Ep. 271: Chooch w/ David Prokell
This Was The Scene Podcast
Chooch were a 5 piece power punk group from Pittsburgh. Debut ep recorded in 1997, group disbanded a couple years later with a brief reunion in 2002 Alice Cooper Having 2 bass players The Electric Banana Pollen The Rockin A Tard Place Compilation My Pal Trigger The Kevin Seconds show Ryan Greene Cleaning up the album that they still haven’t put out And a ton more
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Ep. 270: Rye Coalition w/ Ralph Cuseglio
This Was The Scene Podcast
Rye Coalition came out of Jersey City in the early nineties and quickly built a reputation as one of the most fearless and inventive bands in the post-hardcore world. They toured with heavyweights like Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, and The (International) Noise Conspiracy, earned praise from outlets including Spin, Pitchfork, and The Village Voice, and worked with legendary producers Steve Albini and Dave Grohl. Their documentary “Rye Coalition: The Story of the Hard Luck 5” became a cult favorite, cementing their status as one of the most underrated but widely respected bands of...
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Ep. 269: Sleepytime Trio w/ Drew Ringo
This Was The Scene Podcast
Sleepytime Trio formed in 1995 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, originally as a side project of Maximillian Colby. Known for their volatile, emotional sound and chaotic live shows, they quickly became a defining force in the late 90s post-hardcore scene, sharing stages with bands like Hot Water Music, Frodus, and Shotmaker. After a hiatus in 1998, members went on to form acts like Engine Down, Rah Bras, and Milemarker before reuniting to tour again. Their definitive discography, remixed by J. Robbins and remastered by TJ Lipple, showcases all their studio recordings and captures the raw energy that...
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Ep. 268: Park w/ Ladd Mitchell
This Was The Scene Podcast
Park was an emo/indie rock band from Springfield, Illinois, active primarily in the late ’90s and 2000s. Known for their heartfelt lyrics, melodic guitar work, and driving rhythms, they gained a loyal underground following with albums like No Signal and It Won’t Snow Where You’re Going. Though they disbanded in 2007, their music remains a staple of the Midwest emo scene and continues to influence new bands today. His book Dirty Sara The No Knife and Jimmy Eat World show Almost ending the band before signing to Lobster Records Dynamite Boy Getting a better response on the West Coast...
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Ep. 267: Hamilton St Cafe & Stage w/ Adam Toris
This Was The Scene Podcast
Hamilton St Cafe & Stage in Bound Brook, NJ was a beloved hybrid venue that blended a cozy café atmosphere with an intimate stage for live music. Throughout the early 2000s, it became a cultural hub for local and touring punk, indie, and alternative acts, fostering a tight-knit community. Though it closed in 2007 after severe flooding, it’s still remembered fondly as a cornerstone of the NJ music scene. I got Adam on the Zoom and this is what we chat about: The Melody Bar Picking Chris Ross’ brain How Hamilton St opened The random box story The Palace Opening night My Chem and Jack...
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Ep. 266: From Indian Lakes w/ Joey Vannucchi
This Was The Scene Podcast
From Indian Lakes is an American indie rock band formed in 2009. The band's sound generally incorporates elements of pop, acoustic, emo, shoegaze, and rock creating a distinctive blend that has earned them a dedicated following. They recently released their album "HEAD VOID" and continue to tour, representing a mature evolution of Vannucchi's songwriting that began in California's mountain communities. I got Joe on the Zoom and this is what we chat about: His band Hard Chiller Loving the Deftones Copeland Tooth n Nail Records Triple Crown Records having stage freight What does he write about...
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Ep. 265: White Kaps w/ K.C. Maddox
This Was The Scene Podcast
Go follow White Kaps were a Southern California punk band known for their surf-punk energy, goofy humor, and rowdy live shows. They released several records through Fearless Records in the mid-’90s, standing out with songs that mixed skate culture, beach vibes, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. While never a mainstream name, they earned a cult following in the punk scene for their fun, fast, and irreverent style. I never got to see these guys play cause they never came to Jersey but I remembered their name from the Fearles Flush sampler that I purchased in 98 so I reached out to KC, got him on...
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Ep. 264: Hunter Gatherer w/ Matthew Palmerlee
This Was The Scene Podcast
Hunter Gatherer carved out a niche in Athens between approximately 1997 and 2004, folding into the post‑hardcore and emocore wave that was surging at that time. Their music drew equally from punk’s intensity and emo’s emotive melodies—yet with a poppier, hook-oriented bent, making their sound more accessible than one might expect from that blend. Despite a relatively brief run and limited releases, they made their mark in a vital era for Athens music, resonating with scene contemporaries and contributing to the city’s enduring reputation for musical diversity and authenticity. I...
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Ep. 263: As Tall As Lions w/ Julio Tavarez
This Was The Scene Podcast
As Tall As Lions was an atmospheric indie rock band from Long Island, blending ethereal soundscapes with soulful vocals and intricate musicianship. Known for their emotionally rich lyrics and dynamic live performances, the band gained a devoted following with albums like You Can’t Take It With You. Though they disbanded in 2010, their music continues to resonate with fans who crave depth and beauty in rock. I got Julio on Zoom and this is what we chat about: Knowing who Lanemeyer is Playing Madison Square Garden Wearing suits The Matt Pryor book Touring with Mute Math Playing...
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Ep. 262: Houseboy w/ Brett Friesen & Ace Cowden
This Was The Scene Podcast
Houseboy was a Chicago-based pop‑punk/emo outfit that emerged in the mid‑1990s, co-founded by Brett Friesen (drums) and Ace Cowden (vocals/guitar) along with Daniel Garcia and Thom Lemke discogs.com +7 last.fm +7 skatepunkers.fandom.com +7 . Known for their high‑energy live shows—often opening for acts like Guttermouth, Samiam, and Face to Face—the band released a handful of catchy DIY recordings including the Last Friday’s Selfless Allstars 7″ and the full‑length Ya Right! before lineup changes and personal tragedy led them to disband in 1999 discogs.com +4...
info_outlinePolar Bear Club was a post-hardcore/melodic punk band from upstate New York. They were active mostly from the mid-2000s to around 2015. Their sound was a mix of gruff, emotional vocals with melodic yet aggressive instrumentals. They released albums on Triple Crown Records, Bridge Nine Records and Rise Records. And toured with such bands as The Gaslight Anthem, Set Your Goals, Four Year Strong, Every Time I Die, The Bouncing Souls, Bad Religion, The Story So Far, Citizen, New Found Glory and Taking Back Sunday.
I got Jimmy on the Skype and this is what we chat about:
- His band The Disaster
- 2 things that kickstarted them to tour
- Red Leader Records and Matt Rosenberg
- As ’Twere the Mirror
- Member changes
- Clash Battle Guilt Pride
- Bad tours
- His voice changing on the last record
- Audiotree
- How the band ended
- Will there be a reunion
- And a ton more
Check out his new band Shy Tooth on Spotify and all the platforms
Lastly I do whiteboard animations so if your marketing department has said recently “Hey, we need a whiteboard animation” then email me at mike@drive80.com.