LONELIER THAN GOD

Joining me today, from the outskirts of Austin, Texas, is singer, guitarist, & songwriter ANDY SWITZKY.

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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Today I’m talking with guitarist & producer KURT BALLOU — a true luminary of the heavy music scene, on both sides of the mixing board.

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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Today’s conversation is with TIM DOW, one of my all-time favorite drummers.

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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Sat down today with KEITH M., singer & guitarist of the Brooklyn post-hardcore/screamo band MEMORY ENTRY.

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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Today I’m joined by DEREK NIEDRINGHAUS & LYLE HODGES, who were both involved, in different ways, in the making of Centaur's debut album, In Streams.

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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