This Was The Scene Podcast

Sparta is an American post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 2001 by former members of At the Drive-In, including Jim Ward. Known for their melodic yet aggressive sound, the band released influential albums like Wiretap Scars (2002) and Porcelain (2004), Threes (2006), Trust the River (2020), and their Self-Titled in 2020 blending intricate guitar work with emotionally charged lyrics. After multiple hiatuses and lineup changes, Sparta continues to create music, with Jim Ward remaining the core creative force.

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

• Recording in LA during the fires
• U2 changing his life
• Why they didn't work with Ross Robinson again
• Porcelain
• Playing on talk shows
• Big Day Out Festival
• While Oceana Sleeps
• Taking Back Control
• Napolean Solo
• And a ton more

Check out his Girls Sumer Camp called You Rock where During two weeks in July, campers will learn to play an instrument, form a band, write an original song, and perform live on stage. Along with music instruction, campers will participate in community-building workshops, enjoy live musical performances, and more!

Lastly I do whiteboard animations so if your marketing department has said recently "Hey, we need a whiteboard animation" then email me at [email protected]

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

Polar Bear Club was a post-hardcore/melodic punk band from upstate New York. They were active mostly from the mid-2000s to around 2015. Their sound was a mix of gruff, emotional vocals with melodic yet aggressive instrumentals. They released albums on Triple Crown Records, Bridge Nine Records and Rise Records. And toured with such bands as The Gaslight Anthem, Set Your Goals, Four Year Strong, Every Time I Die, The Bouncing Souls, Bad Religion, The Story So Far, Citizen, New Found Glory and Taking Back Sunday.

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

• His band The Disaster
• 2 things that kickstarted them to tour
• Red Leader Records and Matt Rosenberg
• As 'Twere the Mirror
• Member changes
• Clash Battle Guilt Pride
• Bad tours
• His voice changing on the last record
• Audiotree
• How the band ended
• Will there be a reunion
• And a ton more

Check out his new band Shy Tooth on Spotify and all the platforms

Lastly I do whiteboard animations so if your marketing department has said recently "Hey, we need a whiteboard animation" then email me at [email protected].

Codeseven was an influential post-hardcore band from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They started in the mid-1990s and evolved their sound significantly over time. Early in their career, they leaned heavily into metalcore, but as they progressed, their style shifted towards a more melodic, atmospheric post-hardcore sound, blending elements of rock and ambient music. Their album The Rescue (2002) is a standout, showcasing this evolution with its lush, experimental soundscapes. Codeseven disbanded in 2005 but reunited briefly for some shows in the early 2010s. They're often fondly remembered for their genre-defying creativity and emotional depth.

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

• What it was like to tour recently
• Starting off with 2 singers
• Howard Stern critiquing their Boys of Summer cover
• Dave leaving the band
• Not wanting to headline
• Changing their sound
• Getting compared to Cave-In
• Mewithoutyou
• All The Best Dreams
• The Circa Survive tour in 2010
• What brought on the new album
• And a ton more

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

Lastly I started doing whiteboard animations so if your marketing department has said recently "Hey, we need a whiteboard animation" then email me at [email protected].​

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The Blood Brothers were an American post-hardcore band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1997. Known for their chaotic, high-energy sound and distinctive dual-vocal style, they blended elements of punk, screamo, and experimental rock. Their music often featured frenetic rhythms, abrasive guitars, and cryptic, provocative lyrics. The band released several albums during their career, including "Burn, Piano Island, Burn" (2003) and "Crimes" (2004), and "Young Machetes" (2006). They disbanded in 2007 but have reuinited in 2014 for a show and recently at the end of 2024 for a run of shows across the US.

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

• Best Friends Forever Fest
• The early 90s Seattle scene
• Deciding from the start to have 2 singers
• The Locust
• Working with Ross Robinson
• Adding more space to their songs on Crimes
• Mark being an amazing drummer
• The Henry Rollins Show
• And a ton more

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

Lastly I started doing whiteboard animations so if your marketing department has said recently "Hey, we need a whiteboard animation" then email me at [email protected].​

Get your Realtor Instagram Stickers by clicking here.

Panic Division is an electronic rock band founded by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Colton Holliday in San Antonio, Texas. Known for blending electronic soundscapes with rock and pop influences, the band creates a polished, emotionally resonant sound. Their discography includes standout albums like Versus, Songs From the Glasshouse, and Touch, showcasing a mix of cinematic synths and introspective lyrics. Over the years, Panic Division has built a dedicated fan base with their innovative style and genre-defying approach to modern music.

Big shot out to Sam Barker for the suggestion. While interviewing me for a project of his, he mentioned I should get Colton on. So I got him on the Skype and this is what we chat about:

• Loving Metal
• The Snapcase drum sound
• Showcasing for labels
• Having anxiety disorder
• Militia Group not knowing how to place their music in the scene
• The Man Alive Story
• Touring with The Stereo
• Guy chugging a beer through his eyeball story
• Not being able to sell merch when large bands are playing
• Not going to bed until 8 in the morning
• And a ton more

Check out his album Touch and be on the lookout for his new album this year.

