Smoking Popes: Song-by-Song through ‘Lovely Stuff’ (Episode 1060)
Release Date: 07/10/2025
Lucky Boys Confusion announces opening act ‘live’ on CCC (Episode 1061)
Car Con Carne
Lucky Boys Confusion returns to the House of Blues on 11/15/25 for The Soapbox Spectacle Vinyl Release Show. As I type this, the show is pretty much sold out, meaning if you waited on tickets, you may kick yourself early on during the listening of this episode. Stubhy from Lucky Boys Confusion is back on the show to reveal LBC’s opening act - and the lead singer is also in the episode (hidden off-screen until the reveal)! The last Lucky Boys Confusion show at HOB was one of their all-time best - can’t wait for November! To help the conversation along, we’re joined by Bill...
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‘4-night spree of suspense, sleaze, and stylish psychosis’ planned for Logan Theatre (Episode 1062)
Car Con Carne
GIALLO GELATO Logan Theatre 2646 N. Milwaukee A 50th Anniversary Giallo Celebration July 18-21 | 11 pm | The Logan Theatre | Chicago Four nights of killer Italian movies celebrating their 50th anniversary will be featured at Logan Theatre next weekend for “GIALLO GELATO,” a cinema event curated and hosted by Stephanie “La Gialloholique” Sack. GIALLO GELATO is “a four-night spree of suspense, sleaze, and stylish psychosis at The Logan Theatre’s Late Nights. These aren’t just horror movies... they're eye-popping,...
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Smoking Popes: Song-by-Song through ‘Lovely Stuff’ (Episode 1060)
Car Con Carne
The Smoking Popes released the excellent “Lovely Stuff” a few months back, which was the perfect excuse to have frontman Josh Caterer return to the show for his 14th (!) time. With the new album top-of-mind, we go song-by song through all 10 songs. I loved having the opportunity to hear about the songwriting process and behind-the-scenes stories that led to its release. This one’s for Smoking Popes fans, and is a must-listen if you’ve spent any time with “Lovely Stuff.” We met at Noon Whistle Brewing (800 E. Roosevelt in Lombard), and enjoyed being able to record in their...
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Flake Michigan performs in a parking lot (Episode 1059)
Car Con Carne
Flake Michigan is a self-described, five-person, “Midwest Indie Saxy band from Chicago.” I’m joined by Sergio, Laura, and Dave just days before “Flaketoberfest” at Chop Shop (July 10), where they’ll celebrate the one-year anniversary of their “Ottawa” album. We talk about how Flake Michigan started, their hyperlocal approach to songs, their collaboration with Car Con Carne favorite Soothsayer Hot Sauce, and their hard-to-pin-down-sound. The interview is capped with an absolutely stunning in-car performance of their song, “Aurora” (as heard on “Ottawa”)....
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Face to Face at Motoblot (Episode 1058)
Car Con Carne
Trever Keith of Face to Face joins me for an interview recorded inside Loud Pizza Records, located inside Salt Shed in Chicago. The interview happened during Motoblot weekend at Salt Shed, a day before Face to Face’s headlining set on the final night. We covered a lot of the band’s storied history, some ties to Chicago music icons, comic books, and Iron Maiden. In short: All the good stuff. Trever’s a super cool guy! Support Face to Face: https://facetofacemusic.com/ Visit Loud Pizza: 1357 N. Elston Avenue (inside the Salt District of Salt Shed) ## Looking to...
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Live at Legit Dogs - Glory Days, Heligoats, Chad the Bird, badcandy, Eric Oren (Episode 1057)
Car Con Carne
Wrapping up a spectacular three-month run of live events at Legit Dogs + Ice, my guests for this special recording include Glory Days, Chris Otepka (Heligoats, Troubled Hubble), Chad the Bird, Alex Subak (badcandy) and comedian Eric Oren. Thanks to everyone at Legit Dogs for making these events and episodes happen - I had a lot of fun working on them and bringing them to life! **NOTE - LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES ARE ONLY INCLUDED IN THE VIDEO VERSIONS OF THIS EPISODE. Car Con Carne sponsored by Easy Automation: Looking to transform your home, office, or business into...
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Gird your loins: The new Daisychain album rips (Episode 1056)
Car Con Carne
Nickole Regala, Sophia Williams, and Frankie Sripada of the bluesy, psychedelic, raw and authentic, band Daisychain join me for a chat just days before their album release show (6/20) at Sleeping Village and a week in advance of the release of the new album, “All in a Name.” This one was recorded outside local treasure Reed’s Local in Avondale, and we talked about: -The just-concluded tour, and the problematic hotel bathroom they had to negotiate around. -Their reverence for 70s sounds - don’t confuse it for a rubber stamp appreciation for all of that decade’s bullshit. -Frankie’s...
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Taste of Randolph preview with Spitalfield at Hide+Seek (Episode 1055)
Car Con Carne
returns this weekend (June 13-15) for its 28th year! The event happens at ground zero for food in Chicago: Randolph Street, between Peoria and Racine. To preview this year’s event, I sat down with Julie Darling (West Loop Community Organization President) at Hide+Seek (838 W. Randolph), a standout Randolph St. restaurant that offers a “creative American shared plates menu (incorporating) touches from Spain, France, and Italy.” Also joining in the conversation are Mark Rose, frontman for Spitalfield, the band headlining the Q101 PIQNIQ Stage (West Stage) on Saturday night....
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Wrestling music, Night Spice and Flowers for Dorian: go-to drummer Marc Esses (Episode 1054)
Car Con Carne
This episode sees the return of drummer, Mark Esses, who's behind the kit for many bands including Downstait, Night Spice and Flowers for Dorian. We met at El Vado, a Mexican restaurant in McHenry, and we chatted about: Balancing Multiple Projects: Besides being the drummer in a bunch of bands, Mark Esses also keeps busy as a D.J. We talk about how he manages his time and creative energy across all these endeavors. Pro Wrestling Music: Mark shares the story of how he was recruited into Downstait after the singer saw him perform and they bonded over a shared love of pro...
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Danimal Farm takes artistic residence in ‘Perseverance Hotel’ (Episode 1053)
Car Con Carne
Danimal Farm is a solo project created by singer/guitarist Danny Doom, formerly of Milk at Midnight. The album, “Perseverance Hotel,” is a comfortable, sometimes dark, collection of shimmering indie rock and indie pop songs that have stuck with me since the album’s February release. Danny Doom joins me to talk about the project, along with band members Stephanie and Clay. We talk about Doom’s decision to do a solo project after the end of Milk at Midnight, why the original plan to deliver love songs fell apart, and … why the Who’s “Quadrophenia” album still holds up....
info_outlineThe Smoking Popes released the excellent “Lovely Stuff” a few months back, which was the perfect excuse to have frontman Josh Caterer return to the show for his 14th (!) time.
With the new album top-of-mind, we go song-by song through all 10 songs. I loved having the opportunity to hear about the songwriting process and behind-the-scenes stories that led to its release.
This one’s for Smoking Popes fans, and is a must-listen if you’ve spent any time with “Lovely Stuff.”
We met at Noon Whistle Brewing (800 E. Roosevelt in Lombard), and enjoyed being able to record in their Barrel Room. Noon Whistle’s offering a 20% discount on Barrel Room rental fees for weekday bookings, Monday through Thursday, until November 2025. Just mention James VanOsdol or the Car Con Carne podcast when you book your rental. Reach out to [email protected] or [email protected], or go to noonwhistlebrewing.com and click on events for more information.
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