Interviews Episodes

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get educated! Joe Bonamassa has more #1 Billboard Blues albums than anyone in history, and his time in the music world has taught him a ton about what it means to be an artist, a businessman, and a mentor to the next generation of musicians. Joe was kind enough to share some of his insight with us in a discussion about his new release, Blues Deluxe Vol. 2, the changing state of the music industry, and how to give back when you've been given so much. Enjoy....

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get stressed out. But only a little, because Coco from Winona Fighter, aka our "social media bestie," joins us for a wholesome conversation about meeting your heroes, live show theatrics, and taking your art seriously without taking yourself seriously. Along the way, The Itch learns some new lingo (but absolutely nothing about Coco's upcoming releases), Shiprocked comes up again, and Aaron calls a guest a "turd" for the first time. If you like what you he...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get inked up! Or at least talk with a guy who just did. Cullen Moore and Paolo Vergara of Sleep Theory join us to discuss the insane and accelerated ride that has been their 2023, starting with a debut single in January that got half a million TikTok views and leading to September's release of their first EP, Paper Hearts. Along the way we'll talk about their love for Linkin Park, the double edged sword of internet virality, and how the best opportunities ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a jolly good show! Benji and James of Caskets join us for a truly delightful chat. The lads from Leeds discuss their new album, Reflections, favorite cities from their second US tour, and the key to success on a human level in an industry that can be cutthroat. If you like what you hear, you can hear more of us every Sunday night broadcasting rock to the masses from 6-9pm CST on KCLC-FM. If you're not in the St. Louis area, you can stream the show from 8...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a double episode! Legendary blues rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd joins us to talk about his new album, Dirt on My Diamonds, re-recording his breakthrough Trouble Is..., cover songs (including Five Finger Death Punch!), and adding polarizing sounds to his musical toolbox. Then, KC and Dan recount their experience seeing Kenny alongside King Solomon Hicks this past summer at The Factory! With a guest this big, we had to go king-size! If you like what ...

This week, we're scratching not just an Itch, but an artist off our wish list! Chad Sexton of 311 joins us to discuss the 30th anniversary re-issue of his band's debut album Music, the fine art of creating a setlist, and what keeps five people together in a band for over three decades (hint: it might be bacon). Plus, Chad takes us on a trip down memory lane with stories from a few album eras, Aaron doesn't get to talk about drum art, and this clip proves why Chad rules. Enjoy. If you like what ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a throwback! Blake Bedsaul was our third guest, back in episode 44. Now he's back for our 50th interview, and he brought his brother Zach along for the ride! The Bedsaul brothers and their band, SAUL, have just released their second full-length album, This Is It... The End of Everything, and they're here to talk about the evolution of their sound, processing the loss of their mother, and their love for Tool. It's a pleasure to speak with guys who just lov...

Welcome to the Uprising... one more time! Detroit's In Our Wake joins us to close out the series by sharing the Upheaval experience from the artist's perspective. Join us to hear tales of what it's like to be independent, what to do when a pandemic depletes your band, and why Michiganders are such sweethearts. Plus: The Itch welcomes its youngest guest. And a record is broken, as well as some knees. If you like what you hear, you can hear more of us every Sunday night broadcasting rock to the m...

Welcome to the uprising! While we get some much-needed rest after a wild weekend at Upheaval, we found some fun snippets from our interview series to tide you over until our recap. You’ll hear the crazy story of why Alfonso from Heartsick missed our initial interview attempt, get some insight into the busy lives of the Oxymorrons as they prepare to release their debut album, catch a preview of a future conversation topic with Eva Under Fire, and take a peek behind the scenes as Black Note Graffi...

Welcome to the uprising! Rebecca Potzner of Banded PR joins us in this episode to discuss her journey into the world of music publicity and the role(s) she plays on the Upheaval team. Rebecca is the person responsible for giving us the green light to partner with Upheaval on this series, so we had to give her the final pre-fest spotlight. But stay tuned, because we've got more to come in the Upheaval aftermath! If you like what you hear, you can hear more of us every Sunday night broadcasting r...

Welcome to the uprising! MiEntertainment's Chris Meyer, one of the creators of Upheaval, joins us to discuss the complicated work of concert promotion, being a family business, and even a few wish list artists for next year's Upheaval! We hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at a part of the music business that means so much to us. If you like what you hear, you can hear more of us every Sunday night broadcasting rock to the masses from 6-9pm CST on KCLC-FM. If you're not in the St. Louis...

Welcome to the uprising! Ricardo Ortiz and Gabby Bryant of Ann Arbor-based Upheaval openers Black Note Graffiti join us in this episode. They discuss road testing new music, their love for a certain festival headliner, the dynamic of changing from predominantly male lead vocals to predominantly female, and a pair of strong words for a home state artist! Plus, Aaron reveals his headphone sonic test album, and Dan has a message for a billionaire! If you like what you hear, you can hear more of u...

