This Was The Scene Podcast

Negative Progression Records was a label that formed in 1998 by Seth Hyman and released some of the best indie, emo, pop-punk, hardcore, and metal bands. The catalog included such bands as Counterfeit, Over It, 5 Driver, The June Spirit, Bounder, and a ton more. I remembered NPR from back in the day when they released the 5 Driver's album "Self Proclaimed Rock Stars" which I thought was quite a ballsy name.

I connected with Seth, got him on the Skype, and this is what we chat about:

• The 5 Driver artwork
• The show with skinheads vs. straight edge kids
• His band Lipmonger
• Starting Negative Progression
• Dealing with band breakups
• Playing a show where Hopeless happened to be in the crowd
• Over It leaving the label to go to Lobster Records
• Dealing with bands on the label
• Almost signing Midtown
• The Substance Free Coalition
• Bands that he wasn't able to sign
• Lumberjack Distribution
• And a ton more

Click here to check out their bandcamp page

You can also hire Seth to represent you legally at www.sethhymanlaw.com

This week's sponsor is Mint 400 Records.

Mint 400 Records is a boutique indie rock record label located in Northern New Jersey with bands across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The label features great Jersey bands of the past few decades in addition to new indie rock, indie folk, and post-punk bands. Over 350 exciting releases.

You can find Mint 400 Records releases streaming at Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and more or at all mp3 outlets worldwide. Visit www.mint400records.com for links and more info.

also want to talk about a nonprofit organization called Pizzastock.

The Jason R Flood Memorial is a newly established non-profit founded after the suicide death of Jason Flood. It began as a way for the youth in our community to communicate with one another and know that they are not alone. Our goal is to raise awareness of suicide prevention and to feel comfortable to speak up and reach out when warning signs are recognized. We have partnered with other local mental health providers and organizations to build leadership and confidence in youth programs. We are constructing education and peer support groups to offer guidance for a variety of mental health issues, particularly with the tween and teenage groups. Information can be found at Pizzastock.org.

Their next event is on Saturday, January 9 in the form of a live stream battle of the bands set at Events United, the company that put on the massive Dropkick Murphys Live Stream last March.

If you market aggressively on Instagram Stories and want custom stickers then go here to get custom stickers or just email [email protected] and I can send you samples. These are great for B2C companies and Realtors.

Feel free to support the podcast for as little as $1 a month through Patreon

Or go to thiswasthescene.com to possibly buy some merch.

Prevent Falls was a post-hardcore band from NJ that existed from 1998-2003. Their members included Jeff, Nash, PJ, and Nick. PJ and Nash later went on to join Ben Jorgenson (episode 46) in Armor for Sleep. Here's an old write up from Lambgoat.com - Equalvision cites similarities between the band and such groups as Helmet and Quicksand, with an indie punk twist. The band has been in existence since 1998 and have previously self-released a full-length entitled 'Solutions Have Problems'. Their EVR debut is slated for release in March of 2002. Look for the band on the road this fall playing numerous weekend shows on the East Coast, and eventually on tour next summer to support the album. Yes, this is an old review.

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

• Salvation Army T-shirts
• What it was like being the "Young Band"
• Making their own merch
• Finding his bass sound
• getting on Equal Vision Records
• Playing shows with Coheed
• Touring with Underoath
• And a ton more

Go give their Instagram a follow.

This is the last episode of 2020 and I'd like to thank all of the listeners for your support this year. Because of you the podcast broke 100K downloads and has been gaining a continuous fan base. And I love you for this. I hope to keep bringing interviews that you love in 2021 when we are all vaccinated and hugging once again.

If you market aggressively on Instagram Stories and want custom stickers then go here to get custom stickers or just email [email protected] and I can send you samples. These are great for B2C companies and Realtors.

Feel free to support the podcast for as little as $1 a month through Patreon

Or go to thiswasthescene.com to possibly buy some merch.

Shady View Terrace were a screamo/emo band from Sussex County NJ. You may remember them from their split with the Lawrence Arms and from the many episodes where I and many of my guests have talked about them. I can't find any write-ups online in the 5 minutes I spent looking for them so I'll just start the interview as fast as possible.

