Christopher Baio is best known for being the bassist for the New York City-based indie rock band Vampire Weekend. But a few years ago, he started a solo project under the stage name Baio. I met Chris backstage at the Biltmore while his mouth was full of delicious humus. The Biltmore was too loud and outside was too rainy, so we ended up standing in the doorway at the top of a long set of stairs that ended at rush hour Kingsway--this is why you can hear both traffic and the echoes from the long hallway while we chat.

What is Chris’ favorite Vampire Weekend song? Who is his favorite hockey player? What was it like going from bassist to producer? Which one of his songs does he describe as a “blackout bender?” How does he decide when a song is done? Which song is inspired by Don Delillo, the author of the 1985 American classic novel White Noise? How did a visit to London’s Tate Modern Museum and a Robert Delaunay painting inspire a song? Which rookie mistake will Chris never make again? Which side project by another established musician does Chris especially admire? You’ll have to listen to find out.

Tracks played on the podcast edition of the show…

1) BAIO, The Names (2015) “Sister of Pearl”

2) Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City (2013) “Ya Hey”

3) BAIO, Sunburn EP (2012), “Modern Sunburn”

4) BAIO, The Names (2015) “The Names”

5) BAIO, The Names (2015) “Endless Rhythm”

6) BAIO, The Names (2015) “Scarlett”

NO songs CANCON

You might know post-punk band Preoccupations under the band's old band name Viet Cong. After the original name proved problematic, the band wisely changed the name and returned with a new self-titled debut. I hung out with Matt Flegel and Scott "Monty" Munro as they downed some beers in the back of their tour van.

Why did the band need to change its name? How did they find the new band name? Which song on the new record was inspired by a lot of boxes of white wine? What happens when Monty actually listens to Matt's lyrics? Why did the band record this debut record in a few different cities? Which song on the record is really three songs in one? How did the band get Dan Boeckner from Wolf Parade/Divine Fits/Operators to guest on "Memory"? Has the band secretly formed a Black Sabbath cover band? What are Matt and Monty's favorite Black Sabbath deep cuts? Which song on the Preoccupations record has Monty not had enough time to grow to hate yet? You'll have to listen to find out!

Tracks played on the podcast edition...

1) Preoccupations, Preoccupations (2016) "Anxiety"

2) Preoccupations, Preoccupations (2016) "Degraded"

3) Preoccupations, Preoccupations (2016) "Memory"

4) Viet Cong, Viet Cong (2015) "Newspaper Spoons"

5) Preoccupations, Preoccupations (2016) "Fever"

ALL songs CANCON

You might know post-punk band Preoccupations under the band's old band name Viet Cong. After the original name proved problematic, the band wisely changed the name and returned with a new self-titled debut. I hung out with Matt Flegel and Scott "Monty" Munro as they downed some beers in the back of their tour van.

Why did the band need to change its name? How did they find the new band name? Which song on the new record was inspired by a lot of boxes of white wine? What happens when Monty actually listens to Matt's lyrics? Why did the band record this debut record in a few different cities? How did Matt get trapped in a room infested by ladybugs? Which song on the record is really three songs in one? How did the band get Dan Boeckner from Wolf Parade/Divine Fits/Operators to guest on "Memory"? Who are they most excited to visit when the go on tour? Has the band secretly formed a Black Sabbath cover band? What are Matt and Monty's favorite Black Sabbath deep cuts? Which song on the Preoccupations record has Monty not had enough time to grow to hate yet? You'll have to listen to find out!

Tracks played on the podcast edition...

1) Preoccupations, Preoccupations (2016) "Anxiety"

2) Preoccupations, Preoccupations (2016) "Degraded"

3) Preoccupations, Preoccupations (2016) "Memory"

4) Viet Cong, Viet Cong (2015) "Continental Shelf"

5) Viet Cong, Viet Cong (2015) "Newspaper Spoons"

6) Preoccupations, Preoccupations (2016) "Fever"

ALL songs CANCON

When I hung out with Minneapolis rapper and Doomtree Collective kingpin P.O.S outside Vancouver's Fortune Sound Lounge, he had just wolfed down a pork bun that he had bought in nearby Chinatown. The pork bun didn't quite agree with him and, if you listen closely, you can hear the legendary rapper's digestive system rebel against his snack as we chat.

How is P.O.S' latest record, Chill dummy, his version of Dr. Dre's The Chronic? What was it like to put out his 2012 record, We Don't Even Live Here, and not be able to tour due to heath issues? How is his heath these days? Which song from his 2004 first record, Ipecac Neat, is the only one he will perform anymore? How does he know Bon Iver's Justin Vernon? What was it like to work in a strip club?

