sal Mineo (The band)
-Making art worth a good God damn
-spending 12 hours in France and playing a show
-not playing where you oughtn’t
-Advocating the encyclopedia of the voice.
-Singing what your soul calls out
-Old HC fellas that don’t really “get” Oxbow.
-Charating a musical course with no reference points
-Shit talkers being good people to have around / speaking honestly
-Getting hit on by one’s idols.
-the equivalent of automatic writing.
-martial arts.
-“Hey Frenchy, put the chainsaw down”
– Compartmentalizing “Fight”
-Writers vs. People who can write.
-To Arms, two legs and the magic of subtlety.
-Whatever happened to Dukowski
-Cross-Cultural experience vs cross-class experience.
-Where the stories come from

Songs played:

Oxbow – Clean Well-Lit Place
Xiu Xiu – Sharp Dressed Man
Sal Mineo – the Primary Bell

Black Face – I Want to Kill You
Oxbow – The Finished Line

Shellac – The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep097: Mike Blaha (The Blind Shake, BLAHA, Shadow in the Cracks)Ep097: Mike Blaha (The Blind Shake, BLAHA, Shadow in the Cracks)

ep097-mikeblaha Blind Shake

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(stream and download – Episode 97)

On this episode, Conan and Josh have a chat with Mike Blaha of the Blind Shake and countless variations thereupon! Topics include, but are not limited to:

-collaborations and being open
-subbing in bands mid-tour
-Blind Shake vs. solo writing
-air-drumming auditions
-Chipotle!
-the Blaha health regimen
-surfin’ with John Reis
-working through new songs on the road
-“Play ‘Hurrican!'”
-acoustic vs. electric
-“I watch Netflix as much as the next guy”
-expressing more emotion
-attempting to book a show before this podcast ends
-living in small boxes
-joining Castle Face Records without changing the band’s sound
-the equal desire for safety and adventure
-keeping ears open to young bands
-Iowa
-the conceptual Blind Shake

Then Mike had to go load out for his solo show, so we ended up talking not exactly about Twin Peaks (although there are a few spoilers if you haven’t watched through episode 8 yet) but more about fandom and experiencing it real-time.

J. Robbins

Ep096: J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Channels)Ep096: J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Channels)

J. Robbins

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(stream and download – Episode 96)
Conan and Josh kick off the show with a brief discussion of big shows from the past weekend, then have a great chat with J. Robbins! Topics include:

The songwriting process:

-Bendy guitar loop overdubs
-Reviving/rewriting old songs and playing acoustic shows
-Shading confessional songwriting
-The integrity of a band and its members vs. being the sole songwriter
-Going out on a musical limb
-Collaborative projects
-Using the studio as a compositional tool

Stories of various recording projects:

-Roomrunner
-The great moment when a recording project sounds like a record
-the Dismemberment Plan
-What a producer’s role is and/or what it should be
-the Monorchid
-Shiner
-Hand-editing 2-inch tape
-Coliseum

The grand story of his brief time playing with Scream:

-“J., EVERYBODY knows ‘Ballroom Blitz.'”

Jawbox’s influence, and how influence works in general:

-Creating your own culture

We almost entirely avoided discussing politics!

Music played:

Jawbox – FF=66
J. Robbins – Our Own Devices
Jawbox – Won’t Come Off

Shellac – End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Duane Denison - Jesus Lizard, Tomahawk, DK3

Ep094: Duane Denison (Jesus Lizard, Tomahawk, DK3)Ep094: Duane Denison (Jesus Lizard, Tomahawk, DK3)

Duane Denison - Jesus Lizard, Tomahawk, DK3

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(stream and download – Episode 94)

What is there to say? Duane Denison is a living legend. We talk DK3, Jesus Lizard, Robert Fripp, technique and process, innovation and inspiration. Did we mention living legend?