Thank you to Mr. Robert Ruth Charles Spencer Hitt for getting me Paul's email. I got him on the Skype, and this is what we chat about:

• The split with The Lawrence Arms
• His band The Oi Scouts
• Getting support from Ricky and the Bombshelter crew
• What bands influenced them
• What labels were they talking to
• Is there a possible reunion show in the works
• And a ton more

This week's sponsor is Mint 400 Records.

Mint 400 Records is a boutique indie rock record label located in Northern New Jersey with bands across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The label features great Jersey bands of the past few decades in addition to new indie rock, indie folk, and post-punk bands. Over 350 exciting releases.

You can find Mint 400 Records releases streaming at Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and more or at all mp3 outlets worldwide. Visit www.mint400records.com for links and more info.

If you market aggressively on Instagram Stories and want custom stickers then go here to get custom stickers or just email [email protected] and I can send you samples. These are great for B2C companies and Realtors.

Feel free to support the podcast for as little as $1 a month through Patreon

Or go to thiswasthescene.com to possibly buy some merch.

Dawson High was a punk band from Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Their members were Joshua, Jeff, Robbie, and Timmy. I asked Mr. Jeff Kish what their sound was and he said "What do you consider Weston or Digger? Pennsylvania Punk?" I said, "That works."

Jeff is the dude that I mistook Jesse Short for in his interview Episode 76. You can hear that story at the beginning of both interviews.

You'll most likely remember their split with The Juliana Theory who incidentally has a new song out with a music video by Jesse Korman of The Number Twelve Looks Like You (Episode 106).

There's a part in the middle where it jumps from talking about the reunion show to Weston breaking up. You'll hear me break in and explain what happened.

I got Jeff on the Skype and this is what we talked about:

• Discussing how I mistook him for Jesse Short from Weston
• The awesomeness of Dave Weston
• The scene in the Pittsburgh area
• Following Brian Granik to Barker's party
• Playing in Digger
• Playing in Weston
• New Bedford Fest
• The split with Juliana Theory
• Their reunion show in 2007
• Weston breaking up
• Cordova
• The scene in Brooklyn in the late 2000s
• Putting on The infamous At the Drive-in / Knapsack show that's on youtube
• And a ton more

Jeff works for Universal Music Group so go check out the bands they put out.

Today Bandcamp is waiving their fees so go buy as much artists stuff on there to help support the bands you love.

If you market aggressively on Instagram Stories and want custom stickers then go here to get custom stickers or just email [email protected] and I can send you samples. These are great for B2C companies and Realtors.

Feel free to support the podcast for as little as $1 a month through Patreon

Or go to thiswasthescene.com to possibly buy some merch.

The Movielife formed in 1997 in Long Island, New York. They've released quite a few records such as It's Go Time (1999) This Time Next Year (2000) Forty Hour Train Back to Penn (2003) Cities in Search of a Heart (2017).

I got Vinnie on the Skype and this is what we talked about:

• The latest I Am The Avalanche album
• Silent Majority
• Touring with No Use For A Name
• Playing in front of 5000 people while on tour with New Found Glory
• Going from Revelation to Drive-Thru
• The band breaking up
• How was I am the avalanche perceived in the beginning
• Making handwritten lyric sheets
• And a ton more

Go get the new I am the Avalanche album out now on iSurrender Records which Vinnie says is their best album to date.

If you market aggressively on Instagram Stories and want custom stickers then go here to get custom stickers or just email [email protected] and I can send you samples. These are great for B2C companies and Realtors.

Feel free to support the podcast for as little as $1 a month through Patreon

Or go to thiswasthescene.com to possibly buy some merch.

Grieving Eucalyptus was a three-piece band from Berks County, PA who combined the sounds of Buddy Holly, garage rock, and punk-pop groups like The Buzzcocks and the Rezillos. That's the write-up that Angelo gave me and I'm sticking to it.

Their name has come up a few times in the previous interviews like Chuck from Weston, Josh from the Overdrives, Arik from Creep Records, Jessie from Weston, and a ton more. To be honest I forget exactly which interviews they were mentioned but you can go back to those episodes and let me know.

After some scheduling issues on my part, I got Angelo on the phone and this is what we talked about:

• Who from the PA scene did he go to college with
• Skinheads in the scene
• Getting on Kevin seconds record label
• The scene in Western PA
• His letter to Superchunk
• His band Sadaharu
• The Every time I Die Story
• His record store with his wife
• And a ton more

If you're in Lancaster PA check out his brother's record store Mr. Suit Records.

