Today on the podcast we welcome Sohrab Habibion from Edsel, Kids for Cash, Obits and SAVAK. Sohrab also filmed a ton of shows back in the day in the DC area and his YouTube channel is full of amazing performances from a time when many shows weren’t filmed. We tap about his time in NYC, DC, bands, his musical life that continues to this day.

Sohrab's YouTube Channel 

Today on the podcast we welcome Rich Balling from The Sound of Animals Fighting, Hospital Gown, Pyramids, and RX Bandits. Rich and I reconnected recently as we last crossed paths during my days at Equal Vision during The Sound of Animals Fighting release “Lover, the Lord Has Left Us…” back in 2006. Now The Sound of Animals Fighting has a new EP called “APESHIT” out on Born Losers Records. Rich and I discuss his career balancing music, collaboration and his day job. Old shows he saw growing up in LA, plus his amazing knack as a teacher in real life to provide some real knowledge about listening to your heart, your mind, and realities we face as creative people. And yes, we talk emo. It’s a podcast about emo. 

Today on the podcast we welcome Melody Caudill. She’s the name behind Career Woman, that’s currently partnering with the fabulous Lauren Records. You may recognize the last name. Melody is the daughter of Jeff Caudill from Gameface and a new band called Low Coast.

All that to say, Melody recently released a song called “Patience (I Like You)” that blew me away. Jeff had been sending me her music since she began writing and I was always intrigued with how a rock star’s daughter could go down the same path when most often times they rebel and do something opposite.

I threw out the idea to chat with them together. Melody and I kicked Jeff out after about 20 minutes or so and got talk directly about her musical journey, writing process, her wants and dreams. For those listening, Melody is a freshman in college and way the hell ahead of how I was at her age and it was an absolute joy to hear her perspective on things in life and music. She even played Gilman Street in SF recently. Can’t get any cooler than that.

To learn more about Melody’s music search out Career Woman on all the socials or through Lauren Records.

Today on the podcast, we welcome M.C. Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger and Ex-Ignota. They may have never crossed your path. That’s ok. Upon further inspection, a singer songwriter signed to Merge may bring more questions than answers. We met through a post I made on Instagram. I went, why does that name seem familiar. I reached out and after recognizing the name of his old band on Ebullition called Ex-Ignota, which were a hardcore band from the 90s in Goleta/Santa Barbara area. Fittingly, I took a drive up recently to see him perform in Santa Barbara and speak in person for the podcast. MC was insanely generous with his time and even shouted out the podcast to the crowd during the show.

You’ll hear about how M.C. had house shows that would make anyone yearn for a time machine and a love for the early days of emo that was super deep and I learned a ton from him about his position in the scene and where he is today and how it shaped him. His past may be in hardcore and emo with his pedal full on a now full time career as a musician as Hiss Golden Messenger, which we talk about at length. You can hear it in his songs, there’s a little hardcore in em and after this episode it’ll be even more clear.

Today on the podcast we welcome Vanessa Downing from Samuel or as they known now as Samuel SC. SC is for State College in Pennsylvania where they got together. Samuel was around for 2 years from 1993-1995 and released a split 7” with Texas is the Reason and releases with Art Monk and others. They’re this great moment in that era after the alternative boom and hardcore/emo intermixed. What’s amazing is the band members reconnected further during the pandemic and are back with a new album, touring upcoming and a realization that people cared about their old band. Vanessa and I speak about her life and music endeavors that still burn bright today.

Today on the podcast we welcome David Knudson from Botch and Minus the Bear. I was so excited that David said yes to the podcast and we spoke recently after the first set of Botch reunion shows. We talk about being creative, Seattle in the 90s outside of grunge, and his battle with making better choices in life. Including a deep conversation on how alcohol can catch up with you and the lessons he learned from rehab but also his family. This new Botch tour and music wouldn’t have happened without love from his family and friends to see this other side. We’re the lucky recipients of that but now knowing the struggle and the strength David had during that time was truly inspirational.

Today on the podcast we welcome Jake Brennan. I’ve wanted Jake on the podcast for years! You may know him from his podcast Disgraceland or as a member of the band Cast Iron Hike. He also started Double Elvis, a podcast network that I’m a part of. So full disclosure, we’re partners but that being said, I’ve probably had Jake on my wishlist since I started the podcast. We get into a lot about intention and what drives creators like Jake and others. He is in such a great place doing something he loves and it came out of intent. We discuss Fugazi, storytelling, origins of why he tells the stories he does and what his favorite sport is. A truly great conversation with Jake on being a creator and you know it, we talked about when he heard the word emo and his thoughts around it.

Today on the podcast we welcome Daniel Littleton from The Hated. Daniel has a whole other band called Ida and that’s a whole separate episode. Today, we just stick to The Hated, which has had their catalog meticulously handled by our friends at Numero Group and recently played some reunion shows. The Hated were an early emo band. Daniel goes to great lengths to explain his fascination and frustration with the word but in the end he weaves a tale that talks about his upbringing in a biracial family that shaped his life and also seeing bands like Bad Brains or women in music helped guide where he is today. A true legend and I invite you to sit back and listen, which I do for most of this, on a time and place before the word was even uttered. This one is an absolute trip to listen back to and I hope you enjoy.

Today on the podcast we welcome back for the 3rd time, Evan Weiss.  Evan and I have spoken two other times, episode 23 (2013) and episode 66 (2016). Today we talk about his new projects, his favorite emo albums of all time, and we look back at the emo revival era with a critical eye. We only had an hour with this busy man, so strap in for a quick one. I’m sure he’ll be back sooner than later.

https://www.intoitoverit.com/

https://www.patreon.com/stormchasersltd

Today on the podcast we welcome Ken Shipley from Numero Group and Tree Records. Many may know Numero Group for their fantastic reissues and they have a show coming up this weekend in LA celebrating 20 years called Numero 20. A very special show with bands we’ve featured on the podcast the last few weeks and more to come. What we’re going to touch on more for this episode is how he got to Numero and his first experiences figuring out the world of record making under the name Tree Records. A fantastic run of releases highlighted by a series called Post Marked Stamps that put many bands we love in the emo genre on the map. A true honor to spend an hour with a person that I look up to professionally.