Resident artist of TMBP Abi Bash returns to the show to discuss the classic Snowball in Hell off of Lincoln. We catch up and chat about the demo, the cassette that supplies the bridge sample, and get Christmasy in the covers section.
Adam Goren, mastermind behind legendary synth punk act Atom and His Package, returns to talk about Boat of Car from TMBG's self-titled debut. Greg and Adam discuss the demo, explore the multitude of different live versions, and collaborate on a cover.
Seymour Schmitt joins Greg for the first Why? episode, I Haven't Seen You In Forever. They get into nerdy choir talk about singing in round, how dramatic kids are, and even find some covers of this deep cut.
Shawn Patrick Cooke visits the show for the first time to discuss Wearing a Raincoat from The Spine. He gets the bottom of these odd lyrics, defends The Spine, and we find even more proof that ukuleles and TMBG go together like cookies and milk.
When I started the show, I noticed the amount of ukulele covers of TMBG songs that were popping up. I wanted to find out why there is such a big overlap in TMBG fandom and ukulele players so I rounded up there uke experts, Mary-Anne McTrowe, Derrick Schertz and Todd Breadon to tell us about their favorite TMBG songs to cover and why they work so well. They even rock a few of them for us!
Greg's bandmates in Dopplepopolis, Tim Brouk and Jonny Sommer, come on to talk about When Will You Die off of Join Us. Dopplepopolis has covered this song so we talk about how difficult the song was to learn, how hilarious the lyrics are, and how, like Stomp Box, this is one of TMBG's most punk songs.
Comedian and episode 1 guest David Britton finally makes his triumphant return to the show to talk about Stomp Box off of John Henry. They talk about comedy, the touring life, and how punk this song is and if it's unfairly treated.
Direct from Poland, Maciej Taubert returns to the show to talk about Let's Get This Over With off of I Like Fun. He and Greg talk extensively about bass drums, the 90s band Semisonic, and thing we'd like to get over with. Greg also attempts a cover live on air.
It took 105 episodes, but we're finally giving you a Venue Songs track! Artist and musician Joseph Devens lives in Austin and has been to one of the only two performances of this song Stubbs. Greg and Joseph get into the silliness of this tune, cutting off skulls, and BBQ.
Dylan Baldi of the amazing rock band Cloud Nothings is here to give y'all even more Spiney goodness with a double dose - Spine and Spines! We discuss these two short album cuts and their insane lyrics, and give you a solid primer of the greatness that is Cloud Nothings.
Jacob MacLeod and Chris Oliveira tag team to cover Experimental Film with Greg. The Spine's opening track banger gets the love it deserves as we delve into its connections to Homestar Runner, baseball and music boxes.
Guest Adam Lauture and Greg discuss the b-side I'm Your Boyfriend now which was properly released on Cast Your Pod To The Wind in 2007, a companion disc to The Else. Along with much discussion of this creepy song, the boys get into anime, video game music, and erotomania.
This time it's a Flans-led Mink Car song with Drink! featuring returning guest Mary-Anne McTrowe. We talk about the many different versions Edgar Allen Poe and drinkin' songs. Mary-Anne is a ukulele enthusiast so you better believe there is some uke talk as well, and she does her own cover!
On the 100th freakin' episode Greg and first-time guest Adrian Cobb talk about Bangs off of Mink Car. We discuss the two demo versions, some sweet covers, and of course, haircuts.
Amber Chaney joins Greg to talk about the Phone Power song ECNALUBMA. Along with much discussion of the song, Amber takes Greg to task on his Spine criticisms and we hear Greg pronounce the song title roughly 1,000 different ways.
Greg has assembled a team of accordionists - Mari Morton, Bryce Hurst, Noah Daniel and Darrell Till - to talk about their favorite JL squeezebox riffs. Hear us discuss Subliminal, The Famous Polka, and many more!
Greg and guest Chris Tull talk about Sometimes A Lonely Way off of Nanobots. They get into the chillout factor of the song, the double videos, and punk rock.
Fellow teacher David Baker is here to chat about Number Three off TMBG's self-titled debut album. We talk about the different demo versions, that dang bari sax and singing in Greek, and find some sweet covers.
Chris Oliveira joins Greg to talk about Reprehensible off of Long Tall Weekend. Hear us talk about Mellotrons, crooning, and just how reprehensible and evil this character is.
Matt Flood of Asbestos Records joins Greg to talk about the song Am I Awake? off of the Indestructible Object EP. Matt talks about working with the Johns to put out TMBG vinyl, and we get into a lot of punk and record nerd talk.
Victor Fitzsimmons animated the official music video for It Said Something off Phone Power. We talk a lot about his animation style, which perfectly accents the bizarre lyrics to this Linnell tune.
First-time guest and artist Tim Gutowski visits the show to talk about When The Lights Come On off of I Like Fun. We talk about its sweet guitar licks, kick ass drums, and the importance of coffee breaks.
All three members of Chicago punk band Pet Symmetry are here to talk about Boss of Me! Erik, Evan and Marcus chat with Greg about the many versions of this song and how much ska rules.
Long-time friend of the show Lesley Gouger returns to the show to talk about Dinner Bell off of Apollo 18. Episode edted by John Walker.
Bostonian Tom Dunford returns to the show and Greg's parents come along for the ride to talk about Wicked Little Critta off Mink Car. Lots of discussion about accents and slang, we figure out a bit about these sports figures, and talk about how many directions the song goes in a mere 2 minutes.
Bob Nanna of Braid and Hey Mercedes returns to the show to talk about Nothing's Gonna Change My Clothes from TMBG's self-titled debut. We talk about robots trying to swing, the key changes and chromatic twists of this tune, and even collaborate on a cover of the track.
Adam Rivera returns to the show for a bonus episode to remind you all of his big TMBG project They Pay Tribute Vol 2. The Kickstarter pledge window ends next week! He also shares some ahow stories we didn't get to on his Unpronouncable episode.
Micah Galizia calls in from Ontario to talk about the amazing Lincoln-era b-side It's Not A birthday, a song with many versions and live incarnations. We discuss every step in this song's history and also also find a hearty selection of great covers. This episode was edited by John Walker.
Greg was invited on the Tuning Fork podcast, a show where they discuss albums that the indie tastemaking site Pitchfork has given extreme high or low scores to. Greg demanded justive for Travistan, the first solo record by Dismemberment Plan frontman Travis Morrison, which was given a cruel 0.0 score. Hear him and hosts Dave and Matt defend this solid slice of indie rock. Subscribe to Tuning Fork wherever podcasts are found!
On our first episode about a Here Come the ABCs song, Cyrus Farivar comes by to talk about how kids demand to listen to the same songs over and over and how this tune makes the cut. We also get into the history of the guitar the Flying V.