If you market aggressively on Instagram Stories and want custom stickers then go here to get custom stickers or just email [email protected] and I can send you samples. These are great for B2C companies and Realtors.

Feel free to support the podcast for as little as $1 a month through Patreon

Or go to thiswasthescene.com to possibly buy some merch.

the fiendz are a Jersey pop-punk band that formed in 1987. Their catalog includes 13 releases since 1987 including their James from Fun Size's favorite album Wact which we talk about in this interview.

The fiendz are Jersey legends who had an influence on a ton of bands in the late 90s so I thought it would be fitting to have Jerry on the show. He said yes, and this is what we talk about:

• His friendship with James from Fun Size
• Changing up their sound
• How they were able to play City Gardens with The Ramones
• The lost Fiendz record
• The show with GG Alan
• Their album Wact
• Their latest release
• Transitioning into the late 90s as a band
• Bill Stevenson
• And a ton more

This week's sponsor is Mint 400 Records.

Mint 400 Records is a boutique indie rock record label located in Northern New Jersey with bands across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The label features great Jersey bands of the past few decades in addition to new indie rock, indie folk, and post-punk bands. Over 350 exciting releases.

You can find Mint 400 Records releases streaming at Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and more or at all mp3 outlets worldwide. Visit www.mint400records.com for links and more info.

If you market aggressively on Instagram Stories and want custom stickers then go here to get custom stickers or just email [email protected] and I can send you samples. These are great for B2C companies and Realtors.

Feel free to support the podcast for as little as $1 a month through Patreon

Or go to thiswasthescene.com to possibly buy some merch.

Donuts N' Glory were a couple of high school friends with similar musical tastes started playing together with no intentions of anything serious. They put an ad up in a local record store (Vinyl Solution in Huntington Beach, CA) seeking a singer and bass player. A few days later they met and played with Freddie, who played bass and sang. They liked him instantly and began writing songs, playing parties, and developing a fan base. Once a buzz started developing, they started playing real shows at local clubs. A friend of theirs released the "I can Pee EP" on Pinkie Records out of San Diego. His good friend knew someone in Blink (who later became Blink-182) and they landed a show with them. This got them some attention and they signed a two-record deal with Liberation Records out of Anaheim, California, started by a sixteen-year-old, Dave T. The band was featured on the Liberation Records compilation, "Punk Sucks". Dave set the band up with bigger shows, opening for bigger acts, like No Use for A Name, Suicide Machines, Nonsense, Ten Foot Pole, The Queers, The Quincy Punks, etc. In 1996 they recorded "When Pregnasaurs Ruled The Earth" at Westbeach Recorders in Hollywood with Donell Cameron, the same studio where Fat Wreck Chords had used for recording many of its bands in their early years. After the release of their record, they toured the west coast once, and toured to the east coast and back twice. A second album was never recorded.

I reached out to Garry Cassidy on Instagram to get him on the Skype and this is what we talk about:

• Boxcar
• Playing shows with Blink
• Recording with Mike Rosas of Inside Out
• Playing a show in a cave
• What were their crowds like
• being on Liberation Records
• Would they do a reunion show
• The artwork for When Pregnasaurus Ruled the Earth
• And a ton more

Gary is a General Contractor out in Costa Mesa, CA and his domain is gccrocks.com. You should hire him.

If you market aggressively on Instagram Stories and want custom stickers then go here to get custom stickers or just email [email protected] and I can send you samples. These are great for B2C companies and Realtors.

Feel free to support the podcast for as little as $1 a month through Patreon

Or go to thiswasthescene.com to possibly buy some merch.

Slow Gherkin was formed in 1993 and released their first album, Double Happiness, which was distributed by Asian Man Records, on July 29, 1996. They released their second album, Shed Some Skin, in 1998. In 2002, the band released Run Screaming, their final album. The band played a farewell show on August 17 of the same year but played a sold-out reunion concert at Santa Cruz's Rio Theater on June 18, 2011. In 2016, the band reunited to play at the Asian Man Records 20-year anniversary show and released two new songs. In 2018, the band played a few shows in California as well.

