This Was The Scene Podcast

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None More Black formed in the early 2000s, led by Jason Shevchuk after the breakup of Philly hardcore favorites Kid Dynamite. The band picked up right where that energy left off, blending fast, melodic hardcore with gruff, shout-along vocals and big hooks. Their debut full-length, File Under Black, landed on Fat Wreck Chords in 2003 and quickly became a staple for fans of that era's East Coast punk sound. They followed it with This Is Satire in 2006, a tighter, more urgent record that showed the band sharpening their songwriting without losing any bite. Short, loud, and packed with heart, None More Black remains a go-to for anyone who loves the space where hardcore and melodic punk collide.

Check out Episode 90 Lifetime Kid Dynamite Dan Yemin and Episode 207 Dave Wagenschutz

I got Jason on the Zoom and this is what we chat about:

• Harry Potter
• how he found his voice
• the other singers that auditioned for Kid Dynamite
• Why he left that band
• Starting None More Black
• Signing to Fat
• Wagenschutz joining the band
• Finding out in real time that File Under Black has different album covers
• The Kid Dynamite DVD
• Dave Hause
• And a ton more

Boop.

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Call Jon Cheese here (203)824-4464

SideOneDummy Records was founded in 1995 by Joe Sib and Bill Armstrong, who combined their separate labels, SideOne Records and Dummy Recordings, into one independent operation. Over the years, the label helped introduce bands like Flogging Molly, The Gaslight Anthem, and Gogol Bordello to wider audiences. Its catalog also includes releases from PUP and Jeff Rosenstock, reflecting its strong connection to punk and alternative music. sideonedummy.com Before building the label, Sib made his own mark on the scene as the frontman of Wax and later 22 Jacks. He eventually brought that same energy into stand-up comedy, drawing on stories about growing up in California, playing in bands, and becoming a father.

I got Joe on the Zoom and this is what we chat about:

• His band Wax
• What he looked for in signing a band
• Managing the Bosstones
• Getting into Stand Up
• Starting the label
• His YouTube channel where puts out weekly videos of him telling stories about his past
• Did The Wax Spike Jonze video help with signing bands
• Putting out the Warped Tour comps on Side One
• Jon Fucking Cheese
• Was the road easier when the label started making money
• Gaslight Anthem
• And a ton more

Joe's website

Joe's Youtube Channel

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Anakin is a San Diego alternative rock band formed in 2010, blending heavy guitars, spacey synths, and catchy melodies. Drawing inspiration from Weezer, HUM, Failure, Nirvana, and the Rentals, their sound brings together '90s alternative rock and dreamy, atmospheric textures. Their debut album, Random Accessed Memories, arrived in 2012, followed by Celestial Frequency Shifter through No Sleep Records in 2015. With fuzzy riffs and a fascination with outer space, Anakin makes music that feels both familiar and otherworldly.

• Were they ever a live band
• Taking a long to to write each song
• The 3 amps they used to make their guitar sound
• were they expected to tour?
• Did they actually have members
• Justin from Motion City Soundtrack guest appearance on a song
• The Beach Boys covers
• How they ended the band
• Getting trolled on Reddit
• And a ton more

Buy some Anakin Vinyl here

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If you love music, there's a really cool new game called Verse Versus you should check out. A buddy of mine launched his first card game where he stripped away the melody and gave you just the lyrics to see if you can figure out the song, and it's a lot harder than you think. Check them out at verse-versus.com and see how well you really know your music.

Johnny Booth is a Long Island-based hardcore band known for blending crushing heaviness with technical precision and chaotic energy. Formed in 2008, the band combines elements of hardcore, metalcore, and mathcore with explosive vocals and unpredictable song structures. Their 2023 album Moments Elsewhere helped push them to a wider audience and earned praise for balancing aggression with melody and atmosphere. Johnny Booth has built a reputation as one of the heavier underground bands worth watching, especially for fans of intense, high-energy live music.

• The creative process with the art and lyrics
• Being an LLC
• Taking their time to put things out
• Space Dolphins
• Being intentional with all aspects of the band
• Melissa Cross
• Sustaining his voice
• Dillinger Escape Plan
• Eating shit at Furnace Fest
• And a ton more

Go follow their instagram here

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No Motiv is a punk rock band from Oxnard, California, that emerged from the Southern California scene in the mid-1990s. Known for blending melodic punk, post-hardcore, and emotionally charged songwriting, the band built a loyal following through energetic records and relentless touring. They released several albums through Vagrant Records, including And the Sadness Prevails…, Diagram for Healing, and Daylight Breaking. Over the years, No Motiv has remained a cult favorite among fans of the late-'90s and early-2000s punk and emo scenes.

I got Roger on the Zoom and this is what we chat about:

• How long we've been trying to make this interview happen
• Him being a huge No Motiv fan before joining the band
• Ventura Warped Tour
• Vagrant Records
• First tour was with Good Riddance
• What did Vagrant blowing up do for the band
• Did the band ever break up
• Being in Not Another Teen Movie
• Warped Tour
• Siren Records
• The chaos of the Ignorance is Bliss tour
• And a ton more

Check out his band Hard Chiller with Joey from From Indian Lakes Episode 266 of this podcast.

