Interviews Episodes

This week, we're scratching The Itch for some world building! Eric Bass of Shinedown joins us to discuss his outstanding debut solo album Eric Bass Presents... I Had A Name. It's a thrilling rock opera of sorts featuring a cast of characters battling against villainous forces,... and sometimes their own minds. Eric speaks candidly about the fascinating process that led to the album (in between Shinedown records, no less), his own mental diagnoses and faith journey, the album's upcoming companion...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to read a book! Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D. is releasing his autobiography, Son of Southtown: My Life Between Two Worlds on February 25th. He joins the show to discuss his story of God's faithfulness, band drama and reconciliation, and the changes and challenges of the music industry. Plus, Aaron has his long-awaited chance to ask about the cover art of The Fundamental Elements of Southtown, we learn about the process behind P.O.D.'s newest album Veritas, and a ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to fight! Coco from Winona Fighter returns, and this time she brought the boys! Join her, Dan, and Austin as they break down the origins of some of the songs on their debut LP My Apologies to the Chef (out Feb 28), their choice to hand pick the opening acts for the corresponding Yes, Chef tour (including our mutual friends Fury in Few), and their commitment to staying authentic and supportive in the music world while still keeping their sanity. Plus, a specia...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for bass! Emma Anzai, co-founder of Sick Puppies and more recent addition to Evanescence, joins us to discuss Wave the Bull, Sick Puppies' first new album in nine years. We discuss the prominence of her bass guitar in some of the tracks, the Beastie Boys influence in their recent single "Going Places," their upcoming tour with Metallica, handling jet lag when traveling from Australia to basically anywhere else in the world, and an interaction with a certain m...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get educated! Shiprocked sails along, we bring you the second part of the 2022 conversation that introduced us to Oxymorrons. And this is where it gets serious (while somehow remaining silly). Dee, KI, Jafe, and Matty dive deep on the authentic vs the performative, the futility of social media, the cheapening of art as content, and putting Black faces in rock spaces. Plus, Dan makes a new comic geek buddy, Aaron gives a guest homework, and we're bringing s...

This week we're scratching The Itch to ... not be here! The boys are back on a boat enjoying Shiprocked, but while we're out partying with Oxymorrons, we thought we'd post a pair of throwback episodes to when we first met them three years ago, kicking off a genuine friendship. This two-part conversation remains quite possibly our all-time favorite. And when you listen, you'll understand why. Enjoy. If you like what you hear, you can hear more of us every Sunday night broadcasting rock to the ma...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for Sno! It's not only in St Louis and Chicago, but in Scotland as well! Janine Shilstone of VUKOVI becomes The Itch's first Scottish guest as she joins us to discuss "Sno," the newest single from (and a character in) her band's new album My God Has Got a Gun, out January 25th on SharpTone Records! It's a vulnerable discussion about the various things that helped her heal from being in a dark place, including therapy, touring the US with Itch guests Calva Lou...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to send the year out in style! Official fourth member Eva Marie of Eva Under Fire joins us for another holiday tradition (and to continue building her lead as our most frequent guest). Despite not releasing much in the way of new music, 2024 was still a year of firsts and gains for Eva and the boys, and we're here to talk about all of it. Well, most of us anyway. Dan wasn't able to make it until the end of the conversation, but a cameo still counts! Join us f...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get choppy! The excellently facial-haired Brandon Yeagley of Crobot joins us for a conversation full of industry insight, artistic excitement, and... giant eggs. We were introduced to Brandon in a quite memorable way at Upheaval 2023, and when you hear this conversation, you'll understand why he's endeared himself to us even more. Enjoy, and check out Crobot touring with fellow Itch guests Nonpoint and Heartsick this January! If you like what you hear, yo...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a tradition! Jason Zeilstra of Nonpoint continues introducing us to his bandmates one by one. one year at a time, this time joining us alongside bassist Adam Woloszyn! The fellas recap another eventful year for the band, compare stories of on-stage injuries, share their memories of Nonpoint's upcoming anniversary albums Statement and To The Pain, and talk one of their other mutual passions... superhero nerdery! Nonpoint will be touring the US in January ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for rejection! Well, in a sense. Nick Wheeler, guitarist and co-founder of The All-American Rejects joins us for a freewheeling discussion (see what I did there?) that covers his history with the band, his current studio work, and ... his favorite rewatch podcasts? Plus, Taco Bell talk, Aaron declares a Perfect Pop Song, and Dan finally finds a context to bring up Smallville! We say it often, but this is a fun one. Enjoy. And come hang with The Itch in St. Lo...

