Guest host Jacques LaMore chats with Guardrail frontman Kevin Andrew (Episode 1099)
Release Date: 12/20/2025
Car Con Carne
Episode Overview In this episode of Car Con Carne, host James VanOsdol welcomes Meredith and Jon from the Chicago-based band Latter. Described as "equal parts art project and band," Latter delivers a sound that is jarring, experimental, and unapologetically intense. James talks with the duo about their integration into the local heavy music scene, and the raw, emotional alchemy that defines their creative process. What You’ll Hear in This Episode The "Latter" Origin Story: How a "just for funsies" Instagram post and a mutual friend brought together a New Jersey transplant...
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Mike Gebert is one of my all-time favorite food writers - he’s a James Beard award-winner who just published a deep reaching oral history of Chicago’s culinary scene called “The Chicago Way: An Oral History of Chicago Dining.” Mike talked to the big names, big personalities and big story tellers who contributed to decades of incredible American cuisine. He returns to the podcast for the first time in over six (!) years to talk about his excellent new book, and all the restaurants, chefs, and eyewitnesses mentioned within. __ Car Con Carne is sponsored by Exploding...
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In advance of their show at Cobra Lounge on Sunday, 2/21, I’m joined by members of the Effigies and the Evictions at Cobra! Paul, Steve, and Andy from the Effigies and Johnny from the Evictions jumped in the car to preview the show and talk about the long history of Chicago music and punk. We also were treated to new items from Cobra’s pizza menu, thanks to Chef Jason: Dragged Through the Garden - poppy seed crust, sliced hot dogs, onion, sport peppers, dill pickles, green relish, mustard and celery salt Louie’s Pizza - Pepperoni, giardiniera, and calabrian...
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Are you doin’ the Dale? You should plan on doin’ the Dale. My guests are Shawn Podgurski (DMen/Sybris) and Dave Hornyak (Livewire Lounge), organizers of Doin’ the Dale, an Avondale-centric music and arts festival happening 2/26-3/1. We met outside Avondale Tap and talked about the event, which will include (but isn’t limited to) the following: Thursday 2/26 - Dmen Tap - Art Show Friday 2/27 & Saturday 2/28 - Livewire Lounge 2 days of music Sunday 3/1 - Dmen Tap - Craft Fair This is an exclusively Avondale event - everyone is from the...
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Jaime Black (Dynasty Podcasts) has been podcasting for 20+ years, and has a wealth of experience and success behind that history. While not his first time on the podcast, this marks his first time joining me in the car - very exciting stuff. We talk about the art and business of podcasting. It’s a bit “inside baseball,” but I think it’s a conversation that will click with anyone who’s ever taken a DIY approach or who’s worked to build a brand. Jaime’s one of the good ones - I’m thrilled I got to reconnect with him! Car Con Carne is sponsored by Exploding House...
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Yeshi and Zach of La Rosa Noir jump into the car, conveniently parked outside their Pilsen practice space, for a chat about the band’s history, their Riot Fest performance, and new music/happenings for 2026. See La Rosa Noir at the Athenaeum on February 21! Car Con Carne is sponsored by Exploding House Printing. Exploding House Printing is here for all of your screen printing, embroidery and other merchandising needs. They’re local, headquartered in the heart of Hermosa. Here’s why I want you to consider them for your t-shirts, merch, whatever - their focus is on...
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Jonathan of Time Thieves returns to the podcast in advance of the band’s LP release show at Empty Bottle on February 26 (also featuring Josh Caterer Trio, Al Scorch, and Earl Gary). We met at Dante’s (1936 W. Chicago), which played host to a Palermo’s Unreal Foods pop-up: VEGAN TACO HELL. Returning guest Mustafa is one of the principals at Palermo’s, and he shared the amazing Crunchwrap and Taco Hell Grande with us - I swear it tasted authentic, and was entirely plant-based. Jonathan and I talk about the suitable-for-framing-and-playing new album, old record players,...
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Arden and Courtney of Double Identity jump in the car in the dead of winter to talk about the band’s growth, songwriting, live show, and the need for CDs. Car Con Carne is sponsored by Exploding House Printing. Exploding House Printing is here for all of your screen printing, embroidery and other merchandising needs. They’re local, headquartered in the heart of Hermosa. Here’s why I want you to consider them for your t-shirts, merch, whatever - their focus is on small businesses, bands, brands, and everything in between. They’ve worked on products for Meat Wave, Empty...
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“You're born, you'rе cursed, and every deck is stacked.” Who are the Brokedowns? “A tradesman, two remote workers, and a pizza chef named Mustafa forged their sound in the industrial glow of Chicagoland, channeling blue-collar grit through a lens of existential comedy and transforming Midwest frustration into something loud enough to sound like hope.” The Brokedowns piled into the car to chat about their excellent new album, “Let’s Tip the Landlord.” It’s not every day you can get all four guys in the same place, so I was excited to be joined by: Kris...
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info_outlineGuest host Jake “Jacques” LaMore, formerly of Pop-Punk & Pizza, now the voice behind new narrative storytelling podcast, “This One Time in Kankakee”, sits down for a conversation with Kevin Andrew, the lead vocalist of Chicago’s diet punk band, Guardrail. The two discuss:
-Kevin’s recent wedding
-How their bands used to play shows together
-The meaning behind the group’s new single, “Heroes”, now streaming everywhere
-The upcoming ten anniversary of their yearly benefit show, Snuzfest
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Jake did an incredible job - and his mic/audio quality are tops (I notice this stuff). I’m incredibly grateful that he was willing to jump behind the mic to talk punk rock on behalf of CCC. And thanks of course to Kevin for again agreeing to have the world’s premiere diet punk band featured on the podcast.
-JVO
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Car Con Carne is nominated for “Best Music Podcast” in the Chicago Reader’s “Best of Chicago” survey (https://chicagoreader.com/best-of-chicago-music-nightlife-2025/). Please consider voting for the podcast - recognition like this can go a long way for a DIY, one-person operation!
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Car Con Carne is sponsored by Exploding House Printing.
Bands, brands, listeners who want to get the word out: Exploding House Printing can help with your screen printing, embroidery and other merch needs.
Exploding House delivers production efficiency and cost awareness to offer boutique print shop quality at much lower, large print shop prices.
Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or go to their website or just email info@explodinghouseprinting.com to get a quote!