This past February, in-between tours of Japan & the U.S., they released their 5th album, A SHORT HISTORY OF DECAY, on RUN FOR COVER RECORDS. It veers from raw downer lullabies to overdriven beat-based raptures of distortion, sometimes even within the same song.

Nothing will play their second album, TIRED OF TOMORROW, in full at all 6 dates of this year’s Slide Away Festival, which begins this Friday & Saturday (May 15th & 16th), in New York City, then moves to Chicago & L.A. the following weekends.

As everyone listening already knows, HUM are headlining those shows, marking their first live performances in almost 7 years.

Nicky started the festival in 2024, & it’s already featured a multi-generational variety of shoegaze-adjacent bands like Swervedriver, Astrobrite, Swirlies, Whirr, Knifeplay, Mo Dotti, & many others.

In this episode, we discuss the logistics of festival curation, night-capping at a pseudo-strip club, the weary routines of touring, the kaleidoscopic gloom of songwriting, & meeting Kevin Shields when you can barely stand up.

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SLIDE AWAY '26

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"VERTIGO FLOWERS" VIDEO

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:35: “Cannibal World” (Nothing)

04:07: Japan & M.B.V. Shows

18:24: Album Titles

22:08: Touring Logistics

24:29: Slide Away Prep & Production

32:00: Lineups, HUM, & '90s Influences

43:24: Tired of Tomorrow LP

49:39: “Vertigo Flowers” Song & Video

57:59: “Curse of the Sun” (Nothing)

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For 3 decades, Jay’s been designing & making posters & prints at his studio THE BIRD MACHINE for artists ranging from HUM & Matt Talbott, to Stereolab, Melvins, Shellac, the Flaming Lips, Seam, & Silkworm, to his own band, DIANOGAH.

He’s published a trio of richly illustrated books brimming with his designs, from the 90s to now, with lots of helpful captions that situate the works in their respective times & places. The first book is called 100 Posters, 134 Squirrels, & it was followed by Animals & Objects In & Out of Water, & then No One Told Me Not to Do This. Links to everything below.

Dianogah recently released a discography box set titled 1995-2008, which compiles their 4 full-lengths & another LP of singles & compilation tracks. The sets have sold out, but you can still get the remastered audio from their Bandcamp, also linked below.

In addition to Dianogah, Jay plays in the live presentation of Chicago band THE MOST DISTANT OBJECT, who are set to release their second record, VOLITION, on May 4th.

In this episode, we discuss the productive limitations of screen printing, dig into the scratchy histories inside his images, & try to make sense of the ups & downs of the angsty bounce.

[We refer to quite a few posters during the conversation, & a PDF of those is linked below as well.]

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JAY'S BOOKS

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DIANOGAH

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THE MOST DISTANT OBJECT

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POSTERS WE DISCUSS

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TIMESTAMPS:

03:05 // "Lone Tree Point" (Dianogah)

04:11 // Line Work

11:50 // The Bird Machine

15:53 // Gig Poster as Concept & Challenge

24:25 // HUM Posters

32:42 // Matt Talbott Solo Posters

38:34 // Early '90s & Electra 2000

49:24 // "Pinch and Roll" Discussion

01:08:07 // "The Smallest Chilean" (Dianogah)

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This past February, they released their CARNIVAL EP, a highly recommended 5-song trip through the warped abstractions of the psyche. It takes their sound in more meditative & even ambient directions, while also intensifying the pulverizing riffs & rhythms they’re known for.

Following the success of their U.S. run with Loathe last fall, they’re just a couple weeks away from a nationwide co-headlining tour with GLIXEN, which goes from April 10 to May 16.

Jon also writes & records music as JUAN CORDERO, & he released his debut LP, SONGS ABOUT GHOSTS, via SUNDAY DRIVE RECORDS back on Halloween 2023. FFO: Duster, Bedhead, Lowercase, Sparklehorse, & so forth.

In this episode, we move song-by-song through the Carnival EP, talk about surviving the love/hate relationship with your own music, & explore the overlap between everyday life & the cosmos.

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CARNIVAL EP

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SPRING 2026 TOUR DATES

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SONGS ABOUT GHOSTS LP

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HUM @ CHINA CLUB / CHICAGO '93

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:30: "Chameleon"

03:44: Carnival Record Release Show

08:44: "Hannibal" Video

10:36: Carnival EP

14:18: "Carousel"

18:38: "Hannibal"

23:19: "Méliès"

28:50: "Funhouse"

34:12: "Clown"

40:03: HUM's Influence

42:36: "Liftoff"

47:32: "Pewter" Discussion

01:06:39: "Breath"

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He owns & operates AKIRA AUDIO in Woodland Hills, CA, where he’s done a wide range of in-house sound work across music, film, fashion, TV, & web media.

There he's recorded thousands of sessions, most frequently with drummers KELLII SCOTT of FAILURE & BEN KOLLER of CONVERGE.

He’s also gone on the road to do live sound with Failure, Autolux, Local Natives, & others.

His band MOSSBREAKER released their first album, Between the Noise & You, in 2017 on Glory Kid Records. Check the Bandcamp links below to hear that, along with an early EP, singles, & more recent demos. They opened for HUM & Mineral at the Regent Theater in LA in September 2015.

In this episode, we discuss finding your niche, the stress-tests of guitar tech'ing, & the way sound travels through the memory-space of time.

