Ep. 273: Grade w/ Greg Taylor
This Was The Scene Podcast
Grade were a key part of Victory Records’ late-90s surge, blending hardcore intensity with emotional depth and forward-leaning songwriting. Their music felt restless and urgent, pushing beyond genre lines without losing the raw energy that defined the scene. Releases like Under the Radar and Headfirst Straight to Hell helped bridge hardcore, post-hardcore, and early emo influences at a pivotal moment. Though their time was brief, Grade left a lasting imprint on the Victory era by proving heaviness and vulnerability could coexist. I got Greg on the Zoom and this is what we chat about Almost...
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Ep. 272: Avery w/ Nina Saporta and Janet LaBelle
This Was The Scene Podcast
Avery is a pop-punk band that started in the NJ music scene in 1999. What started as just Nina on bass and Janet singing while playing drums, evolved over the years, with Jess coming on as guitarist, Janet moving up to vocals and keys, and Mike joining on drums. Over the next 10+ years, Avery played hundreds of shows including multiple festivals, toured nationally, and released two records. Avery songs were also featured on multiple television shows on Nickelodeon, Disney, and MTV. The band also wrote the theme song for a commercial for Rebelle Friendship Bags. After a 10 year hiatus, Avery...
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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...
info_outlineGrade were a key part of Victory Records’ late-90s surge, blending hardcore intensity with emotional depth and forward-leaning songwriting. Their music felt restless and urgent, pushing beyond genre lines without losing the raw energy that defined the scene. Releases like Under the Radar and Headfirst Straight to Hell helped bridge hardcore, post-hardcore, and early emo influences at a pivotal moment. Though their time was brief, Grade left a lasting imprint on the Victory era by proving heaviness and vulnerability could coexist.
I got Greg on the Zoom and this is what we chat about
- Almost being a pro BMX rider
- Calling themselves Rebirth for a hot second
- Not being as big as some people thought
- Almost getting on Revelation Records
- Victory Records
- Under the Radar
- Inner band turmoil
- The A Year in the Past... Video
- The story behind the album cover
- Why Kyle won’t talk about the band
- Kyle’s current voice issues
- And a ton more
Lastly I’m opening my skills back up to graphic and video offerings to the following:
Design support includes:
• Branding and visual identity
• Marketing and campaign design
• Social, print, and digital assets
Video work includes:
• Podcast video clips
• Short-form content for Reels, Shorts, TikTok, and ads
• Long-form edits for interviews, webinars, and YouTube
• Sizzle reels and brand videos
• Explainer and marketing video edits
• Captioning, on-screen text, and light motion graphics
If any of this lines up with something you need, email mike@drive80.com