Interview starts at 8:30

Music played:
DK3 – Traveling Salesman

Jesus Lizard – Bloody Mary
Jesus Lizard – Then Comes Dudley

Shellac – End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep092: Protonic Reversal Top 10 Records of 2016Ep092: Protonic Reversal Top 10 Records of 2016

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(stream and download – Episode 92)

It was really hard to get down to 10 for this.
Anybody that says there’s no good music out there has rocks in their head.

The list:

1. Beat Drun Juel – suppressor
2. Whores – Gold
3. Nocturnal Habits – New Skin for Old Children
4. Helms Alee – Stillicide
5. The Cell Phones – No
6. Future of the Left – the Peace and Truce of Future of the Left
7. Blind Shake – Celebrate Your Worth
8. Savak – Best of Luck in Future Endeavors
9. The rutabega – unreliable narrator
10. Christian fitness – this taco is not correct

5 songs that are not on the top 10 records of 2016

1. Melvins – Decay of Lying
2. Big Business – Fathers Day
3. Maple Stave – Call Sign Spider
4. Iggy Pop – Paraguay
5. John Congleton & the Nighty Nite – You are Facing the Wrong Way

LET’S COUNT IT DOWN!

10: Christian fitness – this taco is not correct
Avid listeners and fans of the show will probably remember… probably remember? How could you forget. Episode 89 with Falco, making a record breaking 4th apperance on protonic, this is a great record. I find that a lot of people don’t know it so much. It’s all pretty much Falco, Jack from Future of the Left, Mclusky plays drums. It’s one of the best records that came out this year, that people haven’t paid that much attention that like this kind of music.
Reggie Has Asbestos Training

9. The rutabega – unreliable narrator
This is their second record, the Unreliable Narrator, a little less epic than Brothers The Lights Don’t Work which has been their classic go-to, but the songs are as solid as can be, and very cool. I think you will appreciate it very much, if you haven’t heard it… you really need to. I’m playing one of the lesser known ones here. There is a very specific thing, there’s emotions! there’s feelings! it’s not just noise all the time. You can find it at Comedy Minus One, they are good people, making good music from South Bend Indiana. I happened to pick the one that is the darkest most emotional journey on the record, that’s how we do at Protonic Reversal.
I dig this one, this is the moody closer. I’ve Been the Armour

Also find them at Comedy Minus One
Josh and Garth appeared on the show all the way back in episode 33!

8. Savak – Best of Luck in Future Endeavors
This is a supergroup of sorts, members of Obits and Virgin Islands. I quite like it, I don’t know exactly what I was expecting but it’s a really good hot rocking good time. Episode 84 featured Sohrab of Savak, Obits, Edsel. This record came out early in the year, and I feel like it made a big impact with folks, but I feel like people aren’t giving it the deference it deserves. There’s an almost new wave-y element to it that i’m really into, but this is some serious rock music at the same time.

Also available on Comedy Minus One

7. Blind Shake – Celebrate Your Worth
One of the best bands loosely affiliated with the new garage rock “movement”, they are on their own thing, their own trip. The Blind Shake! Possibly my favorite since Seriousness. Just excellent stuff all around. This one is on Goner.
This one is a little less noisy, and a little more DEVO from Pluto.

6. Future of the Left – the Peace and Truce of Future of the Left
I feel like the last few Future of the Left records are divisive for some reason, people seem to be really into them or not into them at all. And they don’t give them a chance. They dont’ give it a chance. This is a band that keeps getting better, I frankly like them better than mclusky. Which is heretical for a lot of folks and I don’t care. It’s a busy world, out there. You should make time for this one.

Again Episode 89 for Falco’s last appearance

5. The Cell Phones – No
Believe it or not, I find this band a little hard to describe. Truth told, they sound like themselves, but when pressed I say they sound like Tina Turner fronting NoMeansNo, Freddie Mercury fronting DFA1979, Sharon Jones (of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings) fronting the Minutemen, none of that makes much sense, but it gets you to a starting point. The record is called NO, two words. NO. How do you talk about something like this without just saying: “this kicks ass, shut up stupid, and listen!”. It sounds like it’s from another planet, but I mean that as a compliment!