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https://www.akiraaudio.com

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https://mossbreaker.bandcamp.com/album/between-the-noise-and-you

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HUM on Modern Rock Live [1998]

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:25 // "Runway" (Mossbreaker)

03:37 // Akira Audio

07:53 // Recording Schools

12:55 // Working with Ken Andrews

19:55 // "Between the Noise & You" (Mossbreaker)

23:06 // Hearing HUM

26:45 // "Ms. Lazarus" Discussion

49:31 // "Shamer" (Mossbreaker)

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Across three decades, he’s worked at every level of the music industry, from booking shows out of his college dorm room to navigating the global circuits of some of music’s biggest names. His booking roster has included artists of many genres, ranging from HUM, New Radiant Storm King, & Smog to Billie Eilish, M83, & Lorde.

He’s also a frequent speaker at music industry conferences, sharing his experience & guidance with audiences around the world.

In this episode, we talk about bringing bands to campus, the complexities of long-distance calling, & what appeared on HUM’s very first rider.

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:08: Mowing Lawns, Buying Tapes

03:43: College Radio & Booking Bands

10:55: Poster Children & HUM @ Campus Pub

14:33: Venue Networks

16:51: Long-Distance Calls

19:23: Reconnecting with HUM

22:29: Howard Stern Show

26:43: Alternative Boom

33:50: "Yume Utsutsu" (Lamp)

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A few months ago, they released a 7-song EP called 2ND GEN DREAM on À LA CARTE RECORDS, & it’s bursting with euphoric waves of guitar, smeared ethereal vocals, & the manic energy of drum n bass. 

Highly recommend checking that out, along with their 3 SERIES EP from 2023. Links below.

David also works at SEEN MERCHANDISING, where he probably had a hand in screen-printing the HUM shirt you’re wearing right now.

In this episode, we talk about the mechanics of the breakbeat, the acoustics of sonic weapons, & the cosmic patterns of deep space.

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https://foreverstar.bandcamp.com/music

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:08 // "Heat Seeking Missile" (F☆)

03:25 // 2nd Gen Dream EP

12:23 // 2GD Layout

15:55 // "Blade Silver Metallic" (F☆)

22:10 // "Competizione" (F☆)

27:40 // Discovering HUM

35:22// "Little Dipper" Discussion

58:56 // "Your Angel Speaks" (F☆)

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In 1989, Andy co-founded HUM, & he wrote for & played on their demo, the first LP (Fillet Show), & the subsequent 2 singles (Hello Kitty & Sun Dress).

He was a vital part of the Champaign music scene in the ‘80s & ‘90s, & also made music in Tugrik Dhugugrik, Designer Mustard Gas, Obvious Man, & Alaskan Mothership.

From time to time, he uploads material from that period to his SoundCloud page; link below.

In this episode, we talk about the mid-to-late ‘80s Champaign music scene, blending the dissonant with the melodic, & trying to match the volume of your awe-inspiring drummer.

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https://soundcloud.com/aswitzky

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Steve Albini's Basement Studio

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:16 // "Lake of Fire" (Alaskan Mothership)

03:29 // Early Music Fandom

07:29 // First Bands

10:16 // Tugrik Dhugugrik

11:34 // "Mucus" (T.D.)

12:48 // Obvious Man

15:46 // "Facts & Figures" (O.M.)

17:51 // Designer Mustard Gas

18:39 // “Workstation” (D.M.G.)

20:42 // Forming HUM

22:20 // “Kissing Me is like Kissing an Angel, She Said” Demo Tape

30:18 // "Time is Melting"

34:45 // "Kissing Me..."

37:44 // "Diamonds"

41:32 // Fillet Show LP

50:48 // "Sunshine" (Alaskan Mothership)

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In 1990, he co-founded the pioneering metalcore band CONVERGE, whose 11th studio album, LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH, arrives on February 13.

Kurt also owns & operates GOD CITY STUDIO in Salem, MA, where he records, engineers, produces, & mixes a breathtaking array of bands. He’s given an instantly recognizable mix of grit & clarity to scores of landmark punk, metal, & hardcore records, including LPs by his own band, as well as Cave In, Isis, Pg. 99, Torche, Trap Them, Russian Circles, & many more. 

In this episode, we discuss the mechanics of track sequencing, the alien geometry of sound capture, & the dreamy rhythms of deep time.

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https://godcitystudio.com

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https://www.godcityinstruments.com

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:19 // "Love is Not Enough" (Converge)

03:27 // Album Leaks

06:52 // New LP & Track Sequencing 

12:09 // Studio Geometry

16:01 // ‘90s Boston Rock Scene

21:22 // Hearing HUM / “Stars” on the Radio

27:34: "Isle of the Cheetah" Discussion

01:00:38 // "Eagles Become Vultures" (Converge)

[Misc: Karate, "This Plus Slow Song"]

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He’s played in and/or toured with SHINER, YEAR OF THE RABBIT, SEASON TO RISK, THE JOY CIRCUIT, ON, VAE VICTIS, & more. 

He was in Shiner from 1993 to ‘98, & drummed on their early landmark records, SPLAY & LULA DIVINIA, as well as on their first 6 EPs. Both LPs have since been remixed & remastered, & then reissued in 2024 on SPARTAN RECORDS. 

After leaving Shiner, he played in a couple of early 2000s L.A. bands with Failure’s Ken Andrews: first the pop-leaning electronic project ON, then the heavier rock band Year of the Rabbit. He & his Y.O.T.R. bandmates, Jeff Garber & Sol Snyder, then tracked & self-released their first & only studio record, so far, called EP 1. 

He’s also done studio session work for Pete Yorn, Abandoned Pools, Jonny Polonsky, & others. 

