Caught on the Mike...

In this episode of Caught On The Mike, I sit down with Jason DeVore, frontman of Arizona punk rock veterans Authority Zero, for a conversation about music, creativity, life on the road, and what it takes to keep moving forward after more than three decades in the music industry.

We dig into Authority Zero’s unique blend of punk rock, reggae, and other influences, the band's evolution over the years, and the experiences that have shaped Jason as both a musician and a person. We also get into the inspiration behind the band's latest single, “Apocalyptic Summer,” a darkly satirical look at a world seemingly coming apart at the seams while one person refuses to let chaos steal his ability to live.

Jason shares the story behind Authority Zero's new dub remixes, featuring Ted Bowne of Passafire and Wayne Lothian of The English Beat, and the band's decision to invite musicians and producers to download the song's stems and create their own human-made interpretations. We talk about the importance of creativity, collaboration, and preserving the human element of making music in an increasingly technology-driven world.

We also explore how the music industry has changed, the realities of building a lasting career, the connection between a band and its audience, and what continues to motivate Jason after all these years. With Authority Zero bringing the Apocalyptour 2026 through Omaha on November 5, this conversation is a reminder that great music is about more than the songs themselves. It's about the people, experiences, and connections that make them matter.

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Some records entertain us. Others find us at exactly the right moment and become part of our story. My conversation with Dustin Kensrue, frontman and songwriter of Thrice, was one of those full-circle moments.

Dustin’s 2007 solo album Please Come Home became the soundtrack to a pivotal chapter of my life, and his song “Pistol” holds a special place in my personal history as the song one my best friend's (Corey) chose for his first dance with his wife at their wedding. Getting to sit down with Dustin and talk about the music, the memories, and the stories behind the songs made this conversation particularly meaningful to me.

At the center of our conversation is Dustin’s brand-new solo album, That Spirit of Christmas, released October 23 via BMG. We explore the inspiration behind the record, his soulful approach to holiday classics, the balance between honoring familiar traditions and making them his own, and the creative process behind original songs like “Joy Lives Here.”

We also dive into the story behind “This Good Night Is Still Everywhere,” revisiting a song first released nearly two decades ago and reimagining it with the emotional depth Dustin always envisioned. Along the way, we discuss his evolution as a solo artist, the creative journey of Thrice, the challenge of continuing to grow after decades of making music, and the lasting connection between artists and the people who find pieces of their own lives in their work.

For me, this conversation is ultimately about the power of music to connect us across different seasons of life. The songs we return to become tied to people, places, memories, and moments that never really leave us. That is part of what makes Dustin’s music so enduring, and why this conversation meant so much to me.

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I caught Spike and the Gimme Gimmes at Fiddler’s Green back in August, and now I’m sitting down with frontman Spike Slawson for a conversation about one of punk rock’s most entertaining and unpredictable bands.

With their new album, Shit the Bed, arriving October 23 via Fat Wreck Chords, there’s plenty to talk about. We get into the band’s latest collection of covers, including their take on “Kokomo,” the creative challenges of reimagining familiar songs, and the philosophy behind turning everything from pop anthems to country classics into something unmistakably Gimme Gimmes.

We also talk about the band’s current lineup, the chemistry that makes their live shows so much fun, and their upcoming “Merry Sh*tmas” holiday tour. Along the way, Spike shares stories from his journey through the punk scene, his early days working at Fat Wreck Chords, and what continues to make this project exciting after decades of doing things their own way.

The Gimme Gimmes have built a career on taking songs we all know and turning them completely upside down. Getting to hear the stories and creative thinking behind that process made this conversation especially fun.

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In this episode, I sat down with Jaret Reddick of Bowling For Soup for what was easily one of my favorite conversations in all my years doing Caught On The Mike. With more than three decades of music, touring, and a career that has made Bowling For Soup one of the most recognizable names in pop punk, Jaret has a unique perspective on what it takes to keep a band going, stay creatively motivated, and evolve without losing the personality that got you here in the first place.

We dug into the mechanics of being in a band, the realities of the creative process, navigating social media, and how our relationship with time has changed in an internet-driven world where everything moves at lightning speed. We also got into the upcoming project Alexa Bliss has been teasing, along with our mutual admiration for Alexa and her husband, Ryan Cabrera.

What I enjoyed most about this conversation was getting beyond the familiar stories, the hit songs, and the public persona to talk about the bigger picture: creativity, longevity, connection, and what it means to keep doing something you love in a world that never seems to slow down. Jaret brought plenty of humor, honesty, and perspective to the table, making this one of those conversations that reminded me exactly why I started Caught On The Mike in the first place.

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Content Disclaimer: This episode includes heartfelt discussions of death, grief, traumatic loss, and navigating life after losing a loved one. Listener discretion is advised.

On this episode of Caught On The Mike, I sit down with singer-songwriter Andy Gruhin to explore the deeply personal story behind his debut album, Hannah.

Written in the aftermath of losing his wife six months after the birth of their son, Hannah is more than a collection of songs about loss. It's an honest look at what happens after life changes forever and the complicated process of learning to live, love, and find joy again.

Andy opens up about the inspiration behind “Bobby,” his heartfelt ode to his son featuring Alejandro Aranda (American Idol, Scarypoolparty), and how fatherhood has shaped his perspective on grief, memory, and the future. We also explore the emotional weight of “Fear of Flying,” the vulnerability behind “PTSD,” and the role songwriting played in processing experiences that words alone can struggle to explain.

