Vinyl Emergency

Through his various jobs in music marketing, Tom Mullen has always been and still is a fan, first and foremost. Making a website for one of his favorite groups led to a storied career with punk/indie labels like Equal Vision and Vagrant to larger companies like EMI and Legacy Recordings/Sony Music, where he is currently Senior Director of Creative and Marketing Partnerships. He's had the pleasure of working directly with icons such as Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Cyndi Lauper and more, though indie-rock fans know him well as the founder and voice behind the Washed Up Emo podcast and IsThisBandEmo.com, a search engine devoted to the seemingly ageless debate about where bands stand within the genre. Today, we discuss the venerable emo museum of videos, flyers and other memorabilia that fans and bands send his way, some out-of-print seven-inches he was recently gifted, why MTV called him about rare Nirvana video footage he unearthed and JeffBuckleyCollection.com -- worked on directly with the Buckley family -- w

Through projects like Pedro The Lion, Headphones, Overseas and Lo Tom -- as well as his solo material -- David Bazan is known as one of today's most prolific, affecting songwriters. In recent years with manager Bob Andrews at Undertow, he has explored various ways to bring his music directly and more intimately to his fans, whether through his 7" vinyl subscription series, doing house shows vs. large club tours, his Alone At The Microphone DVD or various releases that beautifully reshape songs he's previously released, giving them new angles. Today, David chats extensively about America's current political climate, the richness of Tom Petty's "Wildflowers," what it's like to be in a band with those who made the first album he ever bought and much more. We also hear 2 EXCLUSIVE LIVE PERFORMANCES from David, recorded live at Chicago's Lincoln Hall. Follow @DavidBazan on Twitter and Instagram, and visit DavidBazan.com for tour dates and more.

Host of the Record Nerdz podcast Kristian Sorge joins me to discuss his 5,000+ collection of records, his urge to collect only the rarest forms of any particular album, digging at the world's largest record fair in Holland, and his day-job as a casting director, working on films like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist." We also talk about specific rare releases in his collection from The Misfits, Run The Jewels, Shellac and more, plus we find out what on earth a "vinyl hot stamper" is! Follow both Kristian and Record Nerdz on Instagram (@thepunkguy and @recordnerdz, respectively), and find the Record Nerdz podcast on iTunes, Soundcloud or however you listen to podcasts.  

For 13 years, Doug Sohn was the purveyor and head chef of Hot Doug's, one of Chicago's many must-eat establishments before the encased-meat emporium closed in the fall of 2014. During that time, Doug served up to 800 sausages a day -- with each usually being named after a musician, actress or former Cubs player. Lines wrapped around the block no matter the weather, and Hot Doug's gained acclaim from foodie household names like Anthony Bourdain and Graham Elliot. Those with the dedication to get the restaurant's logo tattooed on their body even ate for free for life there, as documented in 2013's Hot Doug's: The Book. But for those who missed out on experiencing the deliciousness of Hot Doug's the first time around, his frankfurters can now be found in the bleachers section of Wrigley Field -- along with Doug himself most home games -- as well at "takeover"-type events that raise money for local charities. Today, Doug discusses his vinyl memories, The Untitled Hour podcast he's co-hosted with Chicago musician

Chicago's Smoking Popes are one of my seminal favorite bands, having released several crucial albums of lovelorn power-pop including 1994's Born To Quit and 1997's Destination Failure. Gaining notoriety via soundtrack appearances on films like Clueless, Tommy Boy and Angus, the band split up at the turn of the century, reformed 11 years ago, and have since added a few more proper full-lengths to their catalog while focusing their performances primarily around the Midwest. Recorded on a rainy night in his church office, singer/guitarist Josh Caterer -- now a pastor of music and worship -- discusses the influence of his father's record collection on he and his bandmate brothers, getting the first few Popes seven-inches pressed, the process of reissuing Born To Quit on vinyl, astonishing interactions with both Morrissey and Dave Grohl, the new EP Black As Midnight from his blues-focused band Jackson Mud, and so much more! PLUS Josh graciously performs two songs LIVE and exclusively for Vinyl Emergency! Follow @j

Aside from music and vinyl, baseball is my next biggest passion so it's a thrill this week to welcome former Milwaukee Brewers and current Pittsburgh Pirates play-by-play radio announcer Joe Block to the show! Today, we discuss record stores he remembers in his native Detroit growing up, how collecting vinyl is not unlike having baseball cards as a kid, his love for Motown and hip-hop over the years, working with "Mr. Baseball" himself Bob Uecker during Joe's tenure in Milwaukee, life on the road during the 162-game season, who gets him starstruck, what cities might be due for an MLB expansion team, and much more! Be sure to follow Joe on Twitter @joe_block, and follow the show @VinylEmergency on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.  

