Vinyl Emergency

This is an encore presentation of our 100th episode with Pat Sansone of Wilco. The band will be reissuing their third album Summerteeth as a 5LP/4CD box set this Friday, Nov. 6th.

Enjoy this encore presentation from January 2020, featuring our conversation with drummer Daru Jones. You may have seen him recently on SNL backing up Jack White, and his latest collaboration with Pete Rock titled PeteStrumentals 3 drops on December 11.

Kansas City native Nathan Ellis joined the pioneering experimental outfit Coalesce in the late 90's, as they made a name across the globe for intricate dynamics partnered with the fervency of hardcore punk and a live show that bordered on chaos. He later formed The Casket Lottery with more dialed-in, yet equally engaging songwriting, pointing to area bands like Boys Life, Kill Creek and Giants Chair as influences. A few years ago saw the vinyl reissue of the band's first three full-lengths, and today's wide-ranging conversation with Nathan takes us from Vincent Price to baseball, as well as obscure Robert Smith side-project The Glove to The Casket Lottery's truly-collaborative split EP with longtime friends Small Brown Bike. The band's new album Short Songs For End Times comes out November 6th, and can be pre-ordered at wiretaprecords.limitedrun.com. Visit @thecasketlottery on Instagram for further updates.

4x Grammy-winning producer, engineer and mixer Vance Powell has worked with a wide range of artists and bands including Chris Stapleton, Buddy Guy and Phish. For vinyl collectors, he's arguably most known for being a consistent studio go-to for Jack White, not only being involved with proper studio releases from Jack and his various projects (The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs) but Vance is behind the boards of most every Live At Third Man Records LP, where bands record short sets in front of a couple hundred fans, direct-to-acetate. On this episode, Vance points to his favorite Third Man sessions he's recorded (including some Radiohead demos), how Chris Stapleton's famous cover of "Tennessee Whiskey" almost didn't happen, and why Vance's own barbecue kept him from his dream of recording U2. Visit sputniksound.com for more info on Vance's work, and follow him on Instagram and Twitter @vancalot. 

Early in his musical development, Dan Wilson was sure his true calling was to be a songwriter-for-hire, similar to his heroes like Carole King. And this drive continued despite the rise of his own Minneapolis-based band Semisonic in the late 90's and early 2000's, whose massive hit "Closing Time" remains one of the most recognizable singles of the late 20th century. As the trio's pace slowed, Wilson began accumulating co-writing gigs, eventually leading to a full-on second career behind the scenes, hitting a new peak by partnering with Adele on her smash "Someone Like You," which eerily enough turned out to be one of the most recognizable singles of the next century. On the cusp of a new Semisonic EP titled You're Not Alone dropping September 18th -- featuring their first new music in nearly two decades -- Dan chats about being blown away by the 20th anniversary vinyl pressing of Semisonic's Feeling Strangely Fine, how losing the band's original master tapes in the now-infamous Universal fire actually inspire

From the first time she ever put a Kylie Minogue cassette in her pink Sony stereo, Australia native Emma Swift has been a music obsessive. Her songwriting prowess brought her to Nashville in 2013 and she recently dropped the terrific LP Blonde On The Tracks, an album of Bob Dylan covers ranging from 1965's "Queen Jane Approximately" all the way to this year's "I Contain Multitudes" (which Dylan released as a single only just a few months ago), backed up by partner Robyn Hitchcock and Wilco's Pat Sansone. On this episode, Emma talks about Gram Parsons being a sort of "gateway drug" to country music, splurging on 7" Smiths singles while in Japan and why her dad was "a record collector's worst nightmare." Follow her on socials @emmaswiftsings, and get Blonde On The Tracks digitally or on vinyl from emmaswift.bandcamp.com.

Long before his flawless debut album Dying Star in 2018, Ruston Kelly had been loud and clear about metal and punk rock shaping his brand of Americana songwriting. But last year's covers EP, Dirt Emo Vol. 1, cemented that fact and laid out a confessional throughline between Taylor Swift and Saves The Day. On this episode, we’ll hear how vinyl played an important role in Ruston’s childhood, his attraction to authenticity -- be it from Eminem or the Carter Family -- and after overcoming addiction, what event made him realize "the universe is not out to get me, it’s out to show me what things are worth." Ruston’s new album Shape & Destroy is available August 28th, wherever you get physical or digital music. Visit RustonKelly.com for vinyl pre-orders and more. 

For more than 20 years, Kentucky quintet My Morning Jacket has continually shifted and grown its sound — embracing folk, soul and psychedelia — leading to three Grammy nominations and a reputation as one of the best live acts working today. Half a decade after releasing their seventh studio album The Waterfall, ten more tracks from those same sessions emerged earlier this month with the surprise announcement of The Waterfall II, giving fans fresh material to digest while concerts are off the table during the current pandemic. On today’s show, bassist and founding MMJ member Tom Blankenship (aka Two-Tone Tommy) chats about thrash metal, playing 1st century coliseums while on tour in Italy, and why now was the right time to let fans know that there was more Waterfall material to be had. Visit MyMorningJacket.com for band news and vinyl pre-orders of The Waterfall II, and follow Tom on Instagram and Twitter, @sometomguy.