You'll have to listen to find out.

Tracks played on the show...

1) P.O.S, Chill, dummy (2017) "Lanes"

2) P.O.S, We Don't Even Live Here (2012) "Get Down" (featuring Mike Mictlan)

3) P.O.S, Chill, dummy (2017) "Faded" (featuring Justin Vernon & Lady Midnight)

4) P.O.S, Chill, dummy (2017) "Gravedigger" (featuring Angelenah)

5) P.O.S, Ipecac Neat (2004) "Duct Tape"

6) P.O.S, Chill, dummy (2017) "Born a Snake"

NO tracks CANCON

When I hung out with Minneapolis rapper and Doomtree Collective kingpin P.O.S outside Vancouver's Fortune Sound Lounge, he had just wolfed down a pork bun that he had bought in nearby Chinatown. The pork bun didn't quite agree with him and, if you listen closely, you can hear the legendary rapper's digestive system rebel against his snack as we chat.

How is P.O.S' latest record, Chill dummy, his version of Dr. Dre's The Chronic? What was it like to put out his 2012 record, We Don't Even Live Here, and not be able to tour due to heath issues? How is his heath these days? Which song from his 2004 first record, Ipecac Neat, is the only one he will perform anymore? How does he know Bon Iver's Justin Vernon? What was it like to work in a strip club?

You'll have to listen to find out.

Tracks played on the show...

1) P.O.S, Chill, dummy (2017) "Lanes"

2) P.O.S, We Don't Even Live Here (2012) "Get Down" (featuring Mike Mictlan)

3) P.O.S, Chill, dummy (2017) "Faded" (featuring Justin Vernon & Lady Midnight)

4) P.O.S, Chill, dummy (2017) "Gravedigger" (featuring Angelenah)

5) P.O.S, Ipecac Neat (2004) "Duct Tape"

6) P.O.S, Chill, dummy (2017) "Born a Snake"

NO tracks CANCON

New York/Vancouver indie dance act Bob Moses is a duo: Tom Howie and Jimmy Vallance. Although they went to the same high school in hometown Vancouver, back then they didn't really hang out together. After graduating, they both separately went to New York to start a music career. New York is a tough place to make it and both of them struggled. Then one day, Howie and Vallance accidentally ran into each other and decided to work on music together. Bob Moses was born!

I chatted with a very tired but friendly Tom and Jimmy in a swank Vancouver hotel Business Centre while the guys waited for their hotel rooms to be ready. (I think they were ready for a pre-show nap.)

Which member of Bob Moses walked out of an orgy? Which Bob Moses track samples an obscure bangra song? What dark secrets do Jimmy and Tom know about each other that not even their girlfriends know? Who showed Bob Moses the Bobby Bland track they eventually covered? What metal bands are the two of them banging their heads to in the studio (when they need a break from electronic music)? How did Tom and Jimmy react when VICE said they sounded like "a tranqued Chris Martin" (from Coldplay)? Why do Jimmy and Tom sometimes hate on rapper G-Eazy? You'll have to listen to find out!

Tracks played on the show...

1) Bob Moses, Days Gone By (2015) "Tearing Me Up"

2) Bob Moses, Days Gone By (2015) "Talk"

3) Bob Moses, First to Cry EP (2014) "I Ain't Gonna Be the First to Cry" (Bobby Bland cover) **

4) Bob Moses, Days Gone By: Never Enough Edition (2016) "Before I Fall" (acoustic version)

5) Bob Moses, Days Gone By (2015) "Touch and Go"

All songs CANCON, except **

New York/Vancouver indie dance act Bob Moses is a duo: Tom Howie and Jimmy Vallance. Although they went to the same high school in hometown Vancouver, back then they didn't really hang out together. After graduating, they both separately went to New York to start a music career. New York is a tough place to make it and both of them struggled. Then one day, Howie and Vallance accidentally ran into each other and decided to work on music together. Bob Moses was born!

I chatted with a very tired but friendly Tom and Jimmy in a swank Vancouver hotel Business Centre while the guys waited for their hotel rooms to be ready. (I think they were ready for a pre-show nap.)

Which member of Bob Moses walked out of an orgy? Which Bob Moses track samples an obscure bangra song? What dark secrets do Jimmy and Tom know about each other that not even their girlfriends know? Who showed Bob Moses the Bobby Bland track they eventually covered? What metal bands are the two of them banging their heads to in the studio (when they need a break from electronic music)? How did Tom and Jimmy react when VICE said they sounded like "a tranqued Chris Martin" (from Coldplay)? Why do Jimmy and Tom sometimes hate on rapper G-Eazy? You'll have to listen to find out!

