To celebrate their recently released fourth studio album, "Shapes Unravel", we're re-releasing our 2024 conversation with Portland mystics Abronia! Eric from the band talks feeling like your inspirations, bands that would have gotten worse, biographies, D&D, psychedelics, practicing for your future, and partial bottom nudity. Rippin' music from this episode includes Abronia, Step Into The Kitchen, Ak’chamel, and M.Aundre. 

Portland MC Mat Randol believes in the challenges of hip hop: to grow and evolve, to live at the edge of his comfort zone, to tell the truth, and to find the joy. On the mic he's dexterous, dynamic, and confessional...but he also wouldn't say no to a few choice sips in the studio. His 2026 is scheduled to be a non-stop banger of releases, collaborations, and live music. Plus, he's a great hang, as you'll hear in this episode. He stopped by to discuss the timely feedback that altered the direction of his musical approach, building the experiences that add up to an artist, and keeping his core themes fresh. And he drops some WORLD PREMIERES on us! 

Music this week:

• "Randy's Song" by Mat Randol (16:39)
• "Lee Me Be" by Keys Open Doors ft. M.D (29:43)
• "Since You've Been Gone" by Mat Randol (43:11)
• "Hopscotch" by Mat Randol ft. Zavy and Saige Wolley (62:39)
• "Oregon Coast" by Sweeps, luv pug (80:39)

Night Heron is sexy, smokey, smoldering, sartorial (insert favorite 'S' superlative) Portland lush-pop nurtured to life by frontman and guitarist Cameron Spies—along with a murderer's row of musicians from the vanguard of Portland music. Cameron joined the fellas this week to chat on finding freedom within a defined sonic palette, the producer's ear vs. the creator's ear, wound packing (pro or con?), KEXP gratitude, Boss horniness, and the authorial voice of High Times. Plus killer music!

Music this week:

• "Stronger Than Me" by Night Heron (23:01)
• "LEECHES (PLAY DEAD)" by Suzie True (43:24)
• "Arrival" by Night Heron (52:48)
• "Get Me" by Seance Crasher (68:05)
• "Si Te Vas" by Sotomayor (88:44)

In honor of their freshly dropped single "You Guys Wanna Eat Some More Mushrooms?" we're replaying our delightful conversation with the instrumental prog/post rock trio, Childspeak! We get into the freedom of writing music without vocals, the abstract codes of songwriting, conquering hiccups, how ridiculous genre is, and Andy digs his heels back into anti-marketing. Cherish the memories in this one, then go buy the new Childspeak single!

Music this week:

• "Turn That Down... ...I Already Did" by Childspeak (13:12)
• "Like Cattle" by Unspeakable Carnage (32:17)
• "Whittle" by Helens (41:32)
• "Shame Bats" by Childspeak (53:28)
• "Ned Schneeblee" by The Burning Peppermints (70:48)

Stand-up comedian Andrea Menchaca is a newly minted member of Portland's Funniest Five and has been building momentum since she began at open mics almost six years ago. We talk about her trajectory, her upcoming comedy special at Milagro and the grant that made it possible, finding the joke with TikTok feedback, butter surcharges for bulk popcorn receptacles, separating your Avatar sex from your Avatar gardening, the bloodsport of comedy competition, and the unanswerable "why???" of still doing d*ck jokes. 

Music this week:

• "Bakar" by Nusantara Beat (26:52)
• "Ain't Nice" by Cassie Watson Francillon ft. Aquiles Navarro (47:51)
• "Bootlicker" by Pegzilla (1:12:32)
• "Freak Out" by Wife Support (1:34:14)

Perfect Buzz is rock 'n roll that looks good in a leather jacket: brash enough to don one in the first place, yet self-possessed and comfortable-in-their-own-skin enough to pull it off without seeming ridiculous. It's that precise balance (along with a finely calibrated combo of riffage, sneer, and melody) that shines through on their brand-new EP "Happy Trails". This week, Patrick Buzz joins the fellas to discuss that new collection of tunes; the art of dank ranking; how to balance a brain full of songs with the finite dosage of a record; the day-to-day joys of zoo-based misinformation; and the haunting power of stage face. 

Music This Week:

• "Gonna Make U Sweat" by Perfect Buzz (17:02)
• "MB" by Dry Socket (29:59)
• "Here Come the Cowgirls" by Perfect Buzz (50:41)
• "Melissa V" by Megaphonies (67:04)
• "Melt Cops" by Carney Cumm (82:48)

Dadweed is an acoustic amalgam; built around the bluegrass staples of stand-up bass, beautiful harmonies, and ample grinning, they also mix in a zesty swirl of pop, country, rock, and even jazz. The trio joined the show this week and graced us with a LIVE, IN-STUDIO PERFORMANCE. We also chat about the kismet of "School of Rock" and the Pokemon theme; the art (and science) of kicking sh*t; the universality of melancholy; the guiding light of melody; and Bigfoot encounters with cryptid cuties. 

Music this week:

• "Better" by Dadweed (22:09)
• "Some Time to Be Alone" by Dadweed (43:49)
• "Nothing in This World Could Make Me Crazier" by Dadweed (65:59)
• "Awful Mangulation" by Depravity (101:39)

Bagweed music follows in the footsteps of eclectic, sonically diverse, pop-forward artists like Beck: he combines sounds, styles, and textures that hew toward synthesis and smoothness rather than dissonance. We discuss his brand-new collection of songs, "Thank You for Remaining Still", which dropped just last week and is currently available for purchase. That cleared plenty of room for a healthy dialogue on the differences between vom and regurge; the art of getting in and out of a song on time; pushing the human limits of food expiration dates; and the expanding joys of songwriting as his skill and knowledge grow.  

Music this week:

• "Thank You for Remaining Still" by Bagweed (21:16)
• "Vodka Butterfly" by Ghost Bath (44:43)
• "Carmen Sandiego" by Bagweed (61:35)
• "Waitin' Around" by Custodians (77:19)
• "Break a Leg" by Black Eyes (94:13)

Punk chaos agents Happy Death Men bring a joyous intensity to must-see live shows that occasionally end in vomit. Sam, Cash, and Javi joined the show to discuss bottling that rawness on their records—as they do with aplomb on their 2025 self-titled release. We chat about nut-heavy subreddits, opening for Jack White, what makes for a healthy music scene, Batman's adult diaper play, and the intrinsic appeal of their music to Wine Moms.  

Music this week:

• "Dancing with the Lights Off" by Happy Death Men (12:32)
• "Mass Village Angst"  by Volk Soup (27:55)
• "Cops in the Attack" by Happy Death Men (42:49)
• "Death Rides a Horse" by Keddies Resort (65:58)
• "Trash On Fire" by Sweepers (79:34)

This week we talked to Jordan Casner. Jordan is a comedian and Portland's reining funniest person. We talk about comedy when the internet exists, the gauntlet of winning Portland's Funniest Person, live albums, and cool uncles. Music this week from Bela Blaq, Kling Klang, Nikki Nair & Uffie, and Split System.