In this episode, we talk about ‘90s recording styles, the web of alt-rock riff tropes, & the revved-up release of thunderous drumming.

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TIM'S DRUM DISCOG (Streaming)

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"Iron Clad Lou" Video

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:34 // "Brooks" (Shiner)

07:10 // Pre-Shiner Recordings

12:23 // Shiner & Indie Production

19:47 // Riff Drumming

22:43 // "Sailor's Fate" (Shiner)

26:12 // "My Life as a Housewife" (Shiner)

32:22 // '90s Drumming Influences

33:18 // L.A., Ken Andrews, & Year of the Rabbit

39:12 // "Absent Stars" (Y.O.T.R.)

41:59 // The Joy Circuit

44:32 // "X's" (T.J.C.)

45:48 // Pete Yorn Sessions

48:42 // "Undercover" (P.Y.)

49:42 // HUM's E2K Tape

56:34 // "Iron Clad Lou" Discussion

01:26:13 // "Sideways" (Shiner)

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Earlier this year, they released their 5-song debut EP, Our World is Going to Disappear, on IODINE RECORDINGS, & they’ve got new stuff on the way. Link below.

Since 2020, Keith has hosted THE NEW SCENE PODCAST, which released its 300th episode a few weeks back. He’s done wide-ranging interviews with members of Quicksand, the Jesus Lizard, Jawbox, Melvins, Seaweed, & many others, as well as with friends of this pod, Chris Enriquez from Spotlights & Josh Brigham from Hopesfall.

In this episode, we do a recent gig round-up, discuss the revealing language of dreams, & explore the chilly vastness of the arctic soundscape.

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:17 // "Lost Dreams" (Memory Entry)

03:19 // Shiner + Ink & Dagger Shows

09:59 // Memory Entry: Influences & Origins

13:21 // Dream Logics

19:22 // The New Scene Podcast

26:41 // Hearing HUM

32:46 // "The Inuit Promise" Discussion

1:07:36 // "Holler Wild Rose" (Memory Entry)

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Derek plays bass in Centaur, & does art design for the band, including the iconic & oddly soothing Gaudí-inspired In Streams cover. He also plays bass in CASTOR, who just re-released their discography in remixed & remastered form as a vinyl set called Moving Backgrounds, on Earth Analog Records. He previously made music in Sarge, the Big Bright Lights, & National Skyline, among others.

Lyle was a studio assistant, tape op, & White Russian maker during the recording of In Streams. He's also been in many bands himself, including Amphibian, Tractor Kings, The Mezzanines (NYC edition), & he currently performs in ELECTRIC STALLION & CHROME CHRIST. He runs Twin Radar Records as well.

In this episode, we talk about Centaur’s hazy origins, the precarious ecosystem of the recording process, & the healing flows of pure volume.

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https://matttalbott.bandcamp.com/album/in-streams

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https://castorindierock.bandcamp.com/album/moving-backgrounds

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:34 // "Fields" (Centaur)

04:58 // Hearing & Seeing HUM

13:51 // Centaur Origins

16:55 // Recording In Streams

26:35 // Working with Keith Cleversley

37:30 // Release Date

41:29 // In Streams Artwork

50:28 // Sonics & Atmosphere

53:18 // "Placencia"

59:06 // The Champaign Sound & Writing Lyrics

01:04:58 // In Streams Themes

01:11:29 // "Life Begins"

01:18:58 // "The Same Place"

01:34:31 // "In Streams"

01:45:14 // Cover Songs

01:47:29 // "Strangers On 5"

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Their most recent album, EVERENDING, came out in 2023, & was tracked by Matt Talbott @ Earth Analog. It’s textured, it’s heavy, a little sludgy, a little spacey; it’s awesome from front to back. Highly, highly recommended. Link in the show notes. 

Before T-Vic & its predecessor HUSHTOWER, Scott played in Little Black Spiders, Wicked Walls, & the Falbonauts, & Don played in Social Imaginary & Bristle. 

We make a couple references here to a previous conversation the guys had with Sven from the Champaign is Also a Band podcast, in which they go deep into the fan-favorite song “This Isn’t Real.” Link below.

In this episode, we talk about early ‘90s gig-watching, the power in restraint, & the importance of keeping things “noily.” 

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T-VIC BANDCAMP

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"This Isn't Real" Discussion (C.I.A.A.B.)

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”In the Den” (2/24/18)

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:22 // "Stress in the Midwest" (T.V.)

03:38 // The Blind Pig

09:42 // Early T-Vic Shows

14:04 // "Taking the Advantage" (T.V.)

15:20 // From Duo to Trio

18:28 // Everending LP

24:07 // Recording @ Earth Analog

27:57 // Songwriting for Everending

30:59 // "To the Very End" (T.V.)

37:59 // "This Isn't Real" (T.V.)

40:02 // Hearing & Seeing HUM

46:24 // Inlet

52:19 // "In the Den" Discussion

01:28:11 // "Here Comes Everything" (T.V.)

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With over 13,000 members between them, these pages have helped keep the band in the public consciousness for decades, & they're both reliable sources of news, discussion, & music recommendations. 

In this episode, we talk about the joy of the live experience, wearing your fandom on your sleeve (literally), & the parallel universes of unreleased music.

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REDDIT // FACEBOOK

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"Inklings" Versions:

Chicago, IL // 2010

Austin, TX // 2011

Chicago, IL // 2011

Charlotte, NC // 2015

Gainesville, FL // 2017

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MISSION CONTROL

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DRAGONFLY DESCENDING

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:26 // HUM Tattoo

04:53 // Hearing & Seeing the Band

07:42 // Fan Socials

15:28 // "Inklings" Discussion

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Magic America just released their debut album, Get in the Truck, a couple weeks back on Funeral Party Records. The first video, for the song “Carried by Angels,” is now up on YouTube. 

