Episodes

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get Canadian! Raine Maida of Canada's rock royalty Our Lady Peace joins us as the band continues its 30-year celebration. We discuss the fan-inspired push that led them to reclaim the song "Whatever" as a mental health anthem, the tricky task of using technology to connect with your audience, and the decision Raine and his wife Chantal Kreviazuk made to be so open about the ups and downs of marriage as public figures. Plus, we debut a brand new Burning Que...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for community. Our friend Jay Scott, host of The Hook Rocks Podcast and one of the first music podcasters to welcome us into this world, is facing a long health struggle. In response, more friends of ours, who you may have heard us refer to as "The Groove Council" in past episodes, recently put together a benefit show for Jay's recovery. Aaron was able to attend, and what a beautiful night it was. Chris, Mike, and Rich of The Groove Council join us in this ep...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to play DED. As in, we've played DED's new album Resent (out September 19th) so much that we had to have frontman Joe Cotela on to talk about it. Joe talks about the perhaps unconscious decision to go heavier after a more melodic turn on 2021's School of Thought, how he prefers to use heavyweight guests like Chad Gray, Chris Motionless, and Danny Leal on more brutal tracks rather than for radio clout, and how humility is always more attractive than ego. Plus...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to bring back the boys! Oxymorrons return for the first time since 2023 to tell us all about their new EP, Create. Destroy. Rebuild. Repeat. Life is very different for Dee, Jafe, and K.I. since their last appearance on the show, but they never cease to apply their lessons learned to their art and to their lives, or to share them with anyone who's willing to listen. As always, our conversation with the guys exists in the sweet spot where depth and humor meet, ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to make waves! Nathan Aurora of Aurorawave joins us for the second time this calendar year to discuss the band's new album Monument, how his vision for the year has become reality, and how The Itch played a role! It's a fun conversation that touches on genre-crossing guest spots, goal setting, and splitting time between two very different musical worlds. Plus, Nathan now has an audience of two tiny ones, and The Itch gets a hint about some possible future Aur...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to celebrate! Just in time for Aaron's birthday, we've got a wish list interview with Nova Twins, whose third album, Parasites & Butterflies, drops Friday, August 29th! Amy Love and Georgia South joined us on the eve of their Warped Tour debut to talk about the new album, including the themes behind it and the wild video for "N.O.V.A.", which stars none other than Georgia's mother! Amy and Georgia are a brand to themselves, from designing their own clothi...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to feel better! After a crazy few years that took him from heartbroken to bedridden with ulcerative colitis to smitten with the love of his life, Matt Bigland and Dinosaur Pile-Up are back from the brink of extinction with the killer new album I've Felt Better. It's a welcome return after being essentially absent from the music world for five years, and the band hasn't missed a beat with their funny, vulnerable style of alt rock. Matt joins us in this episod...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to put on Happy Faces! And by that, we mean the debut album from Germany's indie punks PLAIINS. Chris, Flo, and Dizzy joined us to discuss how they remain playful in their music even while covering weighty topics like fanatical nationalism, music industry racism, and mistreatment of the working class. It's a fine line, but their album walks it well. Plus, Elton John turns back the clock, a deep dive into the psychology of Burning Questions, and why it's proba...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a Thursday episode! Aaron saw pod favorites Winona Fighter at the Q101 Lounge and pod newcomers MSPAINT at Wicker Park Fest, and he's got a wholesome tale to tell about it as we continue another run of Tuesday interview episodes. If you've ever wondered what an intimate radio station performance is like, this is the episode for you. Plus, an inter-generational bonding experience and a tribute to a departed friend. Enjoy. If you like what you hear, you ca...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to reach new heights! Halestorm's new album Everest arrives on August 8th, and drummer Arejay Hale stopped by to become a three-time guest and talk about it! This album was a growth experience for him as a writer, as he took a more prominent role as a lyricist as the band pivoted to a more internal approach with fewer co-writers than on previous records. Of course, it wouldn't be a proper Arejay conversation without bouncing around to a few other topics (and ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for Lovecore! CRegg Rondell of Boy Hits Car joins us for a look at the band's history as they prepare for their first show in a year, a gig at the famous Whiskey a Go Go that was originally planned for May before Boy Hits Car was postponed due to Truck Hits Bar. We also discuss the impact of the band's self-titled album, the challenges of being independent in the streaming era, performing barefoot, and CRegg's could-have-been alternate career. It was a pleasu...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for our cutest episode ever! not only did Dan get to see Babymetal, but he brought a couple kids of his own... and then had them on the show to talk about it! That's right, it's the proper debut of Dan's sons Dean and Jacoby, who have eyes on taking over the show. Hear them become famous before your very ears as they tell us all about their experience seeing Babymetal, Jinjer, and Bloodywood, and why KC supposedly made the wrong decision to see The Warning th...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to go retro! We're showing hometown pride again as St. Louis' own Retro Champ joins us to discuss his past, present, and future in music. Retro is the very definition of "rap rock," taking inspiration from both classic MCs and nu metallers like Linkin Park and Hed PE. We discovered him when he opened for Oxymorrons, and in this discussion we dive into that relationship, as well as other impactful relationships, such as his late mother and the recently passed ...