4. Helms Alee – Stillicide
Brace Yourself.
Great band, one of those bands that are just difficult to describe but are top to bottom wonderful. A unique voice in heavy music, melodic, epic, adventerous.
Go find them at Sargent House

3. Nocturnal Habits – New Skin for Old Children
This is Justin Trosper and Sara from Unwound, with some Two Ton Boa action in there as well. It’s amazing, I love this record, i’ve listened to it lots. One of the deeper cuts on this one. Lush as hell and great stuff. Soothing in it’s way.
An alternate universe sequel to Leaves Turn Inside you by Unwound.

Of course Justin Trosper was also on last episode.

2. Whores – Gold

Two time guest on the show. Last appearance was episode 90. This is off the record Gold. It’s a bomber. They do a thing that is heavy and noisy, kind of reminds me of KARP-esque things. It’s really good. You can also get the back catalog here. Also worthy! They are receiving a lot of attention right now and it’s a very cool, gravity defying thing.

1. Beat Drun Juel – suppressor
You probably don’t know it, and that’s ok. A Chicago band. I slept on listening to this for way too long because I could not remember the name. Which really isn’t that difficult. Once you get it, it’s fine… but you have to get it. This is fucking awesome. It’s PJ Harvey, it’s noiserock, it’s all those things… and it’s own thing.

So those are the top 10 records of the years.
I also am tossing in top 5 songs that were not on those records.

1. Melvins – Decay of Lying

Stiff competition this year, one of the two Melvins record that came out this year. Basses Loaded, the other being Mike and the Melvins with Mike Kunka of godheadSilo. Basses loaded has a bunch of different bass players on it, and it’s really cool. The lead off track is one of my favorite Melvins songs in awhile, it’s the big Alice Cooper side of what they do, and I like it.

2. Big Business – Fathers Day

They’re back as a two piece with a kickass record. It’s got riffs, if you know… you’re into that kind of thing. The record is called Command Your Weather.

3. Maple Stave – Call Sign Spider

I had this record for awhile, listened to it and enjoyed it. But this song is the business. From the incredibly politically contentious state of North Carolina. Last song on the record, I like them a lot. Don’t know why it took me so long, frankly. This one gets real close to emo, real close to something i’m not comfortable with at all, but stays on the right side.

4. Iggy Pop – Paraguay

One that might actually be on a few lists outside of the Nerd-o-verse. Post-pop Depression, it’s a good good record. I liked it a lot, I didn’t top 10 like it though, I think it has some weak spots and some of lyrics kind of blow. One of my favorite rock ‘n roll people of all time. But it’s true, certainly my favorite Iggy Pop record in years and years though. Kind of his goodbye record, it’s interesting to think of there not being an Iggy Pop around anymore making music. I think it’s kind of awesome that it’s in the last song lyrically too.
Oh! Do yourself the favor and follow Iggy Pop on instagram to see him hanging out with his bird, it’s amazing.

5. John Congleton & the Nighty Nite – You are Facing the Wrong Way

FEEL THOSE CHIMES SUCKA! I love this record, but there are only so many slots. I listen to this one a lot actually. Famed producer John Congleton and ex-pAperchAse

Christian Fitness – Reggie has Asbestos Training
the rutabega – I’ve Been the Armor
SAVAK – Alive in Shadows
The Blind Shake – Apostle Island
Future of the Left – Running All Over the Wicket
The Cell Phones – You Make Me Say No
Helms Alee – Tit to Toe
Nocturnal Habits – New Skin
Whores – I See You Are Also Wearing A Black T-Shirt
Beat Drun Juel – Hugger

John Congleton & the Nighty Nite – You Are Facing the Wrong Way
Iggy Pop – Paraguay
Maple Stave – Call Station Spider
Big Business – Father’s Day
Melvins – Decay of Lying

