The LIFERS Podcast

Lorri Francis was there. She doesn’t remember a lot of it, but she WAS there. On this episode we talk to one of Chicago’s great movers and shakers and connectors about Medusa’s, the Rock Room, Cubby Bear, Double Door, G.G. Allin’s chair upholstery, Rights Of The Accused, Death Angel, Gabe’s tattoo, the P.P.P., whippets, the continuing saga of Zoetrope, Mark Stephens, Tom Popp, Joe Shanahan, Wrigleyville Tap, The Rolling Stones, Richard Ashcroft, D.D. Halloween shows, Nirvana hatred, and Jesus Christ LIFE MOVES FAST!!! As usual, we had a great time catching up (and trying to KEEP up) with the great Lorri Francis. We love you!

Frank Phobia is a sweetheart. He’s also the leader of Anthrophobia (who happen to be releasing their new J. Robbins produced record GOING OUT SWINGING on the 22nd of this month). But mainly — he’s a sweetheart. One that has been a low key hero to countless touring bands that have made their way through various venues in Pennsylvania for God knows how many years. The man’s an institution. On this episode we talk to Frank about his mentor Carol Schutzbank, Chameleon Club, bouncing around PA, major label lessons, pseudonyms, being a punk-rock pillar, Steve Harris, Bob Stinson, booking Local H, booking the Local H movie, Zoetropolis vs Zoetrope, pussy and money, Lititz, hair farmers, Rights of the Accused, New Coke, and WHAT’S THE BEST?!?: 1985.

Jesse Malin is about as New York as you can get. How New York is he? Well, he’s in a Martin Scorsese movie for starters. Jesse got his start in the hardcore band Heart Attack before pivoting to the rough and ready D-Generation in the ‘90s. After that band’s demise, Jesse made an even harder pivot when he turned to his acoustic guitar and released the Ryan Adams-produced THE FINE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION — in effect, reinventing himself as a rock and roll troubadour and NYC ambassador. And then about a year and a half ago, Jesse suffered a rare spinal stroke that threatened his ability to ever walk again. But in true LIFER fashion —and with the help of his community and his friends— Malin has soldiered on and is gearing up for a pair of benefit shows at the Beacon Theater on December 1st and 2nd that will mark his return to the stage. It’s a pleasure to have Jesse on the show this week to put some shit into perspective for us and talk about Johnny Thunders, CBGB’s, Bruce Springsteen, Ian Hunter, “Bringing Out The Dead”, Green Day, Rickie Lee Jones and a WHAT’S THE BEST?!? with The Clash. The future is unwritten, everybody!

Full of anxiety about the upcoming election? Well, in troubled times it’s good to know that you can still rely on your friends. So join us —and two of the show’s best friends: Steve “Sleeve” Reidell and Mahmood Shaikh— as we take a long, lighthearted LIFERS-look into the yawning American abyss. You’ll laugh. You’ll definitely cry. And you’ll be faced with Dennis Quaid’s asshole. But one cannot live on fear and loathing (and Dennis Quaid’s asshole) alone — so here to save the day is PAVEMENT (just like in the ‘90s!!!). We talk about their great new movie directed by Alex Ross Perry and then we pick our favorite songs by the magnificent slackers from Stockton. PLUS: Steve Reidell outdoes himself (trust us — you’re gonna want to stick around for the final song). Happy voting, America!

It’s been just over a week since the two events that constituted the “grand finale” of Local H’s WHATEVER HAPPENED TO P. J. SOLES? 20th anniversary tour — but Scott’s head is still swimming. Both the LIFERS movie screening at the Music Box and the epic 3-hour set at Metro have left him feeling like a bit of a whisper of a husk of a shell. So forgive us while we perform a post-tour postmortem to sort it all out. It’s a decompression process that includes werewolves, harmonicas, Paul Di’Anno, Freddy Kruger, cartoonish physical reactions, future LIFERS screenings, P.J. encores, Gabe’s acting process, Eddie Mahoney, and we answer some burning questions from our listeners.

Okay… Well, that was a LOT! In many ways, this last Tuesday & Wednesday in Wrigleyville (let’s call it LOCAL H DAYS 2024) was a culmination of everything that’s been in the works since that day when Scott got the call that Helmet was cancelling the tour — just BEFORE he’d received the call that the LIFERS movie was getting a release date at the Music Box (see episode #186). Of course, one could argue that this H convention had been building up since the movie was shot at the Metro almost 3 years ago (to the day — just shy a month!). And that same person could also argue that it all started with the original WHATEVER HAPPENED TO P.J. SOLES? release 20 years ago — while the zen hippie across the room is babbling about how Scott’s entire LIFE has been leading up to this! And they’d all be right. Whatever the case — there is a lot to say about the LIFERS world premiere at the Music Box and the finale of the WHTPJS? 20th anniversary tour at the Metro — BUT!!! Not on this week’s episode. Instead, Ben has put together a… uh. Vibe? A mood piece? Ah. Here’s what it is: A chunk of audio verite constructed to capture a moment that is already starting to fade from memory like a far-off and hazy dream. Go to bed, Scott!

Ben's got a head cold. Gabe's got cats. Scott and Ronnie are holed up in a haunted hotel room in Utah so naturally the conversation turns to merch lines, REM vs Van Halen, the LIFERS movie, and our favorite subject these days: dinosaurs. Also, you've got lots of questions, and we've got some answers. It's a road report, people!

Hey, everybody! It’s Ronnie DiCola!!! The WHATEVER HAPPENED TO P.J. SOLES? tour is in the home stretch as we welcome the third partner in the Local H throuple to the show. For the very first time! You’d think we’d take this opportunity to query Ronnie about his hopes and dreams and history playing drums in Chicago institutions like The Arrivals and All Eyes West. But noooo! We squander that chance with inane chatter about Was Not Was, Three 6 Mafia, Gabe’s cats, WHAT’S THE BEST?!? road movies, boob jokes, the fucking LIFERS movie, and a skit about Kris Kristofferson (R.I.P.!) and Toby Keith.

Local H are STILL on the road. So you know what that means. ANOTHER ROAD REPORT!!! But this time we’re dragging Sincere Engineer’s Deanna Belos into the hotel chat room to talk about laundry, P.J. Soles movies, Riot Fest, New Found Glory tours, M.A.S.H, Hootie & The Blowfish, Bruce Springsteen noogies, and (as promised) a supersized round of WHAT’S THE BEST?!?: Novelty Songs.

Local H are back on the road. So you know what that means. ROAD REPORT!!! On this episode we talk to Scott and Ryan about their hotel in Pennsylvania, teenage hoods who won’t shut up during “Beetlejuice”, Figdish, Deer Tick, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO P.J. SOLES? shows, Buffalo Wild Wings, Unpunk Ryan, Gabe’s local gas station/UPS store, days off, the apocalypse, walking the dinosaur and Thai food’s kinda bullshit. Where ARE we?