Music discussion and vinyl news podcast Sharing Needles With Friends has been both a favorite of mine for years as well as an inspiration for me to start Vinyl Emergency. Based out of Knoxville, TN and fueled by the nearly 20-year camaraderie of hosts Derek Jones and Gene Priest, SNWF is an always informative and hilarious listen, whether they're talking about their own record collections, what excites them about upcoming releases, or divisive topics, like whatever Kanye West is up to that particular week. Derek and Gene were kind enough to air this interview as their own SNWF episode a few weeks ago as a showing of solidarity and cross-promotion, but if you're brand new to SNWF, buckle up for a really fun episode! We also revisit our new segment Where's The Wax?, by bringing 15 more albums to the table that need a vinyl pressing.

In 2015, Chicago-based company Gramovox launched a Kickstarter campaign for their gorgeous Floating Record Vertical Turntable. With over $1 million in backing and now almost a year to the date of their Kickstarter launch, Gramovox is still turning heads in both the vinyl/audio realm as well as the tech world, with both the Vertical Turntable and their Bluetooth Gramophone, as they strive to meld sleek, old-fashioned design with today's technology. I recently sat down with CEO/Co-Founder Pavan Bapu, Media Production Manager Jack Pochop and Customer Service Specialist Lewis McKinney to talk about Gramovox's early days, how the turntable itself works, what questions they hear from lifelong vinyl collectors and those buying their first turntable, how social media -- and #NowFloating -- plays a huge role in sharing their products, and of course, what their first ever album purchases were. Visit Gramovox.com and follow them @Gramovox on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow this program on Twitter, Facebook and I

Matt Shiverdecker -- member of the Austin Film Critics Association and former music director/on-air host of WOXY -- joins me this week to discuss his record collection, how vinyl bootleggers are making a killing off of today's major hip-hop artists, the many phases of WOXY over the years, how Nielsen ratings currently work for radio, the struggles of music programming immediately after September 11th (when certain songs were under scrutiny due to their titles, subject matter or band names), how crazy it gets in Austin during SXSW and much more! We also debut a new Vinyl Emergency segment -- Where's The Wax? -- where we bring ten albums to the table that aren't currently on vinyl, discuss why they likely haven't been pressed and why we need them! Follow Matt on Twitter @shivvy and on Instagram at @mattshiv. 

Vinyl Me, Please has been supplying record lovers with exclusive album presses each month -- whether they be well-known classics, brand new releases or long-buried gems -- since January 2013 as a subscription-based service. Today, VMP's head of label relations Cameron Schaefer and I discuss their growth over the last three years, the feedback they get from their subscribers, how each Album of the Month is chosen and what it was like to hold the original UK master tapes of The Beatles' "Abbey Road," when he visited Capitol Records' extensive archives! We also discuss his youth in rural Wyoming and his career as a pilot in the Air Force prior to joining VMP. Visit vinylmeplease.com for more info on how to subscribe, and follow @VinylMePlease on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow Cameron on Twitter and Instagram, @cjschaefer. Be sure to listen as well for details on our Everclear vinyl giveaway this week -- courtesy of Intervention Records -- and follow @VinylEmergency on Twitter, Facebook and

On this Collector's Club episode of the show, I chat with Indianapolis resident Nicholas Lynch -- an aficionado on all vinyl and novelties released by Jack White and Third Man Records! Whether a TMR release is liquid-filled, tri-colored, triple-decker, pressed onto old x-rays or can only be played at just 3 RPM, chances are Nicholas has it in his collection! We discuss how he's traded baseball cards with Jack in person, whether or not Nicholas hopes for a White Stripes reunion, his special behind-the-scenes Third Man tour, what makes TMR releases so collectable and rare, and the current market for some of the rarest Jack White-related gems... some of which are selling for nearly $20,000! Nicholas shares his collection visually at instagram.com/thirdmancollector, so go check it out along with today's conversation! Follow Vinyl Emergency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and write the show at vinylemergency@gmail.com.

