Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal

Surprise! All three members of Steel Pole Bath Tub for their first join media appearance in the last twenty years. All of this in service of their first SHOW in 5 years. A celebration in Houston for Emo's 30th anniversary with many other awesome bands (such as Honky with Pinkus, and Skatenigs). Plus the introduction of Noah Landis of Neurosis and Cassette Prophet as the newest adjunct SPBT. Sample maven, and curator of beautiful accidents. Revisiting the old songs and LISTENING to each other. All of this, and the exciting introduction of Dorothy Kent (formerly Darren Mor-x)

It has been a couple years since Mike Hard was on last and quite a bit has happened. Thrall is back! But David Livingstone of God Bullies has left us, as has Johnnie Johnson III. Memories of both of those great people and players. New(!) music with Mike Hard and David Livingstone that has yet to see release. As well as the story of how Thrall has gotten back together and are playing shows again Thrall, God Bullies, the Brain Saw, Hand Over Head, They Never Sleep are all available now on Bandcamp. A freeewheeling conversation that gets into the state of the world, the nature of connection and immediacy of performance, Mike Hard's book reviews and a lot, lot more.

Clinton and Danny from Mr. Phylzzz have a new one called Fat Chance, recorded at the stately Electrical Audio in Chicago. We go through a track by track of that one, as well as a lot of discussion of the very differently recorded Cancel Culture Club, the powerful advocacy of Tom Hazelmyer of Amphetamine Reptile, how Danny met Clinton, when Danny learned drums, how stand up comedy fits in with all of this and of course an upcoming tour with the mighty Melvins! All that and a whole lot more.

Randy has been rocking with his bandmate Dean in the band experimental punk group NO AGE for almost twenty years now sharing the stage with acts such as Foo Fighters, Pixies, Sonic Youth and Pavement! We go over the entire history of the band, including their pre-no age band Wives. The journey of the band, including records on Sub Pop and Drag City. Releasing a record during the pandemic, meeting Kevin Shields and J. Mascis, SP-202s and touring in the pandemic. All of that and the incredible debut of HYPHENATE with Randy Randall, a podcast focused on people who do and are good at more than one thing (polymaths!)

Durham rock band Maple Stave have a new record called ARGUMENTS and it is the first in a very, very, VERY long time. Listen to this long lived noisy/melodic/sometimes mathy rock band as they talk about bringing in Chris Rasmussen from Police Teeth and Brackets in Seattle and how that has changed the dynamic and a comprehensive breakdown of their record. Did you know Electrical Audio has a pretty good drum sound? Did you know a bunch of random "acts about Green Bay Wisconsin? Well, you can know all that and more. As we do a COMPREHENSIVE breakdown of the new record and all things Maple Stave.

The one and only Ryan Parks returns! There is some new B. Hamilton music. An ep, even! Other Lives of Magic and Wonder and Whatever, a followup to the recent I Would Give Songs Numbers Instead of Names If I could. I Can? Ok. Here I go, But Not Really. More about this ep business as well as the departure of Macy, the badass of Raj, the various lineups and records of the band and general creativity and moving forward and things like that. Nick Cave. The many moods of Fight Everything "my character" and when the next full length might actually see the light of day. Is Everything I Own is Broken a concept record? / Operation Mindcrime. Andy Shauf, etc.

The fabulous M. Martin FINALLY comes on Protonic Reversal. Mike started playing in bands pretty late in life, but came at it from a place of extreme epicurean interest as a fan. The path (and disography) of Pink City. The origin and creative path of Coordinated Suicides, a song by song breakdown of This Could be Heaven. The post-punk of Caryatids. All of that and lots, lots more!

The Pigeon Is the Most Popular Bird has a lush and fantastic reissue on LP by Sub Pop. We talk about that, as well as Severe Exposure, Paranormalized, Law of Ruins, Weapon, Machine Cuisine, Half Control, A Good Year for Hardness and lots more. The Moog Liberation (weighty!) live shows with just synth. Evocative imagery and unique album design, synth dance jams sitting next to noisy rock, It is a comprehensive discussion of all things Six Finger Satellite.

Envisioning tunic and switching from bass to guitar. The upcoming tour with the Johns of JOHN. The wild world of Winnipeg. Starting a band and being ready to play 100 shows a year. Keeping the song Disappointment interesting. Power chords, and the lack of them… Choosing what songs to play. A song by song run through of Wrong Dream and yes… the collaboration album with Bummer.

Does the band name make you think of stoner rock or DnD? That’s YOUR problem. This is tunic.

Rick Froberg was a titan, a legend. A fierce tornado of alley cat wail with an unparalleled artistic sensibility. I got into Drive Like Jehu the year after they broke up. Yank Crime changed my world. I was way too late to see it in person, but I did get to see it in person years later, first at the crazy thing with the organ in San Diego and later on the reunion tour proper. I saw Hot Snakes many times, first time around and reunion, it was told to me as follows:

“Oh, the Jehu guys have a new band that sounds a bit like The Wipers!”

Cool. I was all in. Turned out to be one of the best rock bands in the modern age, NBD!

His artistic sensibility blew me away, so much so that I hassled him for years to do album art for me/us, finally succeeding with one of my favorite album covers of anything i've done with the Art of Murder. I asked if I could make a sticker and t-shirt of it, and he said he'd rather make a unique design for it... well, that took 6 years, but we ended up with the t-shirt and sticker for The Commuter. Worth the wait.

He was just a one of a kind guy.

Despite all my personal interactions, the guy made a lot of music that was important to me and people I know, and that kind of connection matters a lot. It is important for us to remember these people. All the more so when they aren't a household name. It is on us to remember them.

We lost a very certain kind of legend with Rick Froberg and we shall not see his like again.

I'm reposting the episode of Protonic we did together along with a short-ish intro.

It begins at 11m 54s

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Rick Froberg is a fantastic vocalist, rock ‘n roll front man and a HELL of a visual artist. Join in for a very free wheeling conversation while we talk about, well… all of his various bands, as well as bootleggers, Wire, Metallica, LUAU, Jehu reunions, Hot Snakes 1st and 2nd times, Obits and so many, many other things. Come on! Rick Froberg, people!