Clever Hour, which also features Jake Clarke from Superheaven & Evan King from Magic America, put out their 5-song self-titled debut EP in 2024. Links below.

Joey’s also recorded and/or toured with many other bands from the northeast, including Knifeplay, Webbed Wing, Pony, Thought Patterns, Euphoria Again, & others.

He’s also an accomplished graphic designer, having done album art, layouts, shirts, & other merchandise for Superheaven, Drug Church, Destiny Bond, Foxing, Teethe, Run for Cover Records, & many many more to come. The best place to see all of that is on his Instagram, also linked below.

In this episode, we talk about hometown DIY pride, the transcendent impact of the band Curve, & the elements that make a perfect song truly perfect.

If you’d like to back the podcast, click “support the show” at the bottom of the notes & then “see membership options.” Donations only, no paywalls.

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https://www.instagram.com/joeyxginaldi

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https://magicamericaphl.bandcamp.com/album/get-in-the-truck

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Magic America, "Carried by Angels" Video

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https://setterwindrecords.bandcamp.com/album/demo-24

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:33 // "Burning Desire" (Clever Hour)

03:56 // Philly Roots

07:33 // Local Bands, First Bands

22:31 // Clever Hour EP

23:33 // "A Worried Existence" (Clever Hour)

28:03 // Magic America LP

29:44 // "Texting the Dead" (Magic America)

35:06 // Discovering HUM

40:36 // "I Hate It Too" Discussion

01:13:44 // Design Influences & Approach

01:19:57 // "Lights On" (Magic America)

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Taken burned brightly from the late ‘90s until 2004, releasing one LP & 2 EPs on Goodfellow Records. They’ve since added a demos & b-sides compilation, a collected version of the first 3 records, & a 2018 EP titled With Regard To, on Other People Records. Links below.

Ray’s also run the DIY music & culture podcast, 100 WORDS OR LESS, for the better part of a decade, with over 670 episodes in the archive. He’s interviewed everyone from Ken Andrews & Page Hamilton to members of Fleshwater & Bleed to the Jesus Lizard, Quicksand, & dozens of other scene lifers crucial to the growth & expansion of underground music.

In this episode, we talk about the Big Bang of music culture in ‘90s Orange County, the shifting meanings of heaviness, & the waveform pathos of the EKG machine.

If you’d like to back the podcast, click “support the show” at the bottom of the notes & then “see membership options.”

Donations only, no paywalls.

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TAKEN Bandcamp

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MIKOTO Bandcamp

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BLOODGUILT Bandcamp

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:29 // "The Most Feared Thing" (Taken)

03:32 // '90s Orange County

14:17 // LA/OC Venues

21:00 // Taken

27:58 // Hearing HUM: YPAA & DIH

36:45 // "If You are to Bloom" Discussion

01:13:05 // "Eternity was on Our Lips" (Taken)

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Since 2001, they’ve released 7 LPs, plus a host of singles, splits, EPs, live albums, & compilations. Their most recent record, FLICKERING RESONANCE, is highly recommended & came out a couple months back on RUN FOR COVER RECORDS.

Pelican just finished a run of US shows & are currently touring Europe thru mid-August. They’ve also got plans for new material on the way.

In this episode, we talk about the Midwest music underground, loudness as celebration, & the elemental interplay of riffs & percussion.

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https://www.pelicansong.com

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https://pelican.bandcamp.com

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"I'd Like Your Hair Long" (120 Minutes)

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:09 // "Evergreen" (Pelican)

03:13 // Playing @ Loose Cobra

06:21 // Fireside Bowl & Chicago Scene

21:22 // Flickering Resonance LP

21:40 // "Gulch"

27:53 // "Cascading Crescent"

34:17 // Song Titles

42:57 // Recording @ Earth Analog

46:10 // Hearing/Seeing HUM

55:44 // "I'd Like Your Hair Long" Discussion

01:33:43 // "Pining For Ever" (Pelican)

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In the early ‘90s, he joined HUM, which was, back then, written in all lowercase. He played bass on their first record Fillet Show, & toured & wrote songs with them over the course of several years. 

He then formed & fronted MENTHOL, formerly known as Mother, whose 3 beloved LPs combined off-kilter riffing & synth lines with surrealistic & Faustian tales of the '90s alt rock signing boom. 

When Menthol parted ways, he began engineering records for other bands. He then worked as a studio technician for the Smashing Pumpkins for close to a decade. 

In 2017, he founded BALTHAZAR AUDIO SYSTEMS, where he designs & builds vacuum tube guitar amplifiers. He also plays guitar in the Chicago shoegaze band LIGHTFOILS. Links below. 

In this episode, we talk about youthful insouciance, a specific strain of ‘90s midwestern space rock, & the endearing & enduring power of smallness. 

If you’d like to back the podcast, click “support the show” at the bottom of the notes & then “see membership options.” 

Donations only, no paywalls.

