Randy Blythe, frontman of Lamb of God, will release his second book, Just Beyond the Light, on February 18, 2025. The book combines memoir and philosophy, detailing his approach to maintaining perspective through challenges. Randy writes about his childhood, touring, sobriety, and the lessons shaped by his life in music and art.

During New Year’s week, we noticed a significant dip in our numbers—likely because everyone is enjoying a well-deserved break. Good for you! We’ll be back next week, refreshed and ready, with exciting new guests joining us each week.

In the meantime, enjoy this extended intro. Cheers to a eh uh fantastic 2025??

Elliott Sharp is a composer and multi-instrumentalist active in New York City's avant-garde music scene since the late 1970s. With over 85 recordings across genres such as contemporary classical, jazz, noise, and electronic music, he incorporates elements like algorithms, Fibonacci sequences, and literary themes in his experimental compositions. In the 1980s, he developed the Virtual Stance project, utilizing personal computers in live performance. Elliott plays guitar, saxophone, and bass clarinet, and leads ensembles including Terraplane, Orchestra Carbon, and SysOrk.

Yva Las Vegass is a groundbreaking musician and queer icon whose journey from immigrant busker to trailblazing artist has shaped the soundscape of both Venezuelan folklore and American alternative music. Born in Venezuela, Yva began her musical career as a busker, performing on the streets of Seattle after immigrating in the early 1980s. Her unique fusion of traditional Venezuelan rhythms and melodies with the raw energy of punk and alternative rock became a hallmark of her sound, which she introduced to the American music scene in the 1990s.

Throughout her career, Yva has been involved in several influential bands, including Dos Mundos with Deanna Chapman, later renamed Tres Mundos with the addition of Christine Gunn in the Cello. In Seattle Yva sang in Bochinche the only salsa band in the city at the time. Together with her band mates from Tres Mundos she formed Delusions of Grandeour a fusion of pop, folk, punk and rock where they played original tunes. in the early 90's she joins the Florists,a funk rock band as the vocalist and guitar player and the band, Sweet 75, who together made a record and toured the U.S and parts of Europe. All the while she continued performing and writing venezuelan folkloric songs on her own.  She continues to explore themes of identity, cultural resistance, and the experiences of marginalized communities.

Today, she is a fixture in the NYC music scene, performing in clubs and theaters projects alike, and remains an independent force in the world of music and performance art, defying boundaries and challenging conventions as a queer female Venezuelan alternative artist. Her contributions to both folklore and alternative music have made her an influential figure for young artists living in NYC today.

Joey Killingsworth, the driving force behind Joecephus and the George Jonestown Massacre, has spent close to 20 years blending outlaw country with thrashing riff rock to build a loyal following. A Memphis native with deep musical roots—his father, Bo Jack, played with rockabilly legend Eddie Bond—Killingsworth initially resisted country music but later embraced it, launching the Massacre as a vehicle for his diverse influences. Known for creative collaborations and tribute projects, he’s worked with legends like Jello Biafra and Greg Ginn.  Joey is also a booking agent who works with both Lydia and Tim.

Anton Newcombe is the creative force behind The Brian Jonestown Massacre, a band he founded in 1990. He is a  prolific songwriter and a hands-on producer. Anton has collaborated with artists like Tess Parks and Dead Meadow and even scores the films and television such as the film Moon Dogs. Beyond music, he runs his label, A Recordings Ltd., likes to cook  and supports causes like Oxfam during his tours.

Daniel House is an entrepreneur and musician, he i the co-founder and bassist of Skin Yard, a band that played a pivotal role in shaping the grunge sound in Seattle and served as a starting point for many influential musicians. Initially purchasing C/Z Records as a platform to release his own music, Daniel transformed the label into one of the cornerstones of the Seattle music scene, championing acts like The Melvins and Built to Spill. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2003, he launched online projects, including DownloadPunk.com and RocknRollDating.com.

Oliver Edward Ackermann is a musician and innovator best known as the founder of the Brooklyn-based effects pedal company Death By Audio and the frontman of the rock band A Place to Bury Strangers, often called "the loudest band in New York." A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Oliver has crafted custom effects for legendary bands such as U2 and Nine Inch Nails. His work is driven by a passion for cultivating a vibrant artistic community, exemplified by the iconic Death By Audio venue.

While Lydia and Tim have been busy on their respective tours, finding time to record new episodes has been challenging. In the meantime,  take a trip down memory lane revisiting a memorable moment from the early days. Shortly after arriving in Los Angeles in January of 2019, Lydia and Tim sat down with the legendary burlesque star and actress, Kitten Natividad. In this candid conversation, Kitten shares how she transitioned from a conventional career to burlesque, her experiences with director Russ Meyer, and her fond memories of Tom Selleck and Sean Penn's bachelor party. Sadly, in 2022, Kitten passed away. welcomed Lydia and Tim into her home as they navigated the early challenges of podcasting. She was cheerful, whip smart, and very very funny.  

Kevin Rutmanis is a bassist and experimental musician, known for his work with bands like Cows, The Melvins, Tomahawk, and hepa.titus. Recently, he has teamed up with visual artist Gina Skwoz for the project Lords and Lady Kevin, creating boundary-pushing music. Their latest release, Last Days At Hot Slit not to be confused with the Andrea Dworkin book of the same name is due out December 6, marks a collaborative effort with Trevor Dunn.