Rye Coalition came out of Jersey City in the early nineties and quickly built a reputation as one of the most fearless and inventive bands in the post-hardcore world. They toured with heavyweights like Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, and The (International) Noise Conspiracy, earned praise from outlets including Spin, Pitchfork, and The Village Voice, and worked with legendary producers Steve Albini and Dave Grohl. Their documentary "Rye Coalition: The Story of the Hard Luck 5" became a cult favorite, cementing their status as one of the most underrated but widely respected bands of their era. Loud, chaotic, swagger-filled, and always a little dangerous, they were the group other musicians whispered about as a secret influence. If you know, you know.

I got Ralph on the Zoom and this is what we chatted about:

• John Hiltz
• Gern Blandsten Records
• What bands inspired their live show
• Did their music stand for anything?
• Recording with Steve Albini
• recording with Dave Grohl
• What did signing to Dreamworks do for the band
• And a ton more

Be on the lookout for some old music of theirs to release in 2026 and follow their instagram.

Click here for Herbs GofundMe

Sleepytime Trio formed in 1995 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, originally as a side project of Maximillian Colby. Known for their volatile, emotional sound and chaotic live shows, they quickly became a defining force in the late 90s post-hardcore scene, sharing stages with bands like Hot Water Music, Frodus, and Shotmaker. After a hiatus in 1998, members went on to form acts like Engine Down, Rah Bras, and Milemarker before reuniting to tour again. Their definitive discography, remixed by J. Robbins and remastered by TJ Lipple, showcases all their studio recordings and captures the raw energy that made them legendary.

In 2024, Solid Brass Records partnered with Sleepytime Trio and their longtime label, Lovitt Records, to work on a vinyl discography to memorialize this important band. The definitive Sleepytime Trio discography to date is packaged in a single pocket gatefold LP sleeve with complete lyrics. It also includes an 8-page zine/booklet featuring an extensive show list, behind-the-scenes notes, photos, and memories from friends of the band. There is a BONUS insert also included in this pressing only!

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

• 911
• His thoughts on still touring
• Fan tattoos
• The meaning of 4 AM Friday
• Their album artwork
• Writing songs with no lyrics
• Never having bad shows
• Ink and Dagger
• Why they chose to be on different labels with their releases
• Butterscary Flies
• re issuing Memory Minus Plus Minus
• Drive Like Jehu
• And a ton more

Go buy their vinyl here

Park was an emo/indie rock band from Springfield, Illinois, active primarily in the late '90s and 2000s. Known for their heartfelt lyrics, melodic guitar work, and driving rhythms, they gained a loyal underground following with albums like No Signal and It Won't Snow Where You're Going. Though they disbanded in 2007, their music remains a staple of the Midwest emo scene and continues to influence new bands today.

• His book
• Dirty Sara
• The No Knife and Jimmy Eat World show
• Almost ending the band before signing to Lobster Records
• Dynamite Boy
• Getting a better response on the West Coast
• Their album It Won't Snow Where You're Going
• Playing the Warped Tour
• Their Blink 182 cover for a tribute album
• What lead to releasing Jacob the Rabbit in 2014
• And a ton more

Keep an eye out for some upcoming news from them on their instagram

Grab his book Theory Markspurn here

Support the podcast here

Hamilton St Cafe & Stage in Bound Brook, NJ was a beloved hybrid venue that blended a cozy café atmosphere with an intimate stage for live music. Throughout the early 2000s, it became a cultural hub for local and touring punk, indie, and alternative acts, fostering a tight-knit community. Though it closed in 2007 after severe flooding, it's still remembered fondly as a cornerstone of the NJ music scene.

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

• The Melody Bar
• Picking Chris Ross' brain
• How Hamilton St opened
• The random box story
• The Palace
• Opening night
• My Chem and Jack Antinoff
• The cocaine story
• Getting in a fight with the dude from LFO
• The World/Inferno Friendship Society
• Myths and Legends about the place
• Johanna Angel
• Was it haunted
• Closing down
• And a ton more

Go check out Into the Void Printing run by Alf from Ex Number Five - https://www.intothevoidprintco.com/

and Autodidact Brewery

From Indian Lakes is an American indie rock band formed in 2009. The band's sound generally incorporates elements of pop, acoustic, emo, shoegaze, and rock creating a distinctive blend that has earned them a dedicated following. They recently released their album "HEAD VOID" and continue to tour, representing a mature evolution of Vannucchi's songwriting that began in California's mountain communities.

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

• His band Hard Chiller
• Loving the Deftones
• Copeland
• Tooth n Nail Records
• Triple Crown Records
• having stage freight
• What does he write about
• Absent Sounds
• Turning down a Thrice tour
• Recording an album with the dude who produced Gotye
• Putting out their own records
• Their latest record Head Void
• And a ton more

Go check out their latest album Head Void on Spotify or Buy it Here

Go follow my Instagram

Support here

White Kaps were a Southern California punk band known for their surf-punk energy, goofy humor, and rowdy live shows. They released several records through Fearless Records in the mid-'90s, standing out with songs that mixed skate culture, beach vibes, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. While never a mainstream name, they earned a cult following in the punk scene for their fun, fast, and irreverent style.