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https://www.balthazaramps.com

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https://lightfoils.bandcamp.com

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:35 // "What's Your Rationale?" (Menthol)

04:19 // The Breeders Amp

06:30 // Bad Flannel

09:11 // "Frustration" (Bad Flannel)

12:10 // Joining HUM

15:16 // Rick & Rose

17:24 // Fillet Show LP

20:00 // "Space Gun" (Poster Children)

25:20 // Early HUM Influences

28:40 // Menthol

29:39 // Mud Records

35:22 // "Walk of Shame" (Menthol)

36:40 // Ardent Studios

40:00 // Writing Lyrics

44:23 // "Dry Heaves" (Menthol)

48:36 // "Bedheaded, Red-Eyed, & Bewildered" (Menthol)

49:57 // '90s Alt Rock Explosion

58:13 // Menthol Artwork / Danger: Rock Science!

01:04:21 // "Hello Kitty" Discussion

01:28:58 // Lightfoils & Balthazar Audio Systems

01:32:21 // "Strange Living" (Menthol)

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DEVO are currently touring North America in celebration of their 50th anniversary. A feature-length documentary on the band will premiere on Netflix on August 19th, & recently they’ve been restoring & rereleasing their early short films, including 1976’s THE TRUTH ABOUT DE-EVOLUTION.

Most of our conversation explores Jerry’s music video filmography from the ‘90s, when he worked with bands like HUM, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Silverchair, & many others.

In this episode, we talk about the power of the moving image, the suffocating everyday presence of screens, & the struggle to prevent your vision from being smothered by the suits.

If you’d like to back the podcast, click “support the show” at the bottom of the notes & then “see membership options.” Donations only, no paywalls. 

Thanks for listening.

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https://www.geraldvcasale.com

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https://clubdevo.com

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:31 // "Mechanical Man" (DEVO)

03:15 // Early Cinephilia

05:11 // D.I.Y. Filmmaking

07:08 // "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" Video

12:28 // Production Process

13:57 // VFX & "Girl U Want" Video

17:12 // '90s Video Work

22:57 // Foo Fighters, "I'll Stick Around" Video

27:22 // Soundgarden, "Blow Up the Outside World" Video

31:08 // Silverchair, "Freak" Video

34:44 // HUM, "Green to Me" Video

43:44 // "Auto Modown" (DEVO)

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His enthusiasm for music has attracted over 500,000 followers across his social media platforms, & he’s racked up millions of views from viral videos about iconic moments in 90s alternative & beyond. 

He also runs the podcast WATERPROOF RECORDS, where he’s done episodes on HUM, the Flaming Lips, Deftones, the Smashing Pumpkins, Jane’s Addiction, & many more. 

In this episode, we talk about the pull of theatricality, the power of ‘90s vocal hooks, & the feral euphoria of palm muting.

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If you’d like to back the podcast, click “support the show” at the bottom of the notes & then “see membership options.”

Donations only, no paywalls.

Thanks again for listening.

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LA TIMES Article

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WGN Feature

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TIMESTAMPS:

03:19 // Tulsa to Champaign

07:59 // Reaction Videos & Silent Film

17:56 // "The '90s Alt-Rock Vocal Hook Supercut"

22:54 // HUM on MTV

28:22 // “Green to Me” Discussion

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Jeff’s next project, NATIONAL SKYLINE, which he started with Nick Macri (C-Clamp), Derek Niedringhaus (Castor), & Jeff Dimpsey (HUM), put out over a dozen releases, some on indie labels & some self-released.

He moved to Los Angeles in 2001 under the suggestion of producer/engineer/mixer Ken Andrews (Failure). Along with Andrews, Tim Dow, & Solomon Snyder, he formed YEAR OF THE RABBIT, who signed with Elektra Records & released their stellar self-titled album in 2003, followed by tours with A Perfect Circle & Pete Yorn. 

After the demise of Elektra Records, he trained as an engineer & producer under Andrews throughout the 2000s. With the release of National Skyline’s 2009 epic Bliss & Death, Garber drew the attention of several key figures at MTV. That self-released album had several songs featured on TV shows The Hills, Jersey Shore, & Teen Mom.

Jeff went on to provide thousands of music tracks for shows on ABC, NBC, Fox, AMC, & many more. He's been awarded SESAC’s Honors in Cable Television & also received network TV honors at BMI.

He's currently the composer for the Netflix hit series Virgin River & Full Swing, & he writes & records music in his basement studio in Altadena, CA.

In this episode, we talk about the magnetism of college towns, end-of-the century anxiety, & endless endless layers of guitars.

If you’d like to back the podcast, click “support the show” at the bottom of the notes & then “see membership options.” Donations only, no paywalls.

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https://www.polyvinylrecords.com/products/castor-moving-backgrounds

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TIMESTAMPS:

03:15 // "Pontiac" (Castor)

04:34 // Castor News

08:40 // Origins

14:07 // "Trackstar" (Castor)

15:26 // Influences & Inspirations

18:31 // "Anecdotes" (Castor)

23:52 // Recording with Matt Talbott

26:52 // National Skyline

30:06 // "Reinkiller" (National Skyline)

35:52 // Year of the Rabbit

37:57 // The Gospel of Fantastic Planet

40:11 // YOTR Live

41:17 // "Let It Go" (Year of the Rabbit)

46:56 // Showcase Showdown

52:50 // Electra 2000 Tape

55:40 // Inlet LP

1:00:36 // "Folding" Discussion

1:30:13 // "Dust Gun" (Castor)

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"Folding" Live in STL (2018)

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Bleed just released their excellent S/T DEBUT LP on 20 Buck Spin. It fuses a wide range of styles from the alt-metal of the late '90s & early 2000s, but it's also got elements of lesser-cited bands like Curve, Filter, & God Lives Underwater. It's a super cool compound of things. I also highly recommend the SOMEBODY'S CLOSER EP that came out a couple years before it.

