May 13, 2025

Bonus Episode: Lipps Service Live! with Ed Kowalczyk of Live, Eugene Hütz of Gogol Bordello with Grace Bergere, and Torture and The Desert Spiders

1 hour 18 minutes

On this very special bonus episode of Lipps Service, Scott sits down with three of the six acts who will perform on June 4 at the historic New York City venue The Bitter End for our first-ever live event – LIPPS SERVICE LIVE!

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The live concert will be a reflection of Lipps Service podcast, as the night will bring together past and present NYC-bred music, including three legendary acts – Ed Kowalczyk of LIVE, Hamilton Leithauser of The Walkmen, Eugene Hütz of Gogol Bordello and Casa Gogol – and three of the best up-and-coming bands of the city’s contemporary music scene – Jackson Hamm of Telescreens, Thesaurus Rex, and Torture and The Desert Spiders!

To get fans excited about the live show, Scott talked with Ed, Eugene, who was accompanied by an artist under his label, Grace Bergere, and Torture in this special bonus episode.

Starting with Ed, he discusses his early music days in NYC, shares a crazy story about the band’s hit song “Lightning Crashes,” and lists his top 5 most meaningful lyrics and underrated singers. Next up, Eugene and Grace reflect on Gogol Bordello's rise in 1989 in NYC, and list the best punk bands from the city. To close, Torture tells the story of how David Bowie inspired her band name and her favorite artists in the current NYC music scene.

Tune into this exciting and insightful episode of Lipps Service, learn about the artists, hear their thoughts on the upcoming live show, and get ready for LIPPS SERVICE LIVE!

We hope to see you all there – you don’t want to miss it!

CREDITS (Instagram handles)

Host @scottlipps

Edited by @toastycakes

Music by @robby_hoff

Produced by @whitakermarisa

Recorded at Melrose Podcasts NYC

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Ed Kowalczyk of LIVE

0:04:30 - Getting signed out of NYC

0:05:15 - CBGB

0:07:30 - “Lightning Crashes” story

0:10:00 - College radio

0:11:30 - Early lyrics

0:15:00 - Mixing in a defunct Playboy resort

0:17:00 - Drawing inspiration

0:20:00 - Meeting Kurt Cobain

0:22:35 - Collaborating with Peter Buck

0:24:00 - Top 5 most meaningful lyrics

0:35:45 - Top 5 criminally underrated lead singers

0:38:50 - What does this record mean to you? (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

Eugene Hütz of Gogol Bordello and Grace Bergere of Casa Gogol

0:43:13 - The Gogol collective and touring

0:43:28 - Working with Rick Rubin

0:50:24 - 1989 in NYC

0:55:00 - Early punk rock

1:02:05 - Top NYC punk bands

Torture and The Desert Spiders

1:04:52 - Band name story

1:09:00 - Beginnings in music

1:16:22 - Top 5 local rock bands

...more

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By Audio Up, Inc.

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