The MC Lars Podcast

Caldwell, Idaho's Big O is a legend in the DIY hardcore / rap crossover scene. He and his band opened for Mega Ran and me on our national tour. On this week's episode, he and I talk about the current state of the scene and the outside forces that motivate us both.

Special Guest: Big O.

When Eamon Dolan declared himself as an English major at Yale, and his mom asked him, "What are you going to do, open an English store?". Having printed some succesful books and had a long career as an editor, Dolan has done just that. We talk about his inspirations and editing process, as well as his memories as a kid growing up in the Bronx in the 70s. An awesome interview!

Special Guest: Eamon Dolan.

Jesse Dangerously is beloved across the world. We talk about his music, touring history, his take on rap today, and some of his inspiratons. We also talk about the nerdcore Jeopardy moment, as it has unfolded much later. Thanks to Jesse for being such a loquatious and funny guest. Friends for life!

Special Guest: Jesse Dangerously.

John S. Hall had always been a huge influence on me as a kid, and he was super nice to come to my apartment to talk to me about his new and old work. We talked about what it was like being on Atlantic and how having a day job has been freeing, as well as his times in Beavis & Butt-head. We also talk about how the Beat generation influenced him and what it was like growing up in Manhattan.

Special Guest: John S. Hall.

This week, my collaborator friend and tour mate talk about his history in nerdcore, his influences, and his future plans. We also talk about the importance of taking a political stand, even if it alienates people. We debut our song "Walden", from our upcoming "Dewey Decibel System" project! Enjoy, and thanks for listening! Thanks Mega Ran for his time and great answers.

Special Guest: Mega Ran.

This week, Brendan and I talk about what it was like to be signed to Columbia, the promotional campaign surrounding his hit song "Teenage Dirtbag", and how he was able to leverage its international scucess into a long-term indie touring career. We also talk about the next steps for him and his band and his philosophies on music and touring. Enoy that flavor!! Thanks again Brendan!

Brendan B. Brown has always inspired me - I was a fan of his band when I was in high school and we ended up working and recording together about 13 years ago. In this episode, we talk about Marshall McClure's "Medium is the Message" essay and how it relates to people's memories of "Teenage Dirtbag", the band's breakthrough hit. We also talk about our shared love of Rush and how we think Spotify is both a good and bad thing. Thanks for listening!

Special Guest: Brendan B. Brown.

I've been a fan of Canadian rapper Baba Brinkman's for years. I loved his "Off the Top" play with his wife, Dr. Heather Berlin, as well as his "Rap Guide to Consciousness", which Mega Ran and I collabroated with him on. We talk about why and how he got started rapping, the intersection of literature with rap, and how a theatre piece on Darwin helped him evolve into a science rapper. Support Brinkman's work, he's one of a kind!

Special Guest: Baba Brinkman.

This week, Schäffer the Darklord and I go deeper into his creative process and talk about some of our shared tour experiences. We also debut his and Vince Vandal's new supergroup, the Department of Darknes!! At the end, I played their brand track "World on Fire", which features me on a guest verse. Thanks for listening!

Special Guest: Schäffer the Darklord.

Schäffer the Darklord started rapping at the turn of the century. While playing in some hardcore and grindcore bands, he learned about performance and the dos and don'ts of DIY promotion and gigging. This week, we talk to the man behind the black rubber gloves, getting to know the hows and whys of one of nerdcore's most intriguing luminaries.

Special Guest: Schäffer the Darklord.