We get into the intersection of classic songwriting, alternative rock, and modern emo, along with the challenges of inviting other artists into such personal material. Hannah features collaborations with Alejandro Aranda, Underoath's Aaron Gillespie, Arnie Woods, and Elijah Gibb, bringing additional dimensions to an already deeply personal record.

What stood out to me throughout this conversation is Andy's willingness to talk about grief without pretending it comes with easy answers. We discuss the things we carry, the people who shape us, and the possibility of moving forward without leaving love behind. It's a conversation about vulnerability, fatherhood, healing, and learning to embrace the life that remains, even when that life looks nothing like the one we imagined.

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In this episode, I sat down with Anastasia Grace Haunt and Maxamillion “Max” Haunt of The Haunt to talk about a journey that began when they were kids making music together and has grown into an internationally touring alt-rock duo with a rapidly expanding global audience.

We talked about what it was like growing up in music, playing shows and touring at such a young age, and the moment they began to realize The Haunt was becoming more than just a project between siblings. We also dug into the evolution of their sound, the importance of staying true to their creative instincts, and the vulnerability that has always been at the heart of their songwriting.

From there, we got into New Addiction and how the experiences behind that record helped shape the band they are today. We also talked about their upcoming sophomore album Ghost, the darker and more cinematic direction of the new record, and the creative process behind bringing these songs to life.

Anastasia and Max also opened up about their new single “Seasonal Depression,” the emotion behind the song, and how they balance deeply personal subject matter with a sound that continues to grow heavier and more expansive.

With Ghost arriving October 30 via Nettwerk and The Ghost Tour bringing The Haunt to The Waiting Room in Omaha on October 13, this conversation gave me the opportunity to look beyond the music and talk about the people, experiences and creative evolution behind one of alt-rock's most intriguing sibling duos.

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I’m honored to welcome Russ Rankin to Caught On The Mike.

As the longtime frontman of Good Riddance, Russ has spent decades creating music rooted in urgency, conviction, and an unmistakable punk rock spirit. But this conversation is about where he is right now. With Good Riddance releasing Before The World Caves In earlier this year and Russ now releasing his new solo EP, A Season In Hell, there’s a lot happening creatively.

We talk about the freedom of creating outside of Good Riddance, the personal themes behind songs like “What Brand Of Hell,” and his decision to transform The Records’ “Starry Eyes” into a heavier, faster version that carries his hardcore DNA. We also get into songwriting, poetry, finding inspiration in unexpected places, and what continues to push Russ forward after more than three decades of making music.

Getting the opportunity to have this conversation with someone whose music has meant so much to so many people was genuinely an honor.

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In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker, screenwriter and former Sunset Strip rocker Craig A. Williams, co-director of If These Walls Could Rock, the documentary exploring the legendary Sunset Marquis and its six decades at the center of rock ’n’ roll history.

Craig’s connection to the Marquis goes back more than a decade, when he was first brought in to tell the story of the iconic West Hollywood hotel. What he discovered was far more than a collection of wild rock-star stories. The Sunset Marquis became a rare sanctuary where artists could escape the spotlight, create, connect and simply be themselves.

We get into how a relatively hidden hotel became part of the stories of Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Slash, Dave Grohl, Cyndi Lauper, Sheryl Crow, Morrissey and countless other artists. We also talk about the challenge of separating rock ’n’ roll mythology from the stories that could actually be documented, some of the unbelievable moments that didn't make the final film, and what Craig learned from spending years surrounded by this incredible history.

But at the heart of If These Walls Could Rock is an unexpected story about family. We talk about founder George Rosenthal and his son Mark, whose complicated relationship ultimately became an important part of the hotel's story and gives the documentary an emotional center beyond the sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll.

Craig also shares what it was like to return to a place he once dreamed about as a teenage musician on the Sunset Strip and ultimately become one of the people responsible for telling its story.

If These Walls Could Rock is ultimately about much more than a hotel. It’s about music, creativity, community, privacy, legacy and the places that become part of our stories.

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In this episode of Caught On The Mike, I’m talking with sFox, the multi-instrumentalist and producer behind the mysterious creative project MASKS.

MASKS recently released its debut EP, First Life, a five-track introduction to a much larger universe that extends beyond music into graphic novels, visual storytelling and online content. sFox uses the literal mask as an “ego hack,” creating distance between the artist and the work so the music can exist without the distractions that often come with identity and expectation.

We talk about the philosophy behind MASKS, the influence of artists like Peter Gabriel, The Blue Nile and Doves, the idea of music being something to inhabit rather than simply understand, and the creative process behind “Every Little Light,” the final song to arrive for First Life.

This is a conversation about anonymity, ego, storytelling, world-building and what happens when an artist chooses to let the art speak before the artist does.

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In this episode of Caught On The Mike, I sit down with Stand Atlantic for a conversation about their evolution, finding their identity after more than a decade together, and the freedom that comes with finally being comfortable with who you are.

We talk about the band's new era, the decision to embrace happiness and genuine connection in their songwriting, and the raw, live approach they took while making their upcoming fifth album, GODBREATH.

Stand Atlantic released their latest single, “NEXT2U,” on September 25. The song puts a different spin on the traditional love song, focusing on chosen family, friendship, homesickness, and the people who make you feel at home when you're away. “NEXT2U” is the final single ahead of GODBREATH, which arrives October 23 via Virgin Music Group.

We also talk about longevity versus chasing viral moments, staying authentic in an increasingly processed music landscape, and what the next chapter looks like for a band that has already built a global audience with more than 500 million streams and tours alongside artists including A Day To Remember, I Prevail, Simple Plan, Story of the Year and Silverstein.

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