Interviews Episodes

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!...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a new series: a Shiprocked Series! We've been talking about it for ages, and it's finally here. As Dan prepares to dock, we're unleashing the first of a trio of interviews with artists who will be performing (and vacationing) on the boat. And we're starting with a guy who made an immediate impression on us last year: Giovannie Yanez of Giovannie and the Hired Guns. Their album Tejano Punk Boyz made Dan's top 20 and featured a fascinating fusion of 90s alt...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a New Year's celebration! Our friend Joey Varela of VRSTY joins us for the second time to discuss his recent and upcoming music, translating songs into Spanish, and the value of having true friends in the music industry. Enjoy, and happy 2023! 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 891thewood.com, Tun...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a holiday tradition! Eva Marie of Eva Under Fire joined us last year for an episode we dubbed Christmas Eva. And she was kind enough to join us again this year, which officially makes it annual! There are guests and there are friends in the podcast world, and as you'll quickly discover, Eva is squarely on the latter category. Join us for a free-flowing conversation about selling out their album release show, collaborating with the scorers of Stranger Thin...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to talk with a triple threat! Sam Bam Koltun LOVES playing guitar. So much so that the man is part of no less than three bands, while still finding time for more gigs on the side! Join us for a great chat about his work with Dorothy, Faster Pussycat, and Budderside (all of whom have released new music in 2022), playing with a busted finger, and his true feelings about a St Louis pizza staple! Shout out to Ari Strauss for the fantastic photo we used in this w...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to go solo! Keith Wallen is a member of Breaking Benjamin, but he's also a solo artist and sought-after collaborator. His debut solo album This World Or The Next came out last year, and he just got back from a UK tour playing it in support of his friends from the band Red. We were fortunate enough to catch up with him to talk about his album (including the making of the video for "Fractured"), his experience working with high-profile acts, and his impressive ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for gratitude! We've put together a collection of short bonus clips from each of our 2022 interviews as a way to reflect on all the fun we've had learning from and about people in the music world. And we're not even done with our interviews for the year! Stick around til the end to get a sneak peek of who's to come. Happy holidays, Itch listeners! We appreciate you so much, and we hope you enjoy this clipisode. If you like what you hear, you can hear more of...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a spiritual experience! Dorothy joins us to talk about her amazing new album Gifts From the Holy Ghost, battles of the soul, and learning a lesson about performance from a surprising source. It's a very unique conversation that goes in some unexpected directions. Things mentioned in this interview: Black Sheep video Sweet Dreams video Matt Pinfield interview Going There with Dr. Mike interview If you like what you hear, you can hear more of us every Sun...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to explore a tennis legacy! And maybe a musical one as well. Myles and Layne Ulrich of Taipei Houston join us to talk about their debut album Once Bit Never Bored, as well as their experience playing alongside Muse, their philosophy on social media, and how to fill a room with sound as a two-man band. 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...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a new interview series! Francesca Ludikar, Creative Director and co-founder of 361 Degrees Records alongside the band Nonpoint, joins us to explore the non-musical side of music as we explore The Itch On The Industry. Her skills behind the camera and beyond have played an essential role in Nonpoint's revitalization, as well as in the development of Sumo Cyco. Join us for a great talk about origins, assets, and how to direct a photo shoot without being in ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to go silent... but only for a few seconds. Mitch Swanger of Silent Theory joins us for an enlightening conversation about the search for the right singer, questionable treatments for stage fright, and how YouTube has done right by his band. Plus, Dan receives a great birthday gift and The Itch receives a great compliment. 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. I...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to catch up with a friend! Eva Marie of Eva Under Fire joined us twice last year in anticipation of their album Love, Drugs & Misery. Now the album is finally here, and it's capping a fantastic year for the band. Join us as we chat with Eva about the album, their new single featuring From Ashes to New, her series of mental health articles on Loudwire, and how being PG-13 (at best) is an important part of her identity. Plus, Eva lives out a dream experienc...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to visit Cyco City! Following up on episode 107, creative whirlwind Skye Sweetnam of Sumo Cyco joins us to talk about her journey from pop star to rock star, our mutual love of Skindred and Nonpoint, and how to make an insane THIRTY-TWO music videos among three albums. If you've seen Sumo Cyco live or enjoyed their albums (or even if you haven't, really), Skye's energy is contagious and her history in the industry is rich and fascinating. We hope you learn as...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to head north! We've got the most streamed rock band in Finland with us to kick off a new recurring interview series: Itch International! Blind Channel made waves in 2021 after appearing on Eurovision, leading to their song "Dark Side" receiving over 700,000 Spotify streams and over 12 million YouTube views. Earlier this year, they embarked on their first ever US tour alongside From Ashes to New and Fire From the Gods, and now they have their sights set on th...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get filthy! Des Rocs, whose album A Real Good Person In A Real Bad Place took home our 2021 Debut Album of the Year award and earned a spot on our 2021 Top 20 Albums, joins us to talk about his creative process, the cost of fierce independence, and ... how he wants people to fear for his life? It's an incredibly insightful look into the mind of a true artist. Enjoy. Also, The Itch has a sponsor! We're partnering with our own podcast production suite, Zenc...