The Blind Shake – Reasonable World

Shellac – The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep091: Justin Trosper (Unwound, Survival Knife, Nocturnal Habits)Ep091: Justin Trosper (Unwound, Survival Knife, Nocturnal Habits)

Unwound, Survival Knife, Nocturnal Habits

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(stream and download – Episode 91)

Fall records and making things far away from people. Making leaves as an analog recording right in the middle of the digital revolution. Soundbreaking and process change , digital as 4 track, and recording with none of the people in the same room, live bands merging, skipping the “getting going” phase, numero group reissues as nerd wish fulfillment, revisiting the discography, outsiders looking back with rose colored glasses, the cult of instant reaction, post-hardcore, legacy and just doing it, two ton boa , touring during election2016 and Unwound touring during 9/11, politics in music and the value of the personal, survival knife: wha’ happen?, replikants, blade runner remake Brandt on the leaves tour, last Unwound tour as rocky movie and so much more.

interview begins at 11:40

Songs Played:

Nocturnal Habits – Good Grief
Nocturnal Habits – New Skin

Nocturnal Habits – Ecophilia
Unwound – Dragnalus
Unwound – Terminus

Shellac – the End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Christian Lembach - Whores

Ep090: Christian Lembach (Whores.)Ep090: Christian Lembach (Whores.)

Christian Lembach - Whores

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(stream and download – Episode 90)
Christian returns to Protonic Reversal to talk about the new whores record GOLD, online presence and communication, bullshit filters, the sacrifices and choices one makes for “living the life” and the trade-offs that ensue, the deep affinity and friendship that comes from a shared esoteric interest, Harrison Ford, quality merch, PRF BBQ Louisville, self awareness and SO. MUCH. MORE.

Songs Played:

Whores. – Baby Teeth
Whores. – Playing Poor
Shellac – the End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Photo by Peter Gannushkin / DOWNTOWNMUSIC.NET

Ep084: Sohrab Habibion (Savak, Obits, Edsel)Ep084: Sohrab Habibion (Savak, Obits, Edsel)

ep084 - sohrab habibion (savak, obits, edsel)

ep084 – sohrab habibion (savak, obits, edsel)

photo by Peter Gannushkin / DOWNTOWNMUSIC.NET

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(stream and download – Episode 84)

Conan and Brenna talk with the talented guitarist/singer about what constitutes a headphone record, your own genre of badass, punk rock and rules, the Damned and “hard goth”, Legos, confirmation bias, and feedback loops, taxonomic system for music, pen pals, zines and letting things reveal themselves over time, staying social and other people’s stories, recruiting your boss to play bass and opening up space, naming your band after the secret police, band names and history vs. art, collectives and drummers being your kids teacher, the end of Obits, and best of luck in future endeavors. Artisanal, small batch music and culture, PRF Props and more. EVERYTHING MUST BE AWESOME!

All this guest awesomeness and:
actual nervous breakdowns, Tahoe and complete changes in life, Conan Doesn’t identify as a tech person and needs to use emojis more, Evan Gritzon and “You Can’t Download Coffee”, Glory Hole Coffee and the Art of Murder, PRF West wrap up.

Interview starts at 29:18

Savak – Alive in Shadows

 

 

Savak – Split Decision
Obits – I’m Closing In

 

 

Savak – Knock Don’t Run
Shellac – the End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep081: Brendan Canty (fugazi, Deathfix, Burn to Shine)Ep081: Brendan Canty (fugazi, Deathfix, Burn to Shine)

Brendan Canty - fugazi - episode81
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(stream and download – Episode 81)

Quick political check in with Drumpf calling for punishments for abortion, then it’s on with Brendan Canty! 31:00 for the over eager.
Live soundtracks, Brent Green, fugazi children, the fluidity of instant sharing, the lack of endless labor, the arduous wait for a physical release, lots of stuff “out there” these days, sticking it out, relationship with the music as a band and with the fans, on hanging out and NOT being fugazi, records taking a long time and the internal metrics for what it takes, fugazi as cultural shorthand for Conan, Burn to Shine Atlanta, Louisville and beyond, Batman vs. Superman, Zack Snyder is a hack and Embrace the Serpent.

