Left of the Dial

Franz Nicolay has maybe the longest and most varied resume of any Left of the Dial guest. You likely know him best from his work with The Hold Steady and World/Inferno Friendship Society, and of course, his own solo work. He’s also a novelist, travel writer, journalist, professor, and just an all around brilliant and thoughtful person. This week, he joins Andrea and our on-call substitute co-host Doug Keller to talk about so many things, including the long and winding process of making an album, writing fake songs for books, the art of the bridge, the necessity of revision, crying over Randy Newman, and, of course, Stephen Sondheim.

He's also here to talk about his beautiful new album, New River, out today, (Nov 11th) on Don Giovanni Records (digital or vinyl).

Catch Franz live this month:

Nov 18 - Bar Freda, Queens NY

Nov 19 - Quarry House Tavern, Silver Spring MD

Nov 30 - Brooklyn Bowl, NYC

Follow Franz Nicolay on Twitter and Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

"Where Is My Wandering Boy Tonight"

Endless Possibility: A Tribute to Jack Terricloth

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photo: Tim Davis

The high holy days are upon us, so you know what the means! We've made our way south to Gainesville for Fest (the 20th one!). Before we left, we put together a little list of bands you should absolutely be checking out if you're also at Fest this weekend. And if you aren't at Fest this weekend, you should still check them out because they're all great.

Whether you're going or not, now is a great time to make sure you're subscribed to our YouTube page because we're coming back with a ton of Fest20 footage for watching and listening pleasure.

Featured in this Festisode:

"Amphetamine Delight" & "Sneaky Feelings" - Catfite (AKA Catbite)

Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter

"Dog Song" - Sweet Pill

Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter

"Old Friend" - Worriers

Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter

"Welcome to (Amish) Paradise" - Jonah Ray

Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter

"Dear You" - Maggie Gently

Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter

"Weird Florida" - Camp Trash

Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter

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Once again, we find ourselves positively overwhelmed with a ton of new music, and Jenn and Andrea are here to share some of it with you.

From Today's Episode:

Hit Like a Girl - "Dismay"

Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram | No More Dysphoria

Superdestroyer - "FKA Still Chill"

Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram

The Lower Aetna - "Qanon Mom"

Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram

The Bobby Lees - "Bellevue"

Bandcamp | Instagram

Spring Silver - "I Saw Violence"

Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram

Do you want to write about music? You should consider writing for us!

We're looking for folks to write album reviews and personal essays about ways you've connected with music. Send our Editor-in-Chief an email with some writing samples and/or pitches at [email protected].

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We were so lucky to get to sit down with No Earbuds founder, Jamie Coletta. If you're unfamiliar with Jamie/No Earbuds, (impossible if you listen to our show), they're a wholly unique marketing/publicity/management/A&R/PR company and probably responsible, in one way or another, for introducing you to half of your favorite bands. They're one of those people who you can tell just absolutely loves music and helping spread the word on the bands and artists they love. Definitely a kindred spirit with the Left of the Dial crew. Jamie talks about John-Allison Weiss getting to make their new album the way they wanted, listening to The Wonder Years new masterpiece The Hum Goes on Forever in the studio with the band, what it means to sound like you're from Wilkes-Barre, and so much more! And hey, it's Bandcamp Friday. Why not pick up the songs you hear in today's episode and show these bands you love them!

Check out No Earbuds. Follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

Follow Jamie on Twitter.

From Today’s Episode:

"Different Now" - John-Allison Weiss

Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram | Patreon

“Casual Intimacy” – Fantasy Camp

Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram

“Low Tide” – The Wonder Years

Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram

“Live from the UFO” – Origami Angel

Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram

“Talk Too Much” – Pool Kids 

Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram

“One of a Million” – Softcult

Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram

Check out the sweet, funny, beautiful video for Caracara's "Harsh Light"

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And on a complete sidenote: If you’re listening to this on Friday 10/06 when the episode drops, and you’re in Madison, Milwaukee, or Chicago, come out to see Chris Gethard live. Every night is two shows– a live Beautiful/Anonymous podcast taping followed by his new standup hour which is really so damn good. Tickets at chrisgeth.com. If you see Andrea running around, say hi.

Chico Romano is the new-ish project from Rob Romano, a Jersey-based musician who you might also know as the frontperson for Professor Caveman. You should already be familiar with Chico Romano, whose most recent single, the upbeat and effervescent “UR My Best Friend” we covered earlier this month. His upcoming EP Vol.5 is due out October 7th, and it’s as eclectic and inventive as anything you’ve heard from his previous project. Rob joins Andrea on Left of the Dial this week to share some of his own music as well as a handful of songs from musicians he’s connected with and to in a variety of ways.

If you're listening in the Philly area, make sure you come out to Chio Romano's show on October 6th at the Ukie Club. You can get tickets now!

