Went backstage at Riot Fest in Chicago to catch up and talk old school punk rock with the bassist of Chicago based punk band, Joe Principe of Rise Against.

So my own band Hot Carl opened up for New Years Day. After we both had played I had to take advantage and have a quick backstage conversation with lead singer Ash Costello. We talked of course about their new album Unbreakable, their new song "Come For Me," Our love for Pantera and metal.

Follow Ash and New Years Day @ashcostello @nydrock

You may not know the name Dave Jackson off the top of your head, but you have definitely seen his photographs. He's worked with a ton of Eleven Seven Record's artists like Five Finger Death Punch, Steel Panther and Bad Wolves. He's also the lead photographer at the festival we host every year Rock USA. From his start as part time rock music blogger and amateur photographer at the turn of the 2000's to now owning his own studio 'Jackson & Co.' and photographing some of rock and pop cultures biggest stars. Dave Jackson walks us through his story and goes throw some his favorite photos (and my favorite photos that he's done) in the world of rock music.

Check out is work at www.davidejackson.com
Follow him on all socials @davidejackson

Zach Myers is of course the guitarist for Shinedown, but is also the Myers of the Americana rock band Allen, Mack. Myers and Moore. Three of the four of them (minus Allen) stopped by the studio before soundcheck at the Green Bay Distillery. We talked a little Shinedown but told a lot of stories and shared some laughs.

This conversation happened live on Razor 94.7/104.7 and you are hearing it as it aired with the music and commercials taken out.

On my daily show on the radio station in Wisconsin, Razor 94.7/104.7, I sometimes will have bands takeover parts of the show when they swing by. Crobot did exactly that on Thursday August 28th. What happened on air live was to good not to share here. They played two songs acoustic including "Burn" and their latest single "Lowlife," both of which can be heard on this episode of the Rockcast. We told stories, we had laughs and they got to play whatever music they wanted to for the better part of an hour. Due to legal reasons I had to take the actual music out for the podcast, but again we did leave in the acoustic performances. So a very special episode of the Rockcast with Crobot.

'Motherbrain' is the name of Crobot's 3rd album which available everywhere now.

Kaytie and I both met Starset early on in their career and have been able to watch the rise since the initial Transmission "My Demons." Now getting set to release their third album entitled 'Divisions' on September 13th the whole narrative of this visual and music experience that is Starset is brand new. Dustin Bates is the lead singer and creative mind behind the name. After a quick re-schedule we were able to catch up with Dustin so we could dig into everything Starset and 'Divisions.'

Kaytie and I got out on the 'Celebration of Life for Vinnie Paul' tour that of course featured Hellyeah! It also featured a direct support set from our old friends in Nonpoint. It's been too long since we've sat down with full band to talk. So we did, and we discussed music, the industry, life, touring, and of course the influence of the one and only Vinnie Paul.

*note* Since the recording of this episode it has been announced that guitarist BC Kochmit will be leaving the band to spend more time with his family.

From opening for Metallica, to a deluxe edition of 'Prequelle' with a couple of new songs, to touring arenas on the "Ultimate Tour Named Death" this fall. There's a lot to catch up on with the mastermind behind Ghost. We have Ghost for the Rockcast and now we have everything.

The tour manager, the roadie, the guitar tech, the drum tech, the manager, the promotion rep, the public relations rep, these are the true heroes of the music industry. Without any of these fine men and women that work behind the scenes all of our favorite bands may not exist.

Kaytie and I caught up with Disturbed guitarist Dan Donegan backstage before their headlining performance in what had turned into a giant mud bath with 30,000 friends at Rock USA. Specifically we wanted to talk about the work they have been doing with mental health and the song "A Reason To Fight."