Songs played:
Lardo – Gunmetal Eyes
fugazi – Public Witness Program
Bob Mould – Circles

Deathfix – Low Laying Dreams
fugazi – Brendan #1
Deathfix – Better Than Bad

Ep080: Sean Kirkpatrick (Nervous Curtains, The pAperchAse)Ep080: Sean Kirkpatrick (Nervous Curtains, The pAperchAse)

episode80-seankirkpatrick

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(stream and download – Episode 80)

Being in a synth band in a world of guitars. The Low Defender ep, Abba and Van Halen covers, being a song based synth band, from piano to synths, demos and writing, Is Texas a rough place to be a synthy band?, crazy Texas politicians, circles of shared interests and bias reinforcement, music discovery then and now, rhythm fascination and remixes.

Nervous Curtains – PMA
Nervous Curtains – CWII.2

Lardo – Black Holes
Nervous Curtains – Light up the Sky (Van Halen)

Nervous Curtains – Parody
Nervous Curtains – Low Defender

Nervous Curtains – the Visitors (Abba)
Le Butcherettes – Stab My Back
Nervous Curtains – Krautdog
Nervous Curtains – Devastator

Ep078: Scott Evans/Jon Howell (Kowloon Walled City)Ep078: Scott Evans/Jon Howell (Kowloon Walled City)

episode78-scottevans-jonhowell

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(stream and download – Episode 78)

Kowloon Walled Cities and Roman cities, recording, the symbiosis of antisleep and sharkbite, Tigon and Puig Destroyer, Grievances and the delayed reaction of a “new” record, Less Art, and being identified by name in the San Jose Mercury News, patience and letting it stretch, song based and not “riff based”, Dead Rider, prom songs and stairway to… ? part salads and riff opportunities, unleashing the kraken, rules based music listening, literal music in commercials, opportunities and ceding control, SCION, Guilty pleasures and taking the time to hate things, allegory and storytelling in songs, on children and the future, Unwound, Shiner, Josh Newton and Sie Lieben Maschinen, Snailface (the Blues based Id of KWC), RPM challenge, drummer changes and more.

Kowloon Walled City – Your Best Years
Puig Destroyer – Controlled Violence

Kowloon Walled City – White Walls
Kowloon Walled City – Daughters and Sons

Sie Lieben Maschinen – Clever Work
Snailface – Skin Walker

Shellac – The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep076: Tim Green (The Fucking Champs, Nation of Ulysses, Louder Studios)Ep076: Tim Green (The Fucking Champs, Nation of Ulysses, Louder Studios)

episode76-Timgreen

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(stream and download – Episode 76)

Mortality themes, too soon for Bowie? Palin endorses Trump and vomit ensues, metaphorical puppets. Then we talk with Tim Green about naming your bands after amps or other things in the room, the rise of Louder Studios and moving to Grass Valley, destination recording, writing ridiculous parts for your bandmates, on Josh leaving the Champs, looking for a new DRUMMER, and having Phil Manley join. Timesharing with other bands, the breakup, Boyjazz, The Young, the Young Ginns, Nation of Ulysses and new kids disccovering it every year, on *NOT* visiting Steve in Bali, NOU reunion thoughts, times and places, Melvins shows and much more.

Interview begins at 32:00 minute mark

The Fucking Champs- valkyrie is dying
The Fucking Champs-Extra Man

The Fucking Champs-You’ve Got a Thirst, Portland
The Fucking Champs-What’s a Little Reign?