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The Copyrights are a punk rock band from Carbondale, Illinois, known for their fast, melodic sound and sharp, hook-heavy songwriting. Formed in 2002, the band draws heavily from the classic pop-punk tradition of bands like Screeching Weasel, The Queers, and Dillinger Four. Over the years, they've released a steady run of albums packed with short, energetic songs that balance humor, frustration, and everyday life. They've built a loyal following through years of touring and appearances at punk festivals like The Fest in Gainesville. More than two decades in, The Copyrights remain a dependable part of the DIY punk scene, delivering catchy punk rock without trying to reinvent the wheel.

• Us being on the same bill together in a school in Illinois
• Meeting Ian MacKaye when he was 12
• Story of the Year
• Red Scare Records
• fucking up on stage
• What's up with No Idea Records
• Dear Landlord
• All American Rejects
• Fest with Brendan Kelly singing Slapstick
• And a ton more

Catch them at Fest this year.

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Gatsbys American Dream is a Seattle-based rock band known for blending pop-punk, post-hardcore, progressive rock, and emo into a sound that rarely stays in one lane. Formed in the early 2000s, the band built a devoted following with albums like Ribbons and Sugar, Volcano, and their self-titled 2006 record. Their songs are packed with unusual structures, sharp hooks, literary references, and the kind of unpredictable shifts that made them stand out from the mid-2000s scene. Despite never reaching the mainstream level of many of their contemporaries, Gatsbys became a cult favorite and influenced plenty of bands that followed. After years of sporadic activity, the band reunited and released Modern Man in 2025, their first full-length album in nearly two decades.

I got Nic on the Zoom and this is what we chat about:

• There's a song out there where he's auditioning for Chiodos
• Playing short sets on purpose
• Acceptance band
• progressing their sound on the 2nd record
• Getting made fun of by Goldfinger fans
• Kane Hodder
• Fearless Records
• Their $40,000 music video
• Playing with Katy Perry on Warped Tour
• Flipping their van
• Pranking on the road
• And a ton more

Check out their shows in Austin and Chicago in Nov and Seattle in Dec.

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Mae is an American alternative rock and emo band formed in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2001. Known for their melodic songwriting, atmospheric sound, and uplifting lyrics, they became a standout act in the mid-2000s emo scene with albums like Destination: Beautiful and The Everglow. Rather than leaning into angst, Mae built a loyal following through themes of hope, self-reflection, and personal growth. Their energetic live shows and strong connection with fans helped them earn a lasting place alongside many of the era's most respected independent bands. More than two decades later, Mae continues to be celebrated as one of the most thoughtful and enduring bands to emerge from the 2000s alternative scene.

• Sounding like Jimmy Eat World
• His first band Unsung Zeros
• Joining MAE
• Seeing color when you hear music
• Writing Everglow
• The band's take on religion
• Singularity
• Helping charities while on tour
• And a ton more

Follow whatismae to keep an eye out for their new album that's coming out on Equalvision Records.

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…And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead formed in Austin, Texas in the mid-'90s, led by longtime creative partners Conrad Keely and Jason Reece. The band quickly became known for explosive live shows, smashed gear, instrument swapping, and a sound that blended post-hardcore, noise rock, punk, and indie rock. Their early albums built a strong underground following before they signed with Interscope Records and released Source Tags & Codes in 2002. That album became the band's breakthrough, featuring songs like "Another Morning Stoner," "Relative Ways," and "How Near, How Far." Over the years, Trail of Dead continued experimenting with everything from sprawling concept albums to progressive and orchestral rock while keeping their raw energy intact. More than 25 years into their career, they remain one of the most unpredictable and ambitious bands to come out of the late-'90s indie and post-hardcore scene.

I got Conrad and Jason on the Zoom and this is what we chat about:

• Growing up in Seattle scene
• Sneaking into a studio to record their first album
• Merge Records
• Interscope Records
• Recording Source Tags & Codes
• Trashing their equipment during their sets
• Will You Smile Again
• The Jesus Lizard story
• Their thoughts on Spotify and streaming
• The Slipknot story (you don't want to miss this one)
• And a ton more

Go give Conrad's Patreon a follow

Catch Jason's band on tour and give their instagram a follow.

Check out their show with Frank Turner on Sept 27 in Dallas, TX at Southside Ballroom.

Go follow my new podcast 2 Dudes 1 Scene Podcast with Dana Bollen. And follow my IG @thiswasthescene

Senses Fail emerged from New Jersey in 2002 and became one of the defining bands of the 2000s post hardcore and emo scene. Known for blending melodic hooks with aggressive instrumentation, the band built a devoted following through emotionally raw lyrics and high energy live performances. Frontman Buddy Nielsen has remained the driving force behind the group, guiding its evolution through multiple lineup changes while continuing to release new music. Albums like Let It Enfold You, Still Searching, and Life Is Not a Waiting Room helped cement Senses Fail as a staple for fans of heartfelt, cathartic rock. More than two decades into their career, the band continues to tour and create music while influencing a new generation of artists in the alternative scene.

Shot out to Ryan Dominguez from Tokyo Rose for suggesting this convo and helping Mike and I connect. Which we did on the Zoom and this is what we chat about:

• His thoughts on who's winning in the music industry
• Tokyo Rose
• Johnny KillBrand
• Drive Thru and Vagrant
• Is Dave Flores the inspiration for the artwork of Let It Enfold You
• Leaving the band
• Penfold
• How he helped get Let It Enfold You certified
• And a ton more

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