Vinyl Emergency

It's a family affair this week as my cousin-in-law Kyle Fasel, bassist and lyricist of Real Friends, comes on to discuss keeping vinyl in stock in their merch store, his role as "band dad," what it's like having his ACTUAL dad on the road with him and what to expect from the group's new album, produced by Steve Evetts (Saves The Day, Dillinger Escape Plan)! We also chat about why specific album covers speak to him and how it felt to play their hometown 20,000-seat amphitheater on Warped Tour, as well as their upcoming sold-out $5 Tour, starting March 5th. Visit realfriendsband.com to connect with Kyle and crew. PLUS: I'll announce next week's guest as well our next vinyl giveaway from Run For Cover Records! Follow the show at facebook.com/vinylemergency and twitter.com/vinylemergency, and write the program at vinylemergency@gmail.com. 

My good pals and self-described "crappy twins" Josh and Chris Marcanti -- both of the Rock And Roll Brunch Podcast -- join me for an in-depth talk about the current state of vinyl and what the future could hold for music fans and the industry as a whole. Having played music together for years (both in The American Autumn and now The Throwbacks), we also discuss whether twins indeed have a secret language, being in a cover band after years of performing original material, and the many reactions they would get while podcasting at diners and restaurants. You can check out music from The American Autumn at theamericanautumn.bandcamp.com, follow The Throwbacks at facebook.com/thethrowbackschicago and hear some of the old classic Rock and Roll Brunch episodes at rockandrollbrunch.tumblr.com! Be sure to follow us at facebook.com/vinylemergency and twitter.com/vinylemergency, and write the show with comments, questions or suggestions at vinylemergency@gmail.com!

  Ryan Matteson is the former editor-in-chief and founder of the popular music blog Muzzle Of Bees and he's currently employed by C3 Presents, where he manages a wide-range of bands including The Mountain Goats, Bully, Toro Y Moi, The Dismemberment Plan and Strand of Oaks. Both a devout Milwaukee Brewers fan and native Wisconsinite like myself, Ryan and I discuss how he went from blogging to artist management (with a few years of public relations work for Milwaukee's renowned Pabst Theater in between), as well as his vinyl white whales. We also delve into how we both personally held the birthday cake featured on the cover of Wilco The Album, how complete luck snagged him one of the rarest Pearl Jam vinyl releases there is, the thrill of booking bands on late-night TV, and lots more! Our winner for the Jay Ryan poster contest is also announced, and I discuss a bit of cool news about the podcast! Be sure to follow Ryan at twitter.com/muzzleofbees, and follow Vinyl Emergency at facebook.com/vinylemergency and tw

What a blast to have the incredibly talented Jay Ryan on the program! A world-renowned artist and screen printer, Jay has created iconic, hand-drawn poster and album art for the likes of Andrew Bird, Archers of Loaf, Hum, Shellac and countless others. He's featured prominently in Just Like Being There (a 2012 documentary film on the poster industry), and later this year, Akashic Books will release No One Told Me Not To Do This, Jay's third collection of his best work. Here, we discuss Jay's inspirations, his past and present connections with vinyl, performing in Dianogah, Hubcap, his most recent band Whelms -- as well as a very short stint in Braid -- and much more. Visit thebirdmachine.com to purchase Jay's work and follow his updates via instagram.com/thebirdmachine and facebook.com/actualbirdmachine. 

Jim's best record-shopping buddy Rob Clark (Rockton, IL) discusses both the up's and down's of online vinyl communities, how he navigated the CD revolution, sharing vinyl with his teenage daughter, potential retail price gouging vs. dollar bin digging, VPI machines, adoption, beekeeping, and lots more! You can view Rob's videos that we discuss viayoutube.com/user/EoLoVoX/videos and follow him on instagram.com/eolovox. Be sure to follow the program too at facebook.com/vinylemergency and twitter.com/vinylemergency, or write the show with any comments, questions or suggestions at vinylemergency@gmail.com!

Author, freelance writer and Do You Know Who You Are? podcast host Eric Grubbs comes on the show to discuss the wide range of influences that got him into vinyl - Face To Face, Eric Carmen, Pet Shop Boys and Bruce Springsteen among them - as well has how inspiration can literally come from being hit on the head! We also discuss his 2008 book "POST: A Look at the Influence of Post-Hardcore 1985-2007" at length, including anecdotes on interviewing members of Fugazi, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Promise Ring and more for it. You can listen to Eric's podcast at soundcloud.com/eric-grubbs, and become a fan of the show at facebook.com/doyouknowpod. 

Our first edition of Collector's Club is with Chris Fitzgerald (Grand Prairie, TX), who talks about how his vinyl obsession began, when he knows it's the right time to purge some his record collection and his day job as a contract administrator with one of the world's largest concert promoters! We also discuss the state of mainstream country music, how his 5-year-old daughter took to vinyl, meeting your musical idols on the job, and lots more! Be sure to follow Vinyl Emergency at facebook.com/vinylemergency and twitter.com/vinylemergency, and write the show at vinylemergency@gmail.com. 

Troubled Hubble drummer and acclaimed photographer Nate Lanthrum talks with host Jim Hanke on this debut episode! Nate has photographed the likes of President Obama, U2, R.E.M. and Tom Waits, but the work he's most proud of was featured by the Chicago Tribune in 2014, spotlighting his interaction with the last families living in the Cabrini-Green housing projects. We discuss his original interest in vinyl (which then parlayed into collecting cameras), Troubled Hubble's early days and recent reunion after a 10-year hiatus, what it's like to be a juvenile probation officer in the digital age and he tells some hilarious stories about meeting both 30 Seconds To Mars and Fugazi's Ian MacKaye. Visit Nate's photography portfolio at nplanthrum.com and keep tabs on all things Hubble at troubledhubble.com!