Welcome to the uprising! The Itch's most frequent guest Eva Marie of Eva Under Fire ups her tally to five as she joins us to talk about her Michigan band's Upheaval debut! If you're interested in Halestorm and Evanescence fandom, Detroit radio, and the perks of having a supportive mother, Eva's got you covered. And we heavily recommend checking out Eva Under Fire's debut album Love, Drugs, & Misery. Enjoy. If you like what you hear, you can hear more of us every Sunday night broadcasting ro...

Welcome to the uprising! All four of 2022 Upheaval performers and notably pretty punk boy band Oxymorrons join us this week for our second conversation. Our first interview, in January 2022, was somehow one of the funniest and deepest chats we've ever had, and this doesn't disappoint as a follow-up. As they prepare to release their first full LP, Melanin Punk, they've got plenty to say about the creative process, keeping fans' expectations changing, and how to be unapologetically authentic in al...

Welcome to the uprising! Alfonso Civile of Heartsick kicks off our series as a subject matter expert on all things Michigan, including Upheaval. The Lansing-based band has been a mainstay in the regional heavy music scene for years, and, as you'll hear from his stories, Alfonso has a knack for rubbing elbows with the biggest stars in rock while maintaining a humble heart for small-town musicians who just want to make noise with their friends. If you're looking for an introduction to Upheaval, an...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for some straight up rock 'n' roll, man! Buckcherry's new album Vol. 10 drops Friday, June 2, and in this episode frontman Josh Todd joins us to talk classic rock, tattoos, the creative process, and how a band stays committed all the way to ten albums. Enjoy. If you like what you hear, you can hear more of us every Sunday night broadcasting rock to the masses from 6-9pm CST on KCLC-FM. If you're not in the St. Louis area, you can stream the show from 891thew...

This week, we're scratching an Itch we've had for almost three years! The man known as grandson joins us on album's eve for his new release I Love You, I'm Trying. The record is a departure of sorts from his previous work, as he refocuses his attention from the problems in the world to the problems in his world. It's deeply personal, and when it comes to exploring issues like fame, mental health, and the relationship between an artist and their fans, he holds nothing back on the album nor i...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a major award! You voted for Taproot as our March Bandness winner, so we had Phil, Stephen, and Taylor from the band join us to discuss their new album, their new old album, and their fall tour. Along the way we'll hear about their decision to turn down a notable tour, a track that almost featured Layne Staley, selling skateboards, and how they maintain a connection with their fans. As promised, relevant links: TaprootMerch.com The new single V\CT\M \ PL...

This week, we're scratching some names off our interview wish list for episode 150! Arejay Hale is best known as the drummer half of the brother/sister duo behind Halestorm, alongside his sister Lzzy. Taylor Carroll is best known as the drummer for Lit. Together, these dearest brothers are preparing to debut the first music under their new moniker KemikalFire. Their first single, "Dead and Gone," premieres Friday, April 14th. In preparation, the guys joined us to discuss the making of the single...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get apocalyptic! Scott Stevens of 4 Horsemen music joins us to discuss writing with some of the biggest artists in modern rock, as well as the return of his band The Exies! We'll dive deep into the creation of "Spirits High", the first Exies song in over 15 years, and hear stories about Scott's work with Halestorm, Shinedown, Dorothy, Ayron Jones, Nothing More, and many more! Plus, we'll pose and presume to answer an all-important question: will Scott be i...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to finish what we started... maybe. Mikey Carvajal of Islander had a beautiful homecoming of sorts on Shiprocked, and he was kind enough to join us to share his story. We also dive into the origins of his face paint (but NOT the origins of "Coconut Dracula"), being asked to fill in for your musical hero, and what it's like to not be told that your label has dropped you... all while trying not to talk exclusively about wrestling! Mikey has so much insight on t...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to debut brand new music from a favorite! Nonpoint dropped their new single "Heartless", at literally the exact same time as this episode, and we spoke about it ahead of release with the band's guitar duo of Jason Zeilstra and Rasheed Thomas! Join us for an enlightening discussion about the new music, the corresponding Emerald Cities tour with Blacktop Mojo and Sumo Cyco, how Jason and Rasheed's 20-year friendship began, and of course... their experience on S...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get #Filthy! Ayron Jones' Child of the State was our 2021 Album of the Year, and we've been... jonesin'... to have him on the show ever since. The conversation did not disappoint, as it included Ayron's foray into R&B with his new single "Otherside", the hottest hot spots in his hometown of Seattle, and a family that is incredibly near to his heart. And we definitely did NOT discuss geopolitics. Enjoy. And click here to help Desi. If you like what you hea...

This week, we're scratching an Itch that's, well... pretty fiery. The Shiprocked Series continues with Bryan Kuznitz, frontman of Fame on Fire. He's a charismatic and self-reflective guy who wears his emotions on his sleeve and shouts them in his songs. And as this publishes, he's probably talking Dan into buying him a drink on the boat. Join us to talk with Bryan about the formation of his band, their latest album Welcome to the Chaos, and singing in Korean on one of their myriad covers. Enjoy!...