PROMO: Shades Apart is playing a show January 25th, and will be celebrating 25 years of Eyewitness. Come witness this rare full album performance at Crossroads in Garwood, NJ.

Click here for tickets.

Lastly I do explainer animations so if your marketing department has said recently "Hey, we need that" then email me at [email protected]

Further Seems Forever is a kick ass fucking band from Florida. They've put out 4 albums, The Moon is Down and Penny Black with Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional fame, How to start a fire with Jason Gleason, and Hide Nothing with Jon Bunch who was the singer of Sensefield.

Thank you to Casey from Iodine Records for connecting me to Steve whom I got on the Skype and this is what we chat about

• Hide Nothing coming out on Iodine for it's 20 yr anniversary
• Furnace Fest's sound issues
• Shai Hulud
• Starting Further Seems Forever
• Playing the first Furnace Fest
• The album artwork for Moon is Down
• Jason entering the band
• The music video for Snowbirds and Townies
• The 2005 Skate and Surf debacle
• Being the Guiness book of World Record holder in the classic arcade game "Mario Bros." – scoring over 5 million points
• And a ton more

Visit kleisath.com for a list of all of Steve's music endeavors.

You can pre-order Hide Nothing on Iodine Recordings website.

Check out his Fanduel roster construction show on youtube on the one week season channel

Lastly I started doing whiteboard animations so if your marketing department has said recently "Hey, we need a whiteboard animation" then email me at [email protected]

Arcade Academy is my old band that I started after Lanemeyer. I decided to tell the story so I got one of my favorite dudes, Sean Bergin, on the Skype and this is what we chat about:

• Meeting Day At The Fair
• Joining Day At The Fair
• Getting kicked out of Day At The Fair
• Meeting each other at the Escape Engine house
• My first clothing line
• Destory Clothing line
• September Sky
• Dan Ryan
• Metal Matt
• Dressing up as Great White right after their club fire
• The infamous Sean Bergin Dance Video
• The inspiration for North Beverwyck
• And a ton more

You can listen to the catalog here.

Click here for the soundcloud songs

Lastly I started doing whiteboard animations so if your marketing department has said recently "Hey, we need a whiteboard animation" then email me at [email protected]

Minus the Bear was an American indie rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2001, and comprising members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. Their sound was described as "Pele-esque guitar-taps and electronics with sophisticated time signature composition."

They released six albums and four EPs. On July 17, 2018, the band announced their retirement and accompanying farewell tour. Their final live performance was December 16, 2018, at The Showbox in Seattle.

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

• Kill Sadie
• Forming Minus the Bear
• Menos el Oso
• Planet of Ice
• Recording Omni
• Partying with Braid
• Animal Backwards
• the video for My Time
• Getting sober (a solid listen for anyone out there struggling with drinking)
• Getting kicked out of the band
• And a ton more

Check out his new projects: Lil Lebowski, Ghost Work, and INDIE DRUMMER COLLECTIVE.

Lastly I started doing whiteboard animations so if your marketing department has said recently "Hey, we need a whiteboard animation" then email me at [email protected].

Victory Records was a hardcore label based out of Chicago. According to their website it says following Concord's 2019 acquisition of Victory, Craft Recordings is now proudly managing the legendary genre-defining catalog. As the catalog division of Concord, Craft is working closely with Victory's artist alumni on a variety of high-quality reissues and special content to honor the label's 30-year legacy and cultural impact that wouldn't be possible without the artists behind it.

I did an interview with Monika Ebly Episode 206 who worked there and it went so well that I decided to interview another alumni employee to get his take on the behind the scenes.

She introduced me to Paul Friemel who I got on the Skype and this is what we chat about:

• Applying to work at Victory
• Meeting Double J
• The Spitalfield mess up
• Hawthorne Heights
• Santa Mosh
• VicTorV
• Pants Off Dance Off
• The Ramsey Manifesto
• Thursday
• And a ton more

Check out his friend's company https://www.seibertron.com/ where Paul participates on their podcast.

Lastly I started doing whiteboard animations so if your marketing department has said recently "Hey, we need a whiteboard animation" then email me at [email protected].

Tokyo Rose is an indie rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. As of 2007 they have released 3 studio albums, and a short demo EP, whilst extensively changing their lineup over their 7 years of activity.

Check out their show at Crossroads in Garwood, NJ w/ Day 19 & Mike Buscio on Friday, Nov. 29.

Huge shot out to John Damiano for connecting me to Ryan who I got on the skype and this is what we chat about:

• Emonite Karaoke
• Day 19
• Not being vocally trained
• All About Records
• Cartel
• Portrait Studios
• Their last record getting leaked with wrong song titles and band name on iTunes
• Kill Brand
• And a ton more

Lastly I started doing whiteboard animations so if your marketing department has said recently "Hey, we need a whiteboard animation" then email me at [email protected].