Dispatches From The Underground

Lauren from the Dispatches from the Underground Collective gets down to talk about the recent mass shootings in the US. On the first part of the show we talk about how more gun control laws are no panacea for this problem. On the second half we talk about the ideologies behind these shootings, especially the racism and misogyny that are emboldened by the insurgent right wing and we talk about how capitalism brings people to be susceptible to these ugly ideologies. And lastly we talk about the role we have in underground / DIY scene in combating these wretched ideologies as they pop up in our scenes and scenes in the same realm as ours. PLUS we listen to tunes from Cliterati, Fat Heaven, and Cop/Out.

Christina and Cody from Basement Dwellers and Punk Island get down to talk about all the sweet shit Basement Dwellers are doing holding down some of the best up and coming punk in DIY NYC. We talk about Cody’s band Alouth and also get neck deep in some of the best of what’s happening at Punk Island 2019 which is happening JUNE 22nd on Randall’s Island from 10 am to 8 pm and as always is ALL AGES and ALL FREE. PLUS we listen to tunes from Alouth, Days N’ Daze, Killer of Sheep, and Intercourse.

Scott Sturgeon aka Stza Crack of Leftöver Crack and Whitney Flynn of Days N Daze get down with Al Ghostcat of Cop/Out, film maker Ryan Kollin and artist Kaitlyn Chen in a seedy hotel in Miami for a Post Tour “Party” or whatever you want to call it. We wrap up this winter 2019 tour: “Still Crusty After All These Years” featuring Leftöver Crack - Days N Daze - and Cop/Out. We tell some fucked up stories from the road, and some good ones, talk a TON of shit … mostly we talk shit … and we talk about punk family and what that means. But we also talk about the new things on the horizon! Whitney tells us about the new Days N Daze album in the works, her solo stuff, and gives us a sneak peak of a book she is writing. Sturgeon talks about the NEW Leftöver Crack songs that they have been performing live lately, and the NEW ALBUM they are working on, as well. He also gives us exclusive first NEWS of what CHOKING VICTIM is up to right now and in the near future! Plus we talk about the likelihood of the next Cracktober fe

Author Aaron Leonard gets down to talk about his new book “A Threat of the First Magnitude” which tells the untold story of the FBI informants who penetrated the upper reaches of organizations such as the Communist Party, USA, the Black Panther Party, the Revolutionary Union and other groups labeled threats to the internal security of the United States. I get a better idea of how Arron got this information, what this book is all about and how it applies to the radical and revolutionary work today. And Arron tells some crazy ass stories about digging through FBI files on revolutionaries and some of he wild shit he has found, and how the US government infiltrated into some wildly high positions and fucked up some great groups. Crazy, crazy shit. Plus we are gonna listen to some music from Tigerman Woah, Grain Assault, Woody Guthrie and Dave Van Ronk.  

Danielle from Out of System Transfer gets down to confront misogyny and patriarchy in the mainstream as well in our every day life, and even in our own underground podcasts. Obviously Trump has called a lot of the worst misogynists to be more bold in our already backward society, we try to get a better understanding of the effects of that, as we also look at the incredible movements that have developed to empower women. We make sense of this moment we are in and talk about the incredible potential for change, societally as well as personally to reach toward genuine women's liberation. We are gonna talk about all of that and Out of System’s up coming national tour, as well as a healthy mouth of trash talking about your favorite bros. Plus we are gonna listen to some music from Out of System Transfer, Crazy Baldhead, and Troll 2.

Brett and Chris from NJ’s Crazy and the Brains get down to talk about their new album, their recent tour with Negative Approach and Leftöver Crack, and how they get their unique sound. Plus we talk about New Year’s resolutions and getting a grip on our life or world or whatever. And we wildly talk shit about everything you care about, a bunch of brutal tour stories, and which famous punks we most want to wrestle … and which wrestlers we’d need to get that done. PLUS we listen to tunes from Negative Approach, Cool Grandma, and of course Crazy and the Brains. 

Enrique from the Massachusetts band Los Bungalitos gets down to talk about their new album Nueva Inglaterra. We talk about the journey this wicked collection of musicians goes through when they make this blistering music, and Enrique shows us we can be positive and uplifting even while we are conscious and critical, something we all too often lose sight up when we are constantly buried under the bullshit. And of course we also manage to talk a ton of shit too, mostly about wiffle ball and the obvious intersection of politics and professional wrestling. PLUS we listen to tunes from Los Bungalitos, Hivesmasher, and Intifada, Luis Diaz & Yallzee.    

Mani Mostofi from the band Racetraitor gets down to talk about current political in the US, the continuing rise of the far right, and political violence, the latter of which is sorely needed at this moment. In the wake of the horrible murders committed by a rightwing shooter in Pittsburgh as well as these whacked mail bombing attempts by a mega Trump supporter, the mainstream media and government officials have made a massive effort to cast all political violence in the same light, lumping together these backward nut jobs or crazy ass proud boys with the righteous struggle of antifascists here in the US. We sort all this out in a way the mainstream media is fully unwilling or unable to do, and Mani breaks it all down with incredible clarity. THEN we talk about Racetraitor’s new album “2042”, listen to a few tracks from their album and also listen to a few songs from Redbait and La Armada.