From Today's Episode:

"UR My Best Friend" / "Who Said" - Chico Romano

Bandcamp | Video | Linktree | Instagram

"Woof Woof" - Arthur

Bandcamp | Everything Else

"Tired Hands" - klark sound

Bandcamp | Linktree | Instagram

"Lucy" - Goodfight

Bandcamp | Video | Instagram

"Serpentine Carcass Crux Birth" - Godcaster 

Bandcamp | AudioTree version | Linktree | Instagram

"The Heat" - Surface to Air Missive

Bandcamp | Instagram

"Tighten Up" - Archie Bell and the Drells

Website | Video

"Queen Chimera Pt. 1" - Jon Bap

Bandcamp | Video

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It's been a minute since Andrea and Kitzy sat down to share some new music, so that's what we're doing this week. Andrea picked eight songs that were released this summer and told Kitzy next to nothing before hitting record, so you're getting Kitzy's first impressions of a bunch of songs. Will they all be hits? You'll have to listen to find out!*

*No you won't. They're all hits. These are all great songs. Go support all these artists by picking up their music, favoriting them on your preferred streaming platform, and following them on Twitter and/or Instagram. Links to all of the above, below.

Franz Nicolay - "New River, Spring for Me"

Pre-order and pre-save New River, out November 11th via Don Giovanni Records

Watch the delightfully charming video.

Bandcamp

Twitter

Instagram

Boon - "Candle"

Bandcamp

Twitter

Instagram

Honey Revenge - "Ride"

Watch the sunny, feel-good video.

Listen

Twitter

Instagram

Future Teens - "Team Sports" 

Pre-order Self Help, out September 23rd on Triple Crown

Video

Bandcamp

Twitter

Instagram

Razor Braids - "Megachurch"

Bandcamp

Twitter

Instagram

Lemondrop - "Saturday Night"

Bandcamp

Twitter

Instagram

LOBSTERBOMB - "Starting Over"

Watch the ridiculously fun video.

Bandcamp

Twitter

Instagram

Pollyanna - "Smile"

Bandcamp

Twitter

Instagram

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Pacey sing song?

Andrea's guest co-host is a dear member of the Left of the Dial cinematic universe: Doug Keller. Doug is the titular Doug Keller of Doug Keller and the Dubbed Subs. You also know Doug from his band Duke Maroon, which we’ve covered here on the podcast and over on the blog. Doug’s band Riverby played our first ever Left of the Dial live session, and his band The Tisburys played one shortly after that. The Tisburys are also responsible for the cover of The Replacements’ “Left of the Dial” that they recorded for us to use as our theme song. Their album Exile on Main Street is out September 16th, the same day they play WXPN's Xponential Fest. Today, we’ve got a real hometown show on our hands because Doug’s brought a ton of killer Philly music to share with us.

Follow Doug on Twitter.

Hire Duke Maroon to play your wedding.

Songs Featured:

"Hurt Starting Over" - The Describers

"Peaches and Cream" - Best Bear

"Annie Always" - Grocer

"Off the Shelf" - Andrew Huston (also referenced: Cart Sessions)

"Off With Yr Head" - Riverby

"Mist of the Teal Mara" - The Lunar Year

"inquisitors" - Comprador

"Movie Night" - Full Bush

"Language of Luxury" - The Tisburys

"Conquer" - Teethcutter

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It's a South Jersey extravaganza over here as Andrea and our Left of the Dial Editor-in-Chief/sometimes co-host Jenn Coulter welcome Jersey Pop-punk royalty Zac Ross to the show. He's here to share some of his favorite songs and talk about his new project Zachary Ross & The Divine. Their debut EP, Rebuilding Heaven, is due out September 9th via Smartpunk Records, but you can check out "Push Start" and "A Light Over Massachusetts" now.

Follow Zac Ross on Twitter and Instagram

Kitzy's back from wherever they were, just in time to join us for a really fun episode with the very cool and very talented Boy Jr.

Boy Jr. is the solo songwriting and production project of Erica Allen-Lubman, who folks might already know from their absolutely delightful musical contributions to the Internet in general, but they’re here today in particular to talk about their debut album, Pay Attention to Meee. We’re big fans of the album over here. You should definitely check it out.

Pick up Pay Attention to Meee. 

It ain't easy bein' green. Check out the video for "Chartreuse".

Listen to "Restless" by Aiko, ft. Boy Jr.

Follow Boy Jr. on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

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Katie Hackett is a ridiculously talented and wholly original artist from right here in Philadelphia. Fans of our live sessions will know Katie from one of our favorites, where she debuted an entire set of new music from her incredible band The Lunar Year. She’s also been working behind the scenes with us on some of our live sessions. AND you can hear her singing with the Tisburys in our theme song! Today though, Katie is here to tell us about Sweet Juice Summer Fest, which is happening this Sunday, July 31st, here in Philly at Rigby Mansion.

Sweet Juice is a queer feminist musical festival full of women and nonbinary musicians. Katie’s come by to tell us all about the festival and share some music from the musicians you'll be lucky enough to see if you make it out to the fest this Sunday. And you absolutely should. It's going to be amazing.

Sweet Juice Summer Fest is THIS SUNDAY. Get your tickets now.

Follow Sweet Juice Fest on Twitter and Instragram.

Music:

Popcorn Daddy - @subtle_troll, @shona_v

Popcorn Daddy is a new band, so we can't share anything with you. While we wait for music from them, check out Melina of Popcorn Daddy's incredible band Rosemeat, starting with "Thought So."

emospacebird - @emospacebird

"i guess that's the joke"

Reese Florence - @howdyimflorence

"Rama"

The Lunar Year - @thelunaryearofficial

"How It Gets In" Frightened Rabbit cover

justmadnice - @justmadnice

"Resolution"

Sug Daniels - @sugdaniels_

"Golden"