Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal

The incredible Josh Newton hasn't been on the show for a full episode since episode 79! That's been almost 5 years. Oops! Lots has happened since then, not the least of which is Shiner recording and releasing their wonderful new record Schadenfreude. There is talk of that, the legacy and music of Shiner, some talk of Glazed Baby (RIP: Andy Newman), lots about Sie Lieben Maschinen, a touch about being a guitar tech/gear hound for a living and a few of "the hits" from last time. Such as playing with Fallout Boy in a field with a rotation stage and learning "Uptown Funk" and playing it on the BBC. It's Josh Newton, he's a delight... come on!

The incredible Josh Newton hasn’t been on the show for a full episode since episode 79! That’s been almost 5 years. Oops! Lots has happened since then, not the least of which is Shiner recording and releasing their wonderful new record Schadenfreude. There is talk of that, the legacy and music of Shiner, some talk of Glazed Baby (RIP: Andy Newman), lots about Sie Lieben Maschinen, a touch about being a guitar tech/gear hound for a living and a few of “the hits” from last time. Such as playing with Fallout Boy in a field with a rotation stage and learning “Uptown Funk” and playing it on the BBC. It’s Josh Newton, he’s a delight… come on!

JP is relentless innovator in no compromise noisy business. Well known for the mighty band The Locust (Which didn’t sound anything like Crossed Out), you also may know Retox, or Planet B, or a little group with other members of doing their thing called Dead Cross. If you don’t know that, maybe Swing Kids! The mighty 31G. Busy fella that does a lot of cool stuff. Conan and Justin talk about a lot of things, bringing the DEVO into hardcore, Kool Keith memories that may not exist, soundtracking with beats that are and are not hard enough, some formative experiences in Tijuana, Extreme Elvis, John Waters, and tons and tons more.

JP is relentless innovator in no compromise noisy business. Well known for the mighty band The Locust (Which didn't sound anything like Crossed Out), you also may know Retox, or Planned B, or a little group with other members of doing their thing called Dead Cross. If you don't know that, maybe Swing Kids! The mighty 31G. Busy fella that does a lot of cool stuff. Conan and Justin talk about a lot of things, bringing the DEVO into hardcore, Kool Keith memories that may not exist, soundtracking with beats that are and are not hard enough, some formative experiences in Tijuana, Extreme Elvis, John Waters, and tons and tons more.

Wot wot? It’s two of the fine fellows of Hey Colossus, Chris Summerlin and Joe Thompson. Dance/Curses, their THIRTEENTH record, is one of Conan’s favorites of 2020 and so a TransAtlantic quarantimes Protonic Reversal is the order of the day. THRILL to the sounds of every single song on this epic album gone over in forensic detail, DRINK every time Joe claims they won’t be playing one live, or you know… don’t. Fascinating record and band, lots of fun details and process, DIY, etc. Also, some needless (or NEEDED?) digressions into Soundgarden and mumble rap (?!?). Peace and love! Peace and love!

Well, look here! It’s SF dark and noisy rockers THE TUNNEL. Join a very special late night quarantimes edition of Protonic to hear these talented lads breakdown every track on their stellar Shapeshifter record (which appeared in the Top 20 of 2020 protonic reversal episode) as well as the Nightfall ep. Listen in to these innovative fellows speak to how they are staying creative during quarantine and where they fit in between the world of spooky death rock and grindy noisy rock. Ladies and gentlemen the hour groweth late, it is the tunnel!

#1 The Cell Phones – What You Would Do – Battery Lower

#2 Shiner – Life as a Mannequin – Schadenfreude

#3 Hum – In The Den – Inlet

#4 Reptoid – You Have Already Been Compromised – Worship False Gods

#5 Heads. – Push You Out to Sea – Push

#6 Kid Dakota – Age of Roaches – Age of Roaches

#7 Bone and Bell – Can’t – To a Cinder

#8 Coriky – Hard to Explain – Coriky

#9 New Primals – A Beast With Two Backs – Horse Girl Energy

#10 Liar, Flower – My Brain is Lit Like an Airport – Geiger Counter

#11 Mint Mile – Shy – Ambertron

#12 Exhalants – Richard – Atonement

#13 The Tunnel – Punisher – Shape Shifter

#14 We Versus The Shark – I Am Never Going Home for Chrismas Again – Goodbye, Guitar

#15 Dead – Remorse – Raving Drooling

#16 Waxeater – I Love Your Body, Larry – Extra Medium

#17 Mrs. Piss – Downer Surrounded by Uppers – Mrs. Piss

#18 Mr. Dude – USA Get Off My Dick – Killed by Life

#19 Erratic Retaliator Strategy – Daggers – Instructions

#20 Hey Colossus – Donkey Jaw- Dances/Cures

It’s Birdstuff of MOAM? A noted raconteur and very funny man, oh yeah and a hell of a drummer! He runs a venue called the Saturn that “rips off” things he likes from other venues during years of touring. (A million dollar PA system costs a million dollars, and being nice is free). There is talk of aliases, and being inspired by dislike. Sending out postcards to fans, touring the world playing music that isn’t exactly HARD SURF, while maintaining a longtime pre-social network connection with highly engaged fans. Reminding Joel Hodgson of the words to the MST3K theme song live, usage of samples to differentiate the songs and tune and stuff. Estrus to Touch and Go and getting darker in the process. Also hear about SERVOTRON playing with Dave Pirner. Starcrunch, Birdstuff and Steve Albini sharing a bed heated by TV dinners (oh yeah, and recording with him too) and sooooo much more. IT’S GO TIME!

Eddie and Conan go way back, all the way to Eddie’s late-90s, early 2000s “noise-rock band” Leopold. Plenty to talk about just with that, but he’s also a member of the reunited Distorted Pony(!). A much missed band from the halcyon days of weird music, and a band he was an unabashed fan of. How does one approach playing in one of your favorite bands and what does that look like? From tone to space, to practices with one member in a different state, european tours and everything in between, to being ready to ramp back up in 2020 and pump the brakes because of COVID. Get an insider’s look at this very specific set of parameters in cool noisy music with Eddie Rivas.

It has been awhile since the enigmatic Darren Jackson (AKA: Kid Dakota) has been on Protonic Reversal. Last time was right after the reissue of So Pretty on vinyl, and before the sadly overlooked Denervation. This time it is a brand new record for 2020 (or at least a few weeks of it) Age of Roaches! We get into a song by song breakdown, as well as why some of this record has been kicking around for 14 years (!). Darren shares his process for working on the record and managing a day job teaching music, talk of dark lyrics, pastoral fetishism, and why is it that it might be inconvenient to the legend of Kid Dakota that he has continued making records. And in-depth look at an artist somehow shrouded in mystery and hiding in plain site.