As mentioned in this week's conversation with elementary school teacher and dead7 frontman Jason Kozik, here's the story of Dan's high school match teacher, who bore a curious resemblance to Wayne Static of Static-X. We've had this clip in the archives since 2021. It was due to see the light of day. 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 f...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for local boys to make good! Jason Kozik of St. Louis' own dead7 joins us on the eve of their debut release with SharpTone Records, Love What You Can While You Got Something Left To Love. The album, full of riffs, ambiance, and not entirely traditional arrangements (plus a dash of heavy pop punk), drops July 11th, and we share Jason's excitement for you to hear it. In this episode, we talk fine tuning a band name, working with The Funeral Portrait and Gore., ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for something new! Brand New is back for the first time since 2017, and we've got to talk about the Chicago date of their tour. But first, we'll explore their history, evolution, and of course, the elephant in the room. It's a complicated topic, but worth diving into. If you've been groomed or otherwise abused in any way, please speak out. We know it can be difficult, but justice and healing are worth it. We support you. If you like what you hear, you can h...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for ladies' night! The Itch saw a series of shows featuring fantastic frontwomen, including some friends of the show, some hopeful future friends of the show, and some first times seeing longtime favorites! Join us for plenty of cool as Aaron finally sees Phantogram and Sleigh Bells (with Sophie Hunter) and KC and Dan catch two-time Itch guests Winona Fighter with twin sister duo Good Boy Daisy and St. Louis' own Fight Back Mountain! Join us to talk overmodul...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a throwback! We're celebrating 20 albums turning 25 with an episode from back in our Rock Matters days of 2020! Check out our takes on albums from Deftones, hed PE, Flogging Molly, Cold, Lostprophets, The Offspring, Limp Bizkit, Disturbed, A Perfect Circle, Godsmack, Orgy, Fuel, Rage Against the Machine, Papa Roach, Goldfinger, Evanescence, Lifehouse, Our Lady Peace, Earthsuit, and Project 86! Enjoy... again. If you like what you hear, you can hear more ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for new rock! We're five months into 2025 and overdue to spotlight some of our favorite albums of the year so far. The Itch has been enjoying sounds from across the rock spectrum, and we're excited to share them with you. Whether it's the moody drum and bass of ALT BLK ERA, the versatile metalcore of Architects, the unpredictable glam rock of The Darkness, or the praise and R&B-tinged rock of Sleep Token, you're sure to dig something in this episode. Enjoy. ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to rebel! AI art is trash, and you shouldn't use it. But if you put on a show as fun as this year's Pointfest, we'll forgive you. Mostly. The whole team made it to see 311 headline a lineup that also featured The Urge, Toadies, Finger Eleven, Sick Puppies, Alien Ant Farm, and our boys Oxymorrons and Tree One Four! Hear about the bands who impressed, The Point's second faux pas, and what legendary collaboration we finally got to see live! Plus, Aaron watches J...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for community. Last week, the rock world experienced tragic losses. In this episode we honor those we lost and celebrate the way they touched people's lives and brought so many together through their involvement in music. And likewise, we also celebrate a part of the rock world that they were familiar with, and that has become a part of The Itch's DNA: Shiprocked. The lineup has been announced, and this year will hold special significance for us once again. E...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to party! KC's birthday week was stacked with shows featuring podcast guests, and The Itch got to see plenty of them! First, KC and Aaron catch Boston Manor at the Subterranean in Chicago on their first ever US headline tour, with a diverse supporting trio of Farmer's Wife, Spaced, and Ellis. Then they swing over to the Bottom Lounge to see Ocean Grove supporting Thornhill with Avoid and Banks Arcade. Aaron somehow manages to turn two shows into one on t...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a reunion! Alizon and Ben, our vacation buddies and international inspirations from Calva Louise, return to discuss their brilliant new album Edge of the Abyss, which drops on July 11th. We discuss the interpretive nature of art, the rich story lore that carries through music videos across albums, and the familiar friends they reunited with on Shiprocked. Plus, Aaron wishes he could be more specific about Alizon's invention, and Bloodywood is very good at...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a homecoming! Arya Goggin of Skindred was our second ever interview, back in November 2020. To celebrate 5 years as a podcast, the man who drums on our theme song makes his long overdue return to keep our weekly interview streak going. We've spoken at length about the huge role Skindred plays in The Itch's story, so Arya was the perfect choice. And he brings not only a great memory of his experiences in St. Louis (and our previous conversation), but the a...