Los Angeles native Robert Fisher has designed records for some of the most popular acts since the alternative rock boom, including Beck, Weezer and No Doubt. But starting with 'Nevermind' onward -- including all posthumous releases following Kurt Cobain's death -- Robert is most recognized for being Nirvana's sole art director, creating iconic album covers, sleeves for singles, box set packaging and anything else relating to arguably the most important band of the last 30 years. Recently, Robert launched the @NirvanaBucket Instagram feed, dedicated to his body of work for the group and showcasing rare flyers, tapes, scrapped ideas and even items Kurt provided him for inspiration throughout their partnership.  On today's show, Robert discusses how the final version of 'Nevermind' came to be, as well as stories surrounding Beck's 'Odelay' and Urge Overkill's 'Saturation'. HIs latest work for Nirvana is on the 'Live & Loud' 2LP set, released last summer, capturing the band's 1993 performance in Seattle for

First emerging from Minneapolis in the mid-80's, The Jayhawks have become one of the most noteworthy and influential bands within Americana/folk-rock, releasing a pair of albums between 1992 and 1995 (Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow the Green Grass) that are cited by fans and critics alike as touchstones of their genre. Today, lead singer/guitarist Gary Louris dives into his love of Krautrock, touring the Acoustic Sounds pressing plant, hunting for weird Italian or French LP's, and the one record that cost him a speeding ticket. The Jayhawks' new album XOXO comes out July 10th. Visit jayhawksofficial.com for social media, Gary's acoustic streaming performances during quarantine and more.

Joseph "Run" Simmons and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels formed Run-DMC in the early 1980's and, over 35 years since being joined by groundbreaking DJ Jam Master Jay and releasing their first single, the trio is still recognized as one of rap and hip-hop's most influential acts. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, Run-DMC was the first rap group to appear on MTV, on the cover of Rolling Stone, to be nominated for a Grammy, and to have albums go gold, platinum and multi-platinum. Since officially disbanding the group after the 2002 murder of Jam Master Jay, DMC has written two memoirs, launched a comic book line and co-founded a charity for foster children, on top of making music and touring.   This week, DMC tells us about selling his Marvel comic book collection as a kid to kickstart his hip-hop career, why he and Run hated the cover art for the Raising Hell LP, fighting their label to keep vinyl going as the CD revolution began, and how vinyl itself remains a continual part of his artistic existe

Raised in Virginia, Caroline Spence grew up experiencing vinyl mainly through her dad's taped collection of Beatles records, and later absorbed that collection - along with her aunt's LP's - as she began to make a name for herself as a singer/songwriter both in and outside of Nashville. Rolling Stone heralded her 2019 full-length Mint Condition as "a gorgeous reflection on finding peace amid upheaval and confusion," delivering "deft chronicles of interpersonal complexity." This week, Caroline talks about her debut performance at Nashville's famed Ryman Auditorium, the current value of her vinyl releases from before she got signed, having Emmylou Harris contribute to Mint Condition's airy brilliance, and why her first face-to-face interactions with Dave Matthews were as a pissed-off seven-year-old on Rollerblades. For news, social media and more, visit carolinespencemusic.com. Watch her appearance on Craft Recordings' new record-shopping video series at craftrecordings.com/pages/shoplifting.

Influenced heavily by The Smithereens, The Replacements and R.E.M., Arizona mainstays Gin Blossoms became one of the biggest bands of the early and mid-90's. Single after single from their major label debut New Miserable Experience -- "Hey Jealousy," "Found Out About You," "Until I Fall Away" and more -- caught fire on MTV as well as on pop, alternative and college radio. Now recognized as a modern power-pop classic, the record eventually sold over five million copies and spent a remarkable three years on the charts. The quintet found additional success with their follow-up LP, 1996's Congratulations I'm Sorry, and hits like "Follow You Down" and "Til I Hear It From You." In 2017, both full-lengths were finally pressed to vinyl for the first time, in honor of former album's 25th anniversary. Today, Gin Blossoms lead vocalist Robin Wilson talks about working at record stores through the 80's, his obsession with Urge Overkill, fronting his childhood heroes Kiss on Letterman, and fighting for what became New Mis

An accomplished producer and multi-instrumentalist who has worked with everyone from The Shins to The Chieftains, Chris Funk is a founding member of beloved Pacific Northwest quintet The Decemberists, who mark their 20th anniversary this year. Known for a narrative heart that's half-Morrissey, half-Herman Melville, Rolling Stone has called their work "a triumph of theatrical imagination." On today's show, we discuss the formation of the band, how Chris recorded the entirety of their epic song cycle The Tain with a broken leg, and how Carson Ellis' visual components have played into the band's mystique for over two decades. We also get into Chris' production of the latest Stephen Malkmus LP and his globetrotting video series Funk Plus One, which exposed him to culture on a broader level through shared musical experiences. Visit thedecemberists.com for 20th anniversary tour dates and more. Get Chris' new solo album The Painted Porch via chrisfunk.bandcamp.com, with an exclusive vinyl variant limited to 250 cop

Nashville singer/songwriter Lilly Hiatt returns to Vinyl Emergency to discuss the loss of the legendary John Prine, her new album Walking Proof, records she added to her collection since her last time on the show and the positivity she's finding between Nashville's recent destructive tornado and the current pandemic crisis. Dig back to Episode 75 for Lilly's first appearance. Then, Soul Asylum leader Dave Pirner joins us to talk about the band's new album Hurry Up And Wait, the lasting impact of the revolutionary music video for "Runaway Train" and which Soul Asylum vinyl release -- of which there's only one sole copy in existence -- he owns. Dave's new book of lyrics spanning his career, Loud Fast Words, is available wherever you buy literature. For music, social media and updates visit lillyhiatt.com and soulasylum.com.