Bleed are currently touring the West Coast with One Step Closer until early June, & this October Narrow Head are going on the road with Rival Schools.

In this episode, we talk about owning your influences, '90s-specific mutations of the “Paradise City” riff, & why drummers going slightly off-grid can work so well.

If you’d like to back the podcast, click “support the show” at the bottom of the notes & then “see membership options.” Donations only, no paywalls.

I appreciate all the support so far, & thanks, as always, for listening.

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DRUM CAM

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https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/bleed

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https://narrowheadtx.bandcamp.com

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:21 // "Marathon" (Bleed)

03:24 // Bleed LP: Mixing & Influences

10:19 // "Silver" (Bleed)

12:10 // Programming & Post-Production

15:40 // "Ash Anywhere" (Narrow Head)

17:09 // Hearing (& Playing) HUM

27:44 // "Firehead" Discussion

48:30 // "Through the Cylinder" (Bleed)

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They’ve been on indies, majors, & everything in between, & they took an avant-garde approach to music tech & media — doing enhanced CDs, early mp3 releases, DIY websites & design, & the proto-podcast podcast RADIO ZERO, which they’ve broadcast from 1998 to the present. 

Rick & Rose also run 12 INCH RECORDS, home to bands like HUM, Love Cup, Dis-, & their non-Poster Children projects Salaryman & Thoughts Detecting Machines. They also also teach in the School of Creative Technologies @ Illinois St. University.

In 2023, Rose published her first book, PLAY LIKE A MAN: MY LIFE IN POSTER CHILDREN, which is absolutely essential reading for anyone who cares about indie & alternative culture in the last 4 decades. It’s a cool mix of genres, moving from tour diary to music criticism to scene history & beyond.

They’ve been on my Mount Rushmore of possible guests for a long time, & it was super fun & revealing to get granular with them about all things rock, whether indie or major, from the late ‘80s to today.

In this episode, we talk about regional style, the Champaign-Urbana band member maze, the idea of rock music as both art & technology, & much much more.

If you’d like to back the podcast, click “support the show” at the bottom of the notes & then “see membership options.” Donations only, no paywalls.

Thanks for listening.

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https://posterchildren.com

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BOB MOULD (Letterman)

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STEVE ALBINI, "The Problem with Music"

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POSTER CHILDREN, R.T.F.M. Enhanced CD Tour

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TIMESTAMPS:

03:01 // “Eye” (Poster Children)

03:57 // Opening for Bob Mould

09:34 // R.T.F.M. LP

12:50 // “Dream Small” (Poster Children)

13:45 // Enhanced CDs

20:47 // Mark Rubel & Pogo Studio

29:01 // HUM Member Genealogy

34:44 // 12 Inch Records

40:38 // Fillet Show LP

50:44 // “Space Fuck”

59:02 // “Formaldehyde”

01:01:21 // “Hortense”

01:03:56 // “I Like It”

01:12:06 // YPAA Vinyl

01:15:01 // Play Like a Man Book

01:21:22 // Art & Science

01:28:26 // “Matter Crush” (Poster Children)

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Carlos played bass in the mid-to-late '90s NYC powerviolence band BLACK ARMY JACKET, who released their discography compilation Open Casket in 2023 on Brainscan & State of Mind Recordings. He later played in LAKOTA, DENY THE CROSS, & HOPE COLLAPSE.

In this episode, we talk about the ‘90s revival in underground music, the ambivalent status of genre tags, & the way certain riffs can unify & transcend different styles of music.

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NO ECHO Playlists (Spotify)

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:16 // "Hope for the Haunted" (Lakota)

03:26 // Starting NoEcho.net

13:26 // '90s Revival & Genre Tags

21:43 // Hearing HUM

26:06 // HUM @ Irving Plaza

30:04 // Vibes vs. Songs

32:46 // "Dreamboat" Discussion

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Chris has worked for a wide range of heavy music media, including Revolver, Guitar World, Loudwire, Brooklyn Vegan, The Hard Times, Alternative Press, & as of 2025, he left all brands to join NEW NOISE MAGAZINE.

In the late ‘90s & early 2000s, he played drums in the influential Long Island post-hardcore band ON THE MIGHT OF PRINCES, whose full story is told in the documentary film Hold on to a Time, which Chris produced & directed. Link below.

In the mid-2000s, he moved to New York City, where he drummed in Primitive Weapons, who toured with Quicksand, Glassjaw, Dillinger Escape Plan, Thursday, & others. 

He’s since joined SPOTLIGHTS, JULIE CHRISTMAS, & the reformed ORANGE 9MM, all of whom have upcoming shows you can check out on his Instagram, @chrisenriquezdrums. He also does remote drum sessions for musicians around the world.

In this episode, we talk about what makes certain ‘90s bands timeless, the aesthetics of texture & imperfection, & what it would be like to drown in sound.

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On the Might of Princes, Hold on to a Time (Documentary)

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Chino Moreno, Baker's Dozen (The Quietus)

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Radiohead, "No Surpises" (Grant Gee)

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:42 // "The Particle Noise" (Spotlights)

03:38 // Deftones @ MSG

06:05 // Post-90s Longevity & Punk Roots

17:19 // "Black Sheep & Prodigal Sons" (Primitive Weapons)

18:12 // Joining Orange 9mm

21:35 // "Suspect" (O9mm)

22:58 // '90s 2.0

25:21 // HUM on MTV

27:38 // Hearing Electra 2000

32:50 // "Double Dip" Discussion

01:04:15 // Upcoming Shows

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Brad’s done hundreds of records, many of which are by some of my favorite bands — Tar, Sunny Day Real Estate, Codeine, Veruca Salt, Seam, Liz Phair, Triple Fast Action, Far, That Dog, & so on. 