Jesse & Onion from Escape from the Zoo get down to talk about the new split record, “All Cells Are Bogus”, they just put out with Skull Caster. Then there is a healthy amount of stories and shit talking stories from the tour they just wrapped up together. PLUS we listen to tunes from Skull Caster and Escape from the Zoo’s new record as well as Apes of the State and Mickey Rickshaw.

Host Joey Steel recounts all of what happened this month as he filled in as one of the singers of Leftöver Crack on a short Canadian tour this month. Lauren of the DftU collective gets down to talk to Joey about what happened and anything we can learn from this whole ordeal. Leftöver Crack’s singer and guitar player, Scott Sturgeon aka Stza Crack and Brad Logan were denied entry into Canada. Joey happened to be with the band as well as David Tejas of the Krum Bums, Starving Wolves, and now the Casualties. They reflect on the good, the bad, and the Leftöver Crack of the tour. . . and they talk a bunch of shit. PLUS we listen to music from Skull Caster, Starving Wolves, We Are the Union, and of course Leftöver Crack.

Mike from the NYC/BX band Almost Aimless gets down to talk about anti-capitalism and veganism. We talk about the connection between these two outlooks, and debate whether if you are anti-capitalist you should also be a vegan or not. We walk through what these outlooks really are and whether or not they flow into and out of each other. And obviously we talk a ton of trash too. PLUS we listen to tunes from Subhumans, Gather, Good Riddance, and of course Almost Aimless.

Shawna Potter from War on Women gets down this week to discuss her music, the triumphs and challenges of bringing conscious, feminist punk music to the masses, and classic cartoon theme songs. But mostly we talk about War on Women’s amazing brand new album “Capture the Flag” available on Bridge Nine Records. PLUS we listen to tunes from Cop/Out, The Charley Few, Sister Munch, Out.Live.Death, and of course we listen to a tune from War on Women’s new album.

Cop/Out is a new punk band from NYC made up punx from a bunch of other incredible NYC bands. All of the Cop/Out members, John, Kate, and Al along with DftU host Joey Steel get down this week to talk about the band, their sound, and what brings them to do this new band, despite that they are all in other bands. Then on the second half of the show we talk about Punk Island which everyone in Cop/Out organizes. We discuss why Punk Island is so incredible and why other fests obsessed with big, old names and making hordes of money just can’t bring the punk that Punk Island can. PLUS we listen to Cop/Out, The Jukebox Romantics, Baby Got Back Talk, and Nevva.

Kate Hoos gets down today to talk about Spring, sort of. We talk about the challenge of ending of the old and the struggles over the beginning of the new. Kate’s band Lady Bizness is coming to an end while she is starting new projects and developing her work as a photographer. PLUS we listen to Lady Bizness, War on Women, Spandex, and Rats in the Wall.  

All Torn Up! members Jason Tancer, Cello Amati, and Joey Steel get interviewed by Ira Cogan for Maximum Rock'n'Roll issue #420. We talk about writing, band battles, how we have changed over the years, hating on the serenity prayer, making the world a better place, and the great scene we have in NYC. Plus we talk a ton of shit and I think we talk a out football and Trump somewhere in there, too. Plus we listen to tunes from All Torn Up! and Jason and Joey’s other band Skull Caster.

Davey Hooligan from the NYHC band Enziguri gets down to talk about everything from the bands newest release “Uptown Boogie Down” to piece of shit midwestern transplants (like Joey) ruining NYC and then we end up talking about anxiety and panic attacks. It all makes sense on the episode, I promise. Plus we listen to tunes from Trashy, Lady Bizness, Broken Dead, and of course Enziguri. 

Filthy Phill, former cohost of this podcast and frontman for the NYC punk band World War IX gets down this week to help me process and compare our adventures touring through Europe. We spend half the episode sifting through some of the weirder elements of the bohemian-esque lifestyle and of course we talk a lot of shit…literally this time. And we also talk about what’s new with Phill from bands to babies. Plus we listen to tunes from WWIX, Screamin Rebel Angels, a band Phill and I were in together… THE WILL … from a lost recording we JUST released!

Lauren Ross of the Dispatches from the Underground collective gets down to talk about the impact and fall out from the progress of the “Me Too” campaign as it tears through Hollywood and beyond. We get some perspective on how misogyny has ravaged the brains of all bros all around us, how coercion and sexual assault still ravage our society and how brave women are battling back to give us all a taste of the beautiful world we could have where women are not constantly demeaned and disempowered. And we engage the insane idea that “Me Too” could ever go too far in our lifetimes. Plus we listen to tunes from X, Rats in the Wall, The Interrupters, and Sister Munch.

Jay Crash and Kevin Hudson of the Portland punk band GROUND SCORE get down to defend pop punk in the face of Joey’s incessant ignorance, and talk about the past, present, and future of their band. Through the stories and shit talking we do end up getting some good solid perspective on community and punk in general too. Plus we listen to tunes from GROUND SCORE’S brand new album, DIRTY KID DISCOUNT, NOOGY, and RATS IN THE WALL.

Ryan Kollin, Lauren Ross, and Nicole Von Haack get down this week to talk shit about down and dirty DIY punk touring as we just got back from our month on the road with SKULL CASTER. Then on the second half of the show we review the authenticity of a horror (-esque) movie about punk touring, GREEN ROOM. And we leave you with a few simple ANTIFA tips on how punk bands can guard against ending up in these very real situations. Plus we listen to tunes from BROKEN DEAD, THE INSPECTED, CORRUPTED YOUTH, GROUND SCORE, and my band SKULL CASTER.