Shellac – The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep073: Tom Hazelmyer (Amphetamine Reptile Records)Ep073: Tom Hazelmyer (Amphetamine Reptile Records)

Ep73 - Tom Hazelmyer (AmRep)

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(stream and download – Episode 73)

Halloween recap, art of the house party, unknown knowns, The Iceman (Wim Hof not Bobby Drake), Real fucking nasty,Halo of Flies vs. H.O.F. Alice cooper band, thrown ups, “noise”, grounded sensibilities and dope guns fuck of zine to record, not being tied to one format, originality and genre music, new experiences and the classic rock mentality and the confirmation bias. The danger of sticking close to a niche, evolving Tastes, le Butcherettes, bash, Lino cuts and art with a record, music being free (the art object costs), small batch records and letting the artist make money, the lemonade stand of pricing, punk rock celebration of “amateur status”, Internet as the new radio, last thing as the favorite thing, Tom and the melvins, the blind shake, shadow and the crack, grumpys And not being about to afford to fail
Interview begins at 31:53

songs played:
Whores – Bloody Like the Day You Were Born

Gay Witch Abortion – Two Rats & a Pimp
Melvins – Real Fucking Nasty

The Blind Shake – Labor Day
Shadow in the Cracks – Timeless
The Cows – Hitting the Wall
Halo Of Flies – Tired & Cold

Shellac – the End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep070: Phil Manley/Sebastian Thomson (Trans Am)Ep070: Phil Manley/Sebastian Thomson (Trans Am)

episode70

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(stream and download – Episode 70)

IN THIS EPISODE! We have Phil and Sebastian in studio and talk to them about the following:
Shows in Bethesda, forging a unique sound, Trans Champs and the Fucking Am, Mark Knopfler likes the Fucking Champs, studio Cabana boys, LARPing swords, not being able to write it, but still loving it “Post-Rock” and rock lulls, Juno 60, Thomas Dolby keyboards and bringing on the heartbreak (isolated), Mutt Lange and substractive levels, Whispers, Life Coach update, daylight savings time, Russia bombing things “accidentally” and other bummers. First show ever in Oakland. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival and FREEEE DRUGS! DOING IT LIVE! Lots more Def Leppard talk, bike manifestation and Kelly Stoltz-Bike Angel, EL STUDIO! Phil will record you. Picking setlists and encores, Jon Fine and Your Band Sucks, Sebastian’s STRONG OPINIONS of things he has not seen, and things he has not heard. Plans… vocals… Trans Am reacting to itself. NUTS DEEP! Liberation and the Hummer commercial. on NOT taking the money and it not being ok to question the President Bad, Lindsey Lohan sex scene music, and SO MUCH MORE!

Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends – Casually Intense (Opening Theme)

Dire Straits – So Far Away
Trans Am – Play in the Summer

Trans Am – Television Eyes

Trans Am – Anthropocene

Trans Am – Ballbados

Shellac – The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep067: Christian Lembach (Whores.)Ep067: Christian Lembach (Whores.)

episode67

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(stream and download – Episode 67)

Music as delivery system or community, Harvey Milk, Keeping intensity as one grows older, sincerity and going deep, lyrical content as literal reading vs. gallows humor, song titles first as the box to write in, on trying to not play music, on throwing out songs, bummer-vibe bands being the best people, new records and making the time to write, the soft tyranny of diminished expectations, band names getting a band in trouble, “ok” not being good enough, local scenes, writing and recording a song in 48 hours for AmRep.

Interview starts at 29 minutes

Manhandle – Red Dawn
Whores – I Am Not a Goal Oriented Person
Whores – I Am An Amateur At Everything

Neighbor – Two Shadows
Whores – Jumping Someone Else’s Train

interview with Christian Lembach of whores.

