Third Gear Scratch

Drummer Kliph Scurlock empties his guts about his time with The Flaming Lips, making music in his early days in Lawrence KS in bands like Cocknoose and Contortion Horse, learning and understanding music from his mother who died in the Hyatt Regency collapse in KC in 1981 in an all-female Mariachi band, how his time in Wales has been the perfect landing pad and segue into his time and tenure making amazing new music with Gruff Rhys, formerly of Super Furry Animals. 

Chicago BlueManGroup GM Jeremy Smith spills the wine on how he ended up on the production side of the biz after starting as an actor in college, how his time at The Second City comedy improv company sharpened his skills and claws, and what's next for theater communities across the globe who continue to deal with fallout and lack of work in the CV era, and who also feel undervalued and underserved as stimulus money goes elsewhere and their theaters die. 

Isaiah Radke started his punk rock band Radkey with his brothers as kids 10 years ago in St Joseph MO and he explains their evolution through their rocket ride through the biz and their success, his education by way of film growing up, his bass education via The Ox and Sir Paul, his dedication to his craft and how that happens with his brothers all now in KC in their mid 20s, and what lies ahead through these hazy CV days. 

Songwriter Billy Smith expands on his KC founding father band Dirtnap, why he loved playing bass in Season To Risk and why his band Roman Numerals was so freeing afterward, how he expresses his dissent against the current administration, and what he absolutely loves about his gig as a professional Liaison for Warner Brothers artists and WWE celebrities while traveling the world. 

Songwriter Scott Lucas waxes about the curse or maybe blessing of releasing the new Local H record Lifers in the CV era, why playing shows with Metallica was and wasn't amazing, what life was like growing up in Zion IL, and why he broke south for the big city of Chicago. 

WBEZ Broadcaster/culture critic/activist/Club DJ/podcaster Jill Hopkins opines about current events and how to stay sane--THC, what matters to her most about journalism--honesty, why terrestrial radio is so important, why direct and open conversation in the broadcast medium is an art form she's honored and called to pursue, and why she's so proud to call Chicago her home. 

Toadies bassist Donivan Blair waxes about growing up with his guitarist brother Zach Blair of Rise Against and their time as founding members of Hagfish, about taking up Taekwondo as a middle aged man, about writing a debut memoir about such endeavors, and the mystical divide between the fans who see rockers on a pedestal and the rockers who work real jobs when they get down off their pedestals. 

Murder By Death drummer Dagan Thogerson throws down the hot facts about his time with the legendary Dionysian road warriors and how it changed his life, he spills the booze on his time as a bartender in Portland and how he has passed the quaran-times by making a solo record about his dog Franky called Small Songs For Our Small Dog. 

Actor Micheal Angelo Smith describes with candor and wry humor his journey into becoming a BlueMan in Chicago, from high school athlete in Omaha to acting major at University of Idaho and then to creating his own theater company called The Neighborhood with those same Idahoans, and what this particular arts journey is like as an African American man. 

Multi-Personalitied-musician Scott Hobart elaborates on his career with Giants Chair in the early 90's KC scene and how he 180'd into his woe-begotten country persona Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys. He sheds light on the death of his father at age 14 and it's effect on his life, and walks us through a day in his life, designing and building sets for the Coterie Theater in Kansas City.