Brad also worked on HUM's second album Electra 2000, a couple of their early singles on 12 Inch & Mud Records, & on “Diffuse,” which was originally a compilation track but later added to the reissues of E2K on Martians Go Home & Earth Analog Records.

In this episode, he looks back on recording some of those early albums, gives a verbal virtual tour of his former studio, Idful Music Corporation, which was a crucial nucleus of '90s indie & alternative culture, & talks about the ways in which classical music motifs emerge in heavy riffing.

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https://www.bradwoodmusic.com

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"Diffuse" Live // 1995

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:16 // 30th Anniversaries

05:50 // Atonal Hooks

06:31 // "Seether" (Veruca Salt)

09:02 // "25" (Veruca Salt)

11:13 // Idful Music Corporation

16:09 // Early-Mid '90s Chicago Scene

21:16 // "Dont Feed the Suits..."

24:26 // Studio Psychology & Perfectionism

32:23 // Recording HUM

40:09 // Electra 2000

45:46 // "Diffuse" Discussion

01:08:57 // "Cave-In" (Codeine)

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Since the pandemic, Kellii's been doing remote drum sessions for any musician looking for percussion work on their recordings. Message him on Instagram @kelliiscott for details (link above).

In this episode, we talk about the post-Sunset Strip LA rock scene, the legacy of Failure's hit song “Stuck on You,” recording their landmark album Fantastic Planet, why drumming with restraint is so difficult, & the ways in which the touring life feels like a mission into deep space.

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FAILURE Music & Merch

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:11 // “Petting the Carpet” (Failure)

02:42 // Underheard L.A. Bands

04:37 // “Mindray” (Lusk)

05:51 // “Stuck on You” Video & Legacy

17:27 // Recording & Sequencing Fantastic Planet

27:28 // Fantastic Planet Closers

38:44 // Hearing HUM & Becoming Penpals

40:52 // Resisting the “90s Band” Tag

45:46 // 2015 Tour; Seeing HUM in the 90s; BSP note

49:42 // Inlet

57:57 // “Desert Rambler” Discussion

1:34:14 // Failure Documentary & Next LP

1:36:40 // Remote Drum Sessions

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In 1985, he & producer RICK FULLER started HARDER/FULLER FILMS, a music video & commercial production house that generated a wide range of visual work across 4 decades.

In December of ’97, they shot the “Comin’ Home” video with HUM at the Icehouse in Minneapolis, using a mixture of DIY effects & big budget gloss, staging the band in a psychedelic dream of espionage, locusts, & trippy liquids.

In this episode, we talk about the material quirks of the film format, the rise & fall of MTV culture, & what it was like to be in the nerve center of the ‘90s visual world.

(Phil broadcasted from a boat in Amsterdam; excuse the cabin noises...)

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:24 // Firehose, "Walking the Cow" (Intro)

03:00 // Video to 8mm to 16mm & Beyond

08:57 // A Band Apart

09:46 // Foo Fighters, "Next Year"

13:33 // Bailter Space, "X"

18:33 // Treatments & Creative Control

23:12 // Incubus, "Drive"

26:22 // '90s Budgets / Failure, "Stuck On You"

31:19 // Visual Effects & Retro Digital

37:05 // Didjits / HUM, "Comin' Home"

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phil-harder.com

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Shiner’s first record, Splay, was recently remixed & remastered via SPARTAN RECORDS, who also just reissued the band’s second, third, & fourth LPs — Lula Divinia, Starless, & The Egg.

Shiner are about to play some dates in the Midwest, including one at Matt Talbott’s bar Loose Cobra in Tolono.

Jason played & toured with HUM in 2015, on a run of shows all over the U.S. with Mineral & Failure, & he’s got lots of cool insights into the successes & challenges of those gigs. It’s telling that we both occasionally drift into the present tense when describing Bryan’s drumming because that stuff will obviously always feel contemporary.

In this episode, we talk about finding space to tour, getting that phone call to join HUM, the intricacies of practicing & playing with the band, & drowning in lots & lots of drum fills.

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SHINER Reissues // Spartan Records

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GERKEN Interview // Drummers on Drumming Podcast

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PAGE HAMILTON Interview // Chris Demakes a Podcast

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TALBOTT Intro // Pittsburgh '98

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:24 // "The Egg" (Shiner)

03:08 // Upcoming Gigs

06:05 // The Egg LP

11:12 // "Jaded Eyes" (Government Issue)

14:23 // "Pills" (Shiner)

17:22 // Drumming Influences

19:27 // HUM in KC

20:23 // The Phone Call, Practicing, & Playing

27:49 // "Comin' Home" Discussion

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In this episode, we talk about the culture shock of the expatriate life, plugging into the early 2000s Athens music scene, & the striking harmony of the light & heavy.

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:05 // “This is a Sight We Had One Day from the Mountain” (Maserati)

03:09 // Switzerland

05:42 // Athens ‘00s

11:36 // Maserati Then & Now

15:23 // Red Dwarf Star

18:05 // “Lady Aurora Borealis” (R.D.S.)

22:27 // HUM on MTV

27:29 // Inlet & Enter the Mirror

30:31 // “Wallwalker” (Maserati)

32:03 // “Cloud City” Discussion

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“Cloud City” @ AV Fest // 2011

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Tom’s been in the music business for decades, doing digital marketing, executive work, & an array of creative projects at labels like Vagrant, TVT, Equal Vision, Sony, & others. 