Today we're scratching The Itch for a post-Thanksgiving tradition! To show our gratitude to our incredible guests and listeners, we've compiled a collection of previously unheard clips from each of our 2024 interviews. We hope you enjoy this extra helping of conversational goodness as you recover from your food coma. If you listen all the way through, you'll find previews of a few future episodes as an early Christmas gift. Enjoy. Featured in this episode: Fury in Few, Fire From the Gods, Dead ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to go green! Dale Tanner of Ocean Grove joins us from Melbourne, Australia to discuss the band's new album ODDWORLD. We cover the band's shift in sound from the grunge-y alt rock on their previous two albums to their more nu metal roots, their unique membership setup and the difference between "Ocean Grove" and the "ODDWORLD Collective," and his support of organizations such as Support Act and Sea Shepherd. Ocean Grove is a band on the rise, and Dale's talent...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get evil! Guitarist Nick Fuelling of Pop Evil joins us to check off one of Dan's wish list band conversations. Pop Evil recently released "What Remains", the first single from an album set to release in Spring 2025. Nick talks about the new song, the new lineup (which "devoured" another band, one might say), and which Major League Baseball stadiums he's partial to. Plus, he confirms a longtime Itch theory about the band's name. Enjoy. Episode art photogra...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a revolution! John Cooper of Skillet joins us to talk about their new album of the same name. But though they're known for fist-pumping rockers, we actually spend most of our conversation discussing the band's softer side. Namely, how John and his wife Korey raised their two children on the road, and the song John wrote for his daughter's wedding. Plus, going independent, how to ensure that you're a favorite tour mate to other bands, and playing four squa...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a sunrise and a surprise! Mike Cunniff of Boston Manor joins us to discuss the band's fantastic two-part album(s) 2022's Datura and the newly released Sundiver. If you're wondering how one thematically connected album is released two years apart, we've got your explanation! Join us to hear about the intricate balance of creating songs that stand alone and fit together, the pedal Mike created, and the band's successful attempt to leverage their audience to...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for imagination! Atreyu is about to release The Pronoia Sessions, a connection of reimagined classics, and frontman Brandon Saller joined The Itch's trifecta club to talk about it. Brandon's amazing voice is on display more than ever on the new record, and his vibrant personality and artist's heart are on display throughout our conversation. Join us to hear about his original dream of recreating Nirvana's MTV Unplugged set, his desire to constantly challenge ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for DOOMSDAY! The (mostly) Texas-based GORE. is one of the most exciting new bands in the metal world, and we were thrilled to speak with guitarist Alex King and bassist Devin Birchfield about their debut EP, A Bud That Never Blooms, out October 25th on Spinefarm Records. The fellas recount how they connected to frontwoman (and NASA engineer) Haley Roughton, their excitement about what's already next on the horizon, and the "emotional gore" that leads them to...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to run it back! Bryan Kuznitz of Fame on Fire is back to talk about the the band's new album The Death Card, which drops on Sept 6. Insightful and ever-honest, Bryan explains the thematic threads throughout the album, and gives an eye-opening report on the difficulties of being an artist in the age of Spotify and Ticketmaster. Plus, we revisit an amusing story from Shiprocked 2023, when Bryan almost introduced Dan to grandson. Enjoy! If you like what you hea...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to collaborate! Wes Anderson is a longtime internet friend of ours with an impeccable record of guest features on his music. His new single, "Goodbye," features two-time Itch guest Stephen Richards of Taproot, and his previous track, "Heads Are Gonna Roll," features Benji Webbe of The Itch's Official Favorite Band, Skindred. So the time had finally come for Wes himself to be a guest on the show! Join us for an enlightening conversation about life as an indepe...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for future deja vu! Jutes' album Ladybug made our top 20 of 2023, and his upcoming follow-up Sleepyhead is shaping up as a contender for 2024! We had to have this prolific songwriter on to discuss his shifting sounds, the challenges of being an independent artist, and balancing his desire for a quiet, private life with the public nature of his relationship with Demi Lovato. Our chat with Jutes was insightful and enjoyable, and as a surprise, we bet you won't ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for the end times! Eicca Toppinen of Apocalyptica joins us to discuss the cello metallers' new album Plays Metallica Vol. 2. Join us to hear about why they followed up on the album that put them on the map nearly 30 years ago, why their tour features the best Metallica set list ever, and (of course) the hard-hitting question of why they included the polarizing "St. Anger." Eicca is a many of many talents and an infectious spirit, and you know The Itch perks u...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get hooked! Deal with that pun as Jason Hook of Flat Black joins us to discuss the process of starting a band from scratch after reaching some of rock's highest highs in his previous band. Flat Black's debut album "Dark Side of the Brain" is out July 19th, and Jason has been itching (see, it comes full circle) to talk about it. We cover the origins of the band's name, selecting the lineup, the advantages and disadvantages of his name value, and preparing F...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for Closure! After 17 years, The Exies are back with a new EP, and band leader and Itch friend Scott Stevens joins us for the second time to discuss all the details. Scott reflects on the experience of creating these new songs (and playing the band's reunion show at The Viper Room in LA) with his unique combination of adventurous curiosity, thoughtful introspection, and business savvy. Plus, The Itch determines which Beatles we are, and the show is interrupte...