Episodes

This week, we're scratching The Itch for awards season, baby! The fifth annual Itch Awards are here, honoring the best rock releases of 2024. We've got albums galore, featuring a plethora of past and future guests. Who were our favorite debuts and breakouts of the year? Who dropped the best EP and LP? And what are we looking forward to in 2025? This is a big'n, so grab your pen and paper and take notes, because we're about to fill up your queue. Enjoy. If you like what you hear, you can hear mo...

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 for Christmas cheer! As a follow-up to our recent conversation with Nick Wheeler of The All-American Rejects, The Itch venture out to see the band on not one, but TWO shows of their holiday run... and we weren't alone! A special guest host joins us, bringing a fresh perspective to a rare singularly-focused Concert Catch-up. Enjoy, and merry Christmas from The Itch! If you like what you hear, you can hear more of us every Sunday night broadcasting rock to the...

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 for the greatest week in the history of our sport... er, podcast. Find out why as we recap a trio of shows by artists who are aging like fine wine (though that's probably not what they drink). First, Aaron won't stop til he gets to Normal (or technically Bloomington) to throw paper airplanes at Ben Folds and hear about how Effington could be a wonderful effingplace. Then, KC heads to Chicago and he and Aaron see our friend Taylor Carroll and Lit on their run...

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 first! This concert catch-up takes a new twist when one of us sees not just a concert, but a concert film made by Local H! And even recorded, it's somehow a great live show! Join us to recap the tour featuring Seether, Itch guests Skillet, Tim Montana, and Royale Lynn, plus Wage War and 2x Itch guests Fame on Fire! 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 ...

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 consistency! It's time for our regularly scheduled Badflower coverage, plus our first time seeing 2-time guests Lowlives, and our introduction to a reggae metal band that ISN'T Skindred! Join us to hear about a very relaxing night featuring The Movement, Long Beach Dub Allstars, and Aurorawave, a sold-out double bill with Saosin and Lowlives, and Badflower's latest on-stage insanity alongside Slothrust and Missio! We've got stories of second hand smoke, n...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to Riot! For the fourth year in a row, Aaron ventured to Chicago's own Riot Fest... and this time he finally brought friends! Not only that, but he bookended two days at the festival with memorable shows from The Offspring and, perhaps most punk rock of all, legendary composer Hans Zimmer! Join us for tales of epic soundtracks, Olympic heroes, testing the limits of Chicago parking, and ... butter John Stamos? It's the kind of weird you wanna be in on. Trust u...

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 visit the Blue Planet! Three decades of fandom come to a head as Aaron sees Weezer perform The Blue Album for the first time with support from the ever-entertaining Flaming Lips. And he followed that up by seeing a new act with a throwback 90s hip hop sound in the ever-confident Joey Valence & Brae! Meanwhile, KC had a mixed bag of a time seeing In This Moment, Ice Nine Kills, and Avatar. Let's just say the whole experience was a little foggy. Enjoy. ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to keep catchin' up! Concerts continue to abound, and this one includes the rhyming trifecta of friendships, road trips, and vacation pro tips! Join us to hear insights about the touring life from friends (current and hopefully future) Oxymorrons, VRSTY, Nothing More, Eva Under Fire, Post Profit, & The Burkharts. 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 n...

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 to share the wealth! It's another Concert Catch-up, but this time with stories from the whole gang! We saw no less than 10 bands, recently, including an Itch radio staple, some concert buddies, two podcast guests, some hopeful future guests, and a self-described "brass house" band. There's truly something for everyone to appreciate, and maybe even discover. Enjoy our live review experiences, seeing Primus, Coheed and Cambria, Too Many Zooz, I Prevail, Halesto...

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 a roundup! We're talking about four of our favorite albums from the second quarter of 2024. And it's an Itch International Rock Roundup to boot, featuring Britain's Bring Me the Horizon, Mexico's The Warning, Texas' Nothing More, and Scotland's Dead Pony! That's right, Texas is it's own country. It's a mix of heavy hitters and rising stars. Genre shifters and multilinguists. Men, women, and (nearly) children. And it's a sonic treat for everyone. Enjoy. I...