Thank you, Aaron Carnes (episode 111) for the intro to James. Pre-Order Aaron's book In Defense Of Ska at Clashbooks.com

I got James on the Skype and here is what we talked about:

• Playing shows with The Stereo
• Partying with Skankin Pickle
• His thoughts on Double Happiness
• Streetlight Manifesto
• Asian Man Records
• Ska Against Racism
• The German Skinhead story
• Their album Run Screaming
• And a ton more

What Have You Done is a new short film from writer/director Mike Pelak. The film is about what happens when a powerful man with a dead body in his trunk confronts his fixer about what to do. When the identity of the body is revealed, all hell breaks loose.

The film stars Jay Potter and Smitty Chai. Jay is an actor who starred as Roger Mills on Season 1 of FX's Rescue Me and has appeared in feature films The Big Short, The Call, and others. Smitty is an actor who has appeared on Madam Secretary and Blindspot.

The film examines the dark sides of powerful people in society, and the lengths they'll go to keep those things secret; a timely piece in the shadow of a controversial election.

This film has some strong scene connections. Writer/Director Mike Pelak was interviewed on Episode 18. The film's Director of Photography is Christian Lesperance who is the brains behind Jersey Interchange. Dave Flores (Taxicab Samurais) handled location sound for the shoot.

Watch it now at blackoilfilms.com and go like facebook.com/blackoilfilms for additional content, such as explainer videos about how the film was made.

James requests you check out Hod and the Helpers.

Check out Mike Park's new show Music. It's powerful stuff on https://www.youtube.com/c/asianmanrecords

If you market aggressively on Instagram Stories and want custom stickers then go here to get custom stickers or just email [email protected] and I can send you samples. These are great for B2C companies and Realtors.

Feel free to support the podcast for as little as $1 a month through Patreon

Or go to thiswasthescene.com to possibly buy some merch.

Mustard Plug is an American ska punk band from Grand Rapids, Michigan, consisting of Dave Kirchgessner (vocals), Brandon Jenison (trumpet), Jim Hofer (trombone), Nate Cohn (drums), Colin Clive (guitar/vocals), and Rick Johnson (bass). Formed in 1991, the band has regularly toured throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, and South America. They have toured with the Warped Tour twice and participated in the Ska Against Racism Tour. As of 2014, the band has released seven studio albums and continues to tour actively. Explaining the band's goal, Jim Hofer said, "We may have some messages in our music, but essentially we just do this because we love it and we want people to lighten up and have fun."

Thank you to Aaron Carnes (Episode 111) for the intro to Dave.

I got him, Dave, on the Skype and this is what we talked about:

• The Suicide Machines
• My old band playing a show with them in 2000
• the Scene in Michigan
• Moon Ska Records
• The yellow suits
• The consistent mustard theme
• Recording with Bill Stevenson
• Being on Hopeless Records
• His thoughts on Pray for Mojo
• The story behind the video for You
• And a ton more

You can go to mustardplug.com they have a list of every show they've ever played archived

JERSEY INTERCHANGE is an ongoing musical collaboration series that reimagines the songs of the New Jersey punk, hardcore, emo, and ska scenes of the late 1990s / early 2000s. A total of OVER FIFTY DIFFERENT ARTISTS from some of the most beloved bands in the NJ scene cover OVER THIRTY SONGS from other NJ scene bands and artists, and bring a fresh take on the melodies that might have since been buried in basement storage bins, but never forgotten in the memories of the fans who sang along with them over twenty years ago.

Tracks include Heath Saraceno of Midtown and Senses Fail slaying Bigwig's raucous punk anthem "Flavor Ice", Mikey Erg of The Ergs! channeling his best nerd-core self on Atom and His Package's "Punk Rock Academy", and even comedian/actor Chris Gethard serving up some tasty melodies of his own on Weston's "Just Like Kurt". Other artists with songs in the project include Jon Tummillo of Folly, Kevin Lynch and Ed Brown of Shades Apart, Nate Gluck of Ensign, Alf Bartone of Ex Number Five, Jeff Davidson of Catch 22, Jared Hart of Mercy Union, Chris Barker of Lanemeyer, and of course me Mike Doyle!

Check out all of the songs at soundcloud.com/njpparchives/ and like and follow Jersey Interchange on facebook and instagram to get the latest updates and track releases.

If you market aggressively on Instagram Stories and want custom stickers then go here to get custom stickers or just email [email protected] and I can send you samples. These are great for B2C companies and Realtors.

Feel free to support the podcast for as little as $1 a month through Patreon

Or go to thiswasthescene.com to possibly buy some merch.