I never got to see these guys play cause they never came to Jersey but I remembered their name from the Fearles Flush sampler that I purchased in 98 so I reached out to KC, got him on the Zoom and this is what we chat about

• Bob Becker being their first front man
• Being the first Fearless Records release
• His thoughts on recording vocals for the records
• The weekend tour with Green Day
• Humorcore
• Getting some backlash for their name
• Why they didn't want to tour so much
• And a ton more

Hunter Gatherer carved out a niche in Athens between approximately 1997 and 2004, folding into the post‑hardcore and emocore wave that was surging at that time. Their music drew equally from punk's intensity and emo's emotive melodies—yet with a poppier, hook-oriented bent, making their sound more accessible than one might expect from that blend. Despite a relatively brief run and limited releases, they made their mark in a vital era for Athens music, resonating with scene contemporaries and contributing to the city's enduring reputation for musical diversity and authenticity.

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

• Playing with them back in the day
• Finding their old angelfire website with 95 shows they played
• Growing up with Whippersnapper
• Chuck from Hot Water working at a Subway
• Getting compared to Hot Water Music
• The Athens scene
• The Frotus Refused show
• Almost signing to Cargo
• Their roadie almost dying on the Europe tour
• Playing a woman's prison
• What lead to them breaking up
• The recent passing of their bassist Jason Mcnew
• His Brother's label Aqua lamb records
• And a ton more

Check out their angelfire website

And their Instagram

As Tall As Lions was an atmospheric indie rock band from Long Island, blending ethereal soundscapes with soulful vocals and intricate musicianship. Known for their emotionally rich lyrics and dynamic live performances, the band gained a devoted following with albums like You Can't Take It With You. Though they disbanded in 2010, their music continues to resonate with fans who crave depth and beauty in rock.

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

• Knowing who Lanemeyer is
• Playing Madison Square Garden
• Wearing suits
• The Matt Pryor book
• Touring with Mute Math
• Playing Coachella
• Being on Triple Crown Records
• Waht did other bands think about them
• How the band ended
• And a ton more

Keep an eye out for the project he's working on with some of the dudes from As Tall As Lions and the band he plays in called Bob Moses.

Click here to support the podcastClick here to follow the instagram Click here to listen to Arcade Academy's bandcamp Click here to listen to Arcade Academy's soundcloud

Houseboy was a Chicago-based pop‑punk/emo outfit that emerged in the mid‑1990s, co-founded by Brett Friesen (drums) and Ace Cowden (vocals/guitar) along with Daniel Garcia and Thom Lemke discogs.com +7 last.fm +7 skatepunkers.fandom.com +7 . Known for their high‑energy live shows—often opening for acts like Guttermouth, Samiam, and Face to Face—the band released a handful of catchy DIY recordings including the Last Friday's Selfless Allstars 7″ and the full‑length Ya Right! before lineup changes and personal tragedy led them to disband in 1999 discogs.com +4 skatepunkmemories.blogspot.com +4 skatepunkers.fandom.com +4 . Despite a relatively short run, Houseboy became a staple of the Chicago punk scene and left behind a legacy of spirited melodic tunes celebrated by local fans and preserved on compilations like Achtung Chicago! Drei

I got Brett and Ace on the ZOOM and this is what we chat about:

• Seeing Green Day for $5
• Brett's friend getting caught up with the mob
• Playing with Sublime at the Fireside
• Brett meeting his wife
• Punching a Mall Cop
• Stealing beer and getting chased by the cops
• Driver Eleven
• Stiffpole records
• Brian Granik
• Recording their last album
• Local H
• The reason the last album is greyed out on Spotify
• Reuniting recently
• And a ton more

Keep an eye out for their next album when it drops. They're still writing it so it might take some time but you can follow them on their IG @houseboyband_official

Check out Brett's discogs

Check out Ace's discogs

Support the podcast for $1 on Patreon

Follow on Instagram

Moving Mountains is an American indie rock band known for blending post-rock ambiance with emo and post-hardcore intensity. Emerging from New York in 2005, they gained a devoted following with emotionally driven albums like Pneuma and Waves, praised for their cinematic soundscapes and introspective lyrics. Their music captures both quiet vulnerability and explosive power, earning them a lasting place in the hearts of fans across the alternative scene.

I got Greg and Nick on the Skype and this is what we chat about

• Recording their new record
• Deep Elm
• Waves
• Why it takes so long to put out a record
• Their song Alleviate
• Triple Crown Records
• The alley money story
• Prawn
• Taking forever to release records
• And a ton more

Check out their first full-length album in 12 years—Pruning of the Lower Limbs, which is set for release on June 27 of this year—featuring ten tracks including the haunting lead single "Ghosts".