Whores – Bloody Like The Day You Were Born
Shellac – The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep066: Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover (The Melvins)Ep066: Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover (The Melvins)

episode66

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(stream and download – Episode 66)

“I’m Rosemary’s baby!” Movies. Le Butcherettes, Basses loaded and Mike and the Melvins, Buzz almost gets his head blown off, insurance fraud stories, “The amount of work to go through to avoid work.”, The movie Sideways, my dinners with Andre (the giant), Andre and small pac, “never breathe what you can’t see”, Jared warren streaking, earthquakes! Trading Florida for Italy “like living in somebody’s mouth” and SO MUCH MORE!

Conan Neutron & The Secret Friends – Casually Intense (Opening Theme)
Melvins – Pearl Bomb
Melvins – the Water Glass

interview with the Melvins

Melvins – Let It All Be
Melvins – The Bit
Melvins – Lovely Butterfly
Melvins – Youth of America
Melvins – a History of Bad Men

Shellac – The End of Radio (closing theme)

Motherfucker from Athens, GA

Ep065: Motherfucker (Erika, Erica, Mandy)Ep065: Motherfucker (Erika, Erica, Mandy)

Motherfucker from Athens, GA

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(stream and download – Episode 65)

65 episodes, Old enough to retire, Protonic “Game of Thrones it’s not”, Cinderella’s beasts and the task rabbits, hitting people in the face with magnets, mom love, Carl Sagan’s Ghost, the shocking story behind methwitches, on Audacious names and reactions and the nature of vulgarity and grown up words, MIAMI CONNECTION as the inspiration for Tae Kwon Do the ep, Scott Weilland’s wine lyrics. The yarrrl as the musical equivalent of the vocal fry and Yarrl’s revenge, Mandy’s love of Springsteen, Fyddylestyxxx

Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends – Casually Intense (Opening theme)
Motherfucker – Motherfucker – Confetti (In Your Fucking Face)
Creepoid – Tell The Man
Motherfucker – Zang!

Motherfucker – Methwitches
Shellac – the End of Radio (closing theme)

Ep063: Andrew “Falco” Falkous (Future of the Left, mclusky, christian fitness)Ep063: Andrew “Falco” Falkous (Future of the Left, mclusky, christian fitness)

episode63

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(stream and download – Episode 63)

B Hamilton record release round up. the word “Gubernatorial”, militantly believing in nothing, Cohen brothers, there will be blood… Eventually. “The worst PROPER film.”. The process of creation, bands vs tales, Lightsaber Cocksucking Blues as a failed Whole Lotta Rosie rip off, mclusky charity gig wrap up, crowdfunding, stories about songs, song by song, the joy of the act of creation and other general mirth and merriment.
interview starts at roughly the half hour mark.

Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends – Casually Intense (Opening Theme)
Lardo – Clownfish
christian fitness – All Ghosts to Medicine Counter Four
mclusky – That Man Will Not Hang

B. Hamilton – Tight Life
Flipper – Sex Bomb (single version)

christian fitness – The Good Sword
Shellac – The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep060: Brett Eugene Ralph (Kentucky Chrome Revue, Rising Shotgun, Malignant Growth)Ep060: Brett Eugene Ralph (Kentucky Chrome Revue, Rising Shotgun, Malignant Growth)

Episode 60: Brett Eugene Ralph of Kentucky Chrome Revue, Rising Shotgun and Malignant Growth

Episode 60: Brett Eugene Ralph of Kentucky Chrome Revue, Rising Shotgun and Malignant Growth

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Raconteur and music lifer Brett Eugene comes in to spin tales and shoot the breeze, from singing with Minor Threat, seeing Thin Lizzy at his first show (!), explaining how a punk rocker turned outlaw country and Waylon Jennings getting some hilarious come uppance. There is talk of repurposing the stooges as a redneck, what exactly a “rising shotgun “ is, lyricism and lines and so much more. All of this and some live flash rap/hip-hop compositions and debuts from Practice Wife and Love Moon.