Tracks played on the show...

1) Bob Moses, Days Gone By (2015) "Tearing Me Up"

2) Bob Moses, Days Gone By (2015) "Talk"

3) Bob Moses, First to Cry EP (2014) "I Ain't Gonna Be the First to Cry" (Bobby Bland cover) **

4) Bob Moses, Days Gone By: Never Enough Edition (2016) "Before I Fall" (acoustic version)

5) Bob Moses, Days Gone By (2015) "Touch and Go"

All songs CANCON, except **

While trying to find a quiet corner, The Veils frontman Finn Andrews and me got lost in backstage area of the newly renovated Fortune Sound Lounge. He rolled a cigarette as we chatted about his band's latest record, Total Depravity. Chance encounters while hanging out in LA ended up with Finn working on the record with rapper and hip hop producer El-P (from Run the Jewels) and film director legend David Lynch. (Finn will be appearing in the 2017 Twin Peaks revival.)

What was it like to have rapper El-P produce an indie rock band? How does Finn keep his discipline as a song writer? Why did Finn want me to play his song "Nux Vomica"? How did the band navigate tough times? What sweet tradition does he have with his rocker dad? Which song on Total Depravity did the band save from the recycling bin? What was it like working with David Lynch? You'll have to listen to find out.

Tracks played on the radio edit of the show...

1) The Veils, Total Depravity (2016) "Axolotl"

2) Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 3 (2016) "Talk to Me"

3) The Veils, Total Depravity (2016) "Low Lays the Devil"

4) The Veils, Nux Vomica (2006) "Nux Vomica"

5) The Veils, Live at Abbey Road (2013) "Out from the Valleys & Into the Stars"

6) The Veils, Total Depravity (2016) "In the Nightfall"

NO songs CANCON

While trying to find a quiet corner, The Veils frontman Finn Andrews and me got lost in backstage area of the newly renovated Fortune Sound Lounge. He rolled a cigarette as we chatted about his band's latest record, Total Depravity. Chance encounters while hanging out in LA ended up with Finn working on the record with rapper and hip hop producer El-P (from Run the Jewels) and film director legend David Lynch. (Finn will be appearing in the 2017 Twin Peaks revival.)

What was it like to have rapper El-P produce an indie rock band? How does Finn keep his discipline as a song writer? Why do the band publish the song lyrics on the Veils website? Why did Finn want me to play his song "Nux Vomica"? How did the band navigate tough times? What sweet tradition does he have with his rocker dad? Which song on Total Depravity did the band save from the recycling bin? What was it like working with David Lynch? You'll have to listen to find out.

Tracks played on the podcast edition of the show...

1) The Veils, Total Depravity (2016) "Axolotl"

2) Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 3 (2016) "Talk to Me"

3) The Veils, Total Depravity (2016) "Low Lays the Devil"

4) The Veils, Nux Vomica (2006) "Nux Vomica"

5) The Veils, Live at Abbey Road (2013) "Out from the Valleys & Into the Stars"

6) The Veils, Total Depravity (2016) "In the Nightfall"

NO songs CANCON

When I caught the Vancouver soundcheck of old friends and Toronto punk band PUP, the boys were trying to make a song from the new record, The Dream Is Over, work in their live set. At that point, PUP were three months into a world tour so I was shocked that by then every song on the record hadn't been played over and over and over.

I hung out with Stefan from PUP as he waited for his sister to come pick him up for dinner. How can a tour can make you want to kill your best friends? How do the members of PUP break from punk band cliches? What is the song "DVP" about? Which PUP song is about a pet lizard? What would a love song from PUP sound like? Which song from the first record will the band never stop playing live and why? Which song was inspired by a girl calling Stefan a piece of shit? What "not loud" music are the guys in the band enjoying right now? Which song does the band consider "just for them?" You'll have to listen to find out.

Tracks played on the RADIO edition of the show...

1)PUP (the band), The Dream Is Over (2016) "If This Tour Doesn't Kill You, I Will"

2) PUP (the band), The Dream Is Over (2016) "DVP"

3) PUP (the band), The Dream Is Over (2016) "Sleep In The Heat"

4) PUP (the band), PUP (2013) "Guilt Trip"

5) PUP (the band), The Dream Is Over (2016) "My Life is Over and I Couldn't Be Happier"

6) PUP (the band), The Dream Is Over (2016) "Familiar Patterns"

ALL songs CANCON