We all know what it's like to listen to vinyl, but what's it like to hand-pour or physically press them? Heather and Sarah from Gotta Groove and Wax Mage join me this week to talk about their side of the record industry and their unique, one-of-a-kind colored vinyl creations that are gaining them fans from all over the world. We also discuss the age old question of whether colored records sound better or worse than standard black pressings, Wax Mage's upcoming Heavy Haze compilation, what crazy requests for album variants they've heard from labels and bands, and much more! Visit Heather and Sarah at instagram.com/waxmagerecords, facebook.com/waxmagerecords, be sure to enter this week's Wax Mage contest for a free shirt, stickers and pins, aaaaand use the code VINYLEMERGENCY for 50% off anything at waxmagerecords.com! PLUS our flipbin contest winner is announced! Follow @VinylEmergency on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, write the show at vinylemergency@gmail.com and while visiting our new sponsor MusicDire

Seemingly born into radio, Ryan Arnold is an avid music fanatic beyond what you hear him spin as a DJ on Chicago's WXRT. When he's not on the air, you can find him record shopping, checking out local bands and generally supporting any and all who are creating, showcasing or promoting music in the Windy City. I interviewed Ryan at the XRT studios after an awesome lunch at The Billy Goat Tavern, and we discussed his previous experience working on a railroad, what makes Chicago special musically, what he's been spinning lately, this year's Lollapalooza line-up and lots more! You can follow Ryan via @ryanarnoldrocks on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. And make sure to follow the show via @vinylemergency as well, and write the show: vinylemergency@gmail.com.

275 miles, 6 record stores and 2 states in 1 day. I made it my mission on Record Store Day 2016 to bring you a slew of interviews with vinyl collectors of all sorts in both Wisconsin and Illinois (fathers and daughters, aunts and nephews, couples, best friends and more) about their passion for records and what they wanted from this year's list of exclusive releases. Plus I chat with several record store owners about their prep for the big crowds and their love for their customers on the biggest music shopping day of the year! In Milwaukee, these chats took place at The Exclusive Company (Farwell Ave.), Rush-Mor Records, Off the Beaten Path and ACME Records & Music Emporium, plus there's audio from show-sponsor Pinwheel Records in Chicago as well as Rediscover Records in Elgin, IL. I also talk with Ben Robertson and Chris Baronner of flipbin, a new Chicago-made record display product whose Kickstarter campaign recently launched in order to help vinyl lovers better organize their "now playing" or "recently

Fresh off our interview with bassist Todd Bell of Braid and Hey Mercedes, I sat down in Nashville with the other half of that incredible rhythm section, drummer Damon Atkinson! We discuss the Hey Mercedes reunion this year starting July 8th and upcoming re-release of their debut album "Everynight Fire Works," setting up his own drum kit and tour rig in his mom's basement at an early age, doing D.I.Y. cassette duplication and 7" sleeve assembly in early bands like Altered States and Figurehead, how drum-teching for groups such as Thrice and Senses Fail parlayed into a full-on career in tour management, why Shirley Manson from Garbage gave him her old Palm Pilot, and his connection to Nicoletto's Pasta Co., a new fast-casual Italian restaurant in Nashville! Follow @heymercedes2016 on Twitter and Instagram for all their updates this year, and you can also follow Damon at twitter.com/damonetm and instagram.com/damonatkinson. PLUS I announce our Black Sabbath vinyl winner, and chat briefly with return guest Rob Cl