Formed in Evansville, IN during the late 90's, Mock Orange gained a devoted following amongst indie-rock circles for progressive, whiplash time signatures, buoyed by sentimental yet urgent lyrics. Though the quartet's debut album Nines & Sixes provided an addictive and aggressive spark, 2000's The Record Play delivered a deeper and more nuanced emotional payout: Singer/guitarist Ryan Grisham's wordplay (drenched in poetic metaphors on time and distance), drummer Heath Metzger's prog-like precision and the clear, masterful production style of Mark Trombino made the album somewhat of an underground touchstone for early 2000's emo. On today's show, Ryan talks about piecing together the thematic nature of The Record Play two decades later, why turning 40 gave him a new outlook on the band's first album and how he managed -- long before iPods -- to play his beloved 7" collection on the road. This episode also features the WORLD PREMIERE of the band's new single "So Maybe," from their upcoming EP The Bridge, th

For over 25 years, Texas native Rhett Miller has fronted the Old 97's, recognized as one of the most acclaimed staples within Americana or alt-country music. Still, he's found plenty of time over that span to step out on his own: Hosting the podcast Wheels Off, writing children's books and recording seven solo records containing collaborations with Jon Brion, Aimee Mann, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, longtime session drummer Jim Keltner and members of the Decemberists. Recorded at Vance Powell's renowned Sputnik Sound in Nashville (as the Old 97's began work on their 12th proper album), Rhett muses on his early fascinations with Joan Jett, the Kingston Trio and ZZ Top, pumping quarters into the vinyl jukeboxes of his local diner, how patterns in genre fiction influence his solo albums and what Wheels Off has taught him about the creative process. Visit old97s.com and rhettmiller.com for tour dates, music, social media and more. Plus, subscribe to Wheels Off however you get podcasts.

The Presidents of the United States of America garnered acclaim throughout the grunge-heavy 90's for performing humorous, rocket-fueled earworms about chickens, kittens and bugs in a style that showcased both punk ethos and stadium rock showmanship. Hits like "Peaches," "Lump" and "Mach 5" dominated both alt-rock radio and MTV at the time, even scoring the Seattle trio the ultimate seal of legitimacy: a parody from "Weird Al" Yankovic. Recently, the group -- though no longer performing as a unit -- reconvened to launch a Kickstarter campaign to get their self-titled, triple-platinum, Columbia Records debut officially pressed to vinyl for the first time in the US. And fans were ready -- since the announcement (on Presidents Day, no less), listeners have funded over ten times the amount of PUSA's original goal. On this episode, drummer Jason Finn talks about recently hearing the album's new test pressing (and why it's taken 15 years for this vinyl campaign to become a reality), how an infamous band photo with t

Since opening its doors in 1999, Grimey's New & Preloved Music has become one of the most beloved record stores in existence -- a beacon to its native Nashville, and the music world at large, for a focus on live performances, fair pricing and meeting the needs of eccentric and avant-garde music aficionados in a town mainly known for its country roots. Founded by Mike Grimes as a way to sell off product he acquired while working in the industry, his humble vision was to create "the Floyd's Barbershop of record stores," a community-oriented meeting place for eclectic music lovers to obtain and share their obsessions, no matter how under-the-radar. He partnered with friend and fellow music fanatic Doyle Davis a few years later (himself a veteran of Nashville chain The Great Escape) and the pair have run Grimey's as co-owners for close to two decades. With the renowned Ryman Auditorium being known as Music City's "Mother Church," Grimey’s has taken up the moniker of the "Other Church" among its devotees, afte

Garnering comparisons to other iconic duos like Simon & Garfunkel or The Everly Brothers, Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale have effortlessly sewn together a timeless aura around their fragile, emotionally-resonant songs as Grammy-nominated folk duo The Milk Carton Kids. Since their start nearly a decade ago, their acoustic guitar mastery and impeccable vocal harmonies have led to collaborations or shared stages with legends of the craft like T Bone Burnett, Gillian Welch and John Prine. Joined today by Old Crow Medicine Show bassist Morgan Jahnig and recorded backstage at Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Joey and Kenneth discuss reinterpreting Pink Floyd, the supportive community hub of in-store performances at record shops, and the merit of something we'll call -- for this episode -- the artistic vision of "yellow shorts." PLUS learn how you could win a copy of their latest release, The Only Ones, on 10" vinyl. For tour dates, social media and more, visit themilkcartonkids.com.