He started the Washed Up Emo website in 2007, & has since expanded it into a podcast with over 250 episodes, a book series, & a DJ night.

In this episode, we talk about how the changing media landscape of the late 90s & early 2000s intersected with alternative music culture, the ambivalence around "Midwest emo" as sub-genre & brand, & where Hum might fit within that specific context. We also explore one of the band’s most beloved b-sides, looking at its strange place in their discography. Where does it truly belong?

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SMILE POLITELY Interview: Matt Talbott

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:16 // Booking Hopesfall & Saves the Day

05:00 // Early Podcasting Landscape

13:43 // Curiosity & Connection

17:35 // Washed Up Emo Podcast

20:15 // "Midwest Emo,” the Anachronism

24:19 // HUM re Emo

34:27 // WRUV, MTV, & the Cat's Cradle

36:37 // The Quiet-Loud

39:52 // Pre-YPAA Sessions

46:45 // DIH Reissue Playback @ Sony

51:45 // "Boy with Stick" Discussion

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Other songs:

Deftones, "Minerva"

Title Fight: "Head in the Ceiling Fan"

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HUM fans should definitely check out his interviews with RICK from POSTER CHILDREN & the guys from TERMINUS VICTOR, both linked below.

He also runs a tape label called FAILED POEM RECORDS, which features local C-U musicians & donates all proceeds to a charity of the band’s choosing.

In this episode, we talk about the sonic mystique of college towns, the raw materials of songwriting, & why neglected b-sides can be so important.

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:27 // CIAB Podcast & C-U Scene

08:09 // College Town Aura

12:39 // Poster Children & Terminus Victor

19:46 // Sunday Songwriter Snakepit & MT Live

24:16 // "Baby, Baby" Discussion

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CIAB Episodes:

https://champaignisalsoaband.podbean.com/e/episode-100-rick-valentin-of-poster-children-he-s-my-star

https://champaignisalsoaband.podbean.com/e/ep127-scott-kimble-don-king-of-terminus-victor-this-isnt-real

https://champaignisalsoaband.podbean.com/e/episode-8-isaac-arms-of-withershins-fire-flies

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Failed Poem Records

https://failedpoemrecords.bandcamp.com/album/infringement

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Other songs: Ween, "Sarah"

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MT Song Intros // Pittsburgh '98

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THE SATELLITE YEARS 2.0:

BC // Spotify // Apple

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TIMESTAMPS:

02:06 // MTV Confidential

14:06 // Feedback Walls

24:48 // The Satellite Years

33:21 // "Escape Pod for Intangibles"

43:08 // "Apollo" Discussion

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Other songs: Spacemen 3, "Hey Man" // Codeine, "Cave-In"

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IG // lonelierthangodpod@gmail.com

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CINEMATIC VOID is a beloved cult film series that runs weekly in Los Angeles through the American Cinematheque. It features gonzo gems from all genres, including horror, sci-fi, Eurotrash, transgressive exploitation classics, & lesser-known oddities.

Nick & Jim have also been in many bands -- some together, some apart -- & you can find links to those projects below. 

In this episode, we talk about coming up in the Baltimore punk scene, the ambivalent return of guitar music, & the journey into a close encounter of the insect kind.

I encourage you guys to join the episode discussions at R/HUM on Reddit. I’m curious to get your takes, alternate interpretations, & general thoughts. These episodes are just a starting point.

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INSPITE: https://inspite.bandcamp.com/album/only-the-dead

DOUBLE LIFE: https://doublelifela.bandcamp.com/album/indifferent-stars

KENT STATE: https://kentstate.bandcamp.com

DEEP SLEEP: https://gravemistakerecords.bandcamp.com/album/turn-me-off

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TIMESTAMPS:

03:13 // Baltimore punk scene (The Loft; Reptilian Records)

09:14 // Grindcore Juvenilia (Inspite)

13:28 // Coming to L.A.

16:24 // Kent State & Conspiracism

19:11 // Double Life

22:53 // Cinematic Void

27:28 // Guitar music returns

29:04 // HUM & the 90s

34:54 // "Aphids" Discussion

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Spoken Word Outro (translated from Dutch):

As we relaxed & watched the retreating aphids, the window appeared to glow along with the sunset's blazing orange hues. They amuse us without difficulty. It’s just like watching an old vintage film played back slowly & backwards. 

Maybe more like water slowly draining from a bathtub.

I like it here & enjoy being around aphids on a daily basis. I'm not sure if I'm their God, or they are mine. Sometimes I can actually hear their sounds emanating from the little old cracks in the wood. As if they’re walking around. It sounds like a song. 

When it starts, it's like our cats jumping on the bed. They seem so content; not a worry in the world. All unhappiness is left at home in the dark crevices of the water well.

It just goes to show, one does not really have to be alone. //

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In this episode, Matt gives a loving tribute to his late friend & AMBLARE bandmate, Bryan St. Pere, who was, of course, deeply revered for his truly unique drumwork in HUM. We also talk about growing up in a rock n roll family, the mysticism of the creative process, & the unexpected sensuality of a song about salamanders.

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AMBLARE: https://amblare.bandcamp.com

MOCK ORANGE: https://www.mockorange.net/discography

OFF-OX: https://off-ox.bandcamp.com

FAERIE RING: https://faeriering.bandcamp.com

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LTG POD // lonelierthangodpod@gmail.com

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MISSION CONTROL (LYRICS 1.0; Marion Morris)

IG // lonelierthangodpod@gmail.com

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