Episode 60

Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends – Casually Intense (Opening Theme)

James Brown – Give It Up or Turn It Loose
Practice Wife – Notice of Intent
Brett Eugene Ralph’s Kentucky Chrome Revue – Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell

Brett Eugene Ralph’s Kentucky Chrome Revue – Charcoal Grey
Love Moon – Clouded Bliss

Tilts – Titanium Falcon
Lardo – Pedagogue
Mickey Newberry – Frisco Depot

Shellac – The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep057: Jon Fine (Bitch Magnet, Your Band Sucks [book])Ep057: Jon Fine (Bitch Magnet, Your Band Sucks [book])

Episode57: Jon Fine

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Episode 57

Jon and Conan talk about the many wonders of his memoir/recollection of a band called Bitch Magnet and a different time in independent music.
The book is “Your Band Sucks: What I Saw at Indie Rock’s Failed Revolution (But Can No Longer Hear)
Why polite dullards like Clapton play so limp and lifeless, A Minor Forest’s steam table pizza dashboard scenario, the harsh retrospection of “growing up” and all things in the weird, wild world of the glory days of indie rock.
All this, plus premieres by Lardo and B. Hamilton

Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends – Casually Intense (Opening Theme)
B.Hamilton – Fucking in a Flophouse
Bitch Magnet – Motor
Bitch Magnet – Clay

Bitch Magnet – Americruiser
Bitch Magnet – Ducks and Drakes
Lardo – Gunmetal Eyes

Bitch Magnet – Dragoon

Shellac – the End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Ep055: J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Office of Future Plans)Ep055: J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Office of Future Plans)

episode55 - J. Robbins - Jawbox

Protonic Reversal

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Episode 55

Career spanning interview about punk rock, Jawbox origin story, Band thank you notes, guitars that fight each other, recording the S/T album and the end of the band, Burning Airlines before and after 9/11, Channels! Office of Future Plans! Acoustic! Cello!
Interview begins at 33:18 after the Jaw-BLOCK. GET IT? GET IT?
ok

Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends – Casually Intense (Opening theme)
Jawbox – FF=66
Jawbox – Won’t Come Off
Jawbox – U trau
Jawbox – Sound on Sound

Jawbox – Green Glass
Jawbone – his Only trade
Jawbox – 68
Jawbox – Desert Sea
Jawbox – Static

Jawbox – Savory
Burning Airlines – Wheaton Calling
Office of Future Plans – Harden Your Heart
Jawbox – Mirrorful
Shellac – The End of Radio (closing theme)

Ep046: Tony MolinaEp046: Tony Molina

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ep46-tonymolina

Episode 46 stream/download

Daylight savings time is stupid and Conan rants about it. What to do when youtube flags your own song for copyright violation. Replicator. In hour two they talk to Tony Molina. Speaking to classic rock, ZZ Top, Pantera party houses and blood fountains and Brenna tells a cautionary tale of why you should be careful in strange cities.

8:00am: Casually Intense (opening theme) by Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends
8:17am: Dragging Your Axe by Eastern Anchors from Dragging Your Axe Behind You

8:19am: Shiny Destination by the rutabega from Shiny Destination

8:26am: Henry Don’t Get Love by Le Butcherettes from Sin Sin Sin
8:32am: Going Home by Thoughts Detecting Machines from Forget

8:52am: Keep Your Mouth Closed by Risk/Reward from Risk/Reward
8:55am: ESPN Zone by Room Runner from Seperate

9:01am: Poor Born by Dead Moon
9:04am: Poor Born by The Bismarck
9:07am: Hydronauts by Nonagon from the Last Hydronaut

9:22am: Change My Ways by Tony Molina from Dissed and Dismissed
9:22am: Can’t Believe by Tony Molina from Dissed and Dismissed

9:53am: The Way Things Are by Tony Molina from Dissed and Dismissed
9:54am: See Me Through by Tony Molina from Dissed and Dismissed

9:58am: The end of Radio by Shellac from Excellent Italian Greyhound (Closing Theme)