Since I moved to suburban Chicago almost ten years ago, Nick Digilio has been a constant audio companion for me in both radio and podcast form. During his 2-5am shift weekday mornings on one of the most storied stations in the medium, you'll often hear Nick -- an on-air host since 1998 and having been a part of WGN 720 AM for over 30 years -- engaging with listers on topics ranging from favorite comfort foods to misheard song lyrics to iconic movie lines, always sporting a genuine passion for the arts and a hilarious, self-deprecating levity along the way, while winning a handful of Illinois Broadcasters Association awards to boot. Today, I talk with Nick about how the resurgence of 70mm film relates to today's vinyl comeback, which album he has owned in every format imaginable, a little-known fact about High Fidelity's classic Beta Band scene and how his sobriety has improved his life both on and off the air. Follow @NickDShow on both Twitter and Facebook, and subscribe to his uncut podcasts on iTunes! PLUS:

April Fool's Day seems fitting to welcome the hilarious Brian Stack, who you've likely seen on shows like 30 Rock, The Office, Parks and Recreation or New Girl! Currently a writer on CBS' Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Brian started on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 1997, winning an Emmy for writing on the show ten years later and appearing as the caped and mustachioed Interrupter, hapless door-to-door salesman Hannigan and the ghost of old-time radio crooner Artie Kendall, among a slew of other characters. He followed Conan to both his truncated tenure at The Tonight Show and his current TBS program, but moved with his family back to New York and joined the Colbert staff this past September. Brian joins me to talk about his love for The Replacements, Late Night's strides to give new artists a stage (even providing Radiohead their U.S. television debut!), what vinyl box set he recently bought despite no longer owning a turntable, his improv comedy heroes while living in Chicago, and yes... what it's

Back in 2014, I interviewed Braid and Hey Mercedes bassist Todd Bell about his record collection for a written piece on Modern-Vinyl.com, which led to us digging together on Record Store Day 2015. So when I began this podcast, I knew Todd would be a more-than-willing guest to discuss his vast stockpile of over 2,500 albums. In this episode, we chat about the benefits of Japanese pressings, the art of the mix CD (and trading said CD's with his pals in Jawbox and Texas Is The Reason), the good ol' days of sending cash and coins through the mail for records, Braid's love affair with off-kilter time signatures, still finding time to skateboard as a busy dad (with fellow musician and busy dad Dan Didier of Maritime/The Promise Ring), inheriting his father's classic Sansui receiver (purchased while stationed in Okinawa during his time in the Air Force) and much more! We also get some EXCLUSIVE, not-yet-announced Braid repress news direct from Todd, and you can enter our Braid vinyl prize pack giveaway! Follow the s

Long before his current position as Editorial Director of Onion Inc., -- and his freelance work for Magnet, Spin and Rolling Stone -- Josh Modell created Milk Magazine (along with his buddy Jim Minor), a D.I.Y. publication responsible for introducing me to independent music when I was just a high-schooler. Josh and I discuss his vinyl obsessions when he was younger, his tenure at Milwaukee's storied Atomic Records (with memories of in-store performances from The Wedding Present, Frank Black and Jason Molina), pressing vinyl for acts like Clem Snide and Crooked Fingers on his Foreign Leisure label, how The Promise Ring's "Very Emergency" album got its title (and his role as a milkman in the band's "Emergency! Emergency!" music video), his favorite A Very Milky Christmas memories and A.V. Undercover segments, the benefits and drawbacks of internet commenting and much more! Follow Josh at twitter.com/joshmodell and tune in as well for details on our current giveaway: A hand-crafted wood album jacket display, cou

A massive record collector with an inspirational work ethic that rivals the busiest musicians in the business, Evan Weiss has released more material just under the Into It. Over It. moniker than most bands do in a lifetime. Throw in his side-projects Pet Symmetry and Their / They're / There, his production work for acts like Xerxes, Annabel or You Blew It, and releasing friends'  albums on his own Storm Chasers Ltd. label, and you'd wonder how he has time for even *listening* to music, let alone touring and recording. On this episode, Evan talks about going completely analog with renowned producer John Vanderslice for his new album "Standards" (out March 11th on Triple Crown), the 12 different inserts to the "Standards" vinyl pressing, his early obsessions with Peter Gabriel and Depeche Mode, checking what his own catalog goes for on vinyl auction sites, what releases of his he'll never repress, and so much more! Visit intoitoverit.com for tour dates, PLUS learn how to enter this week's contest for a copy of