Behind the Vinyl

We have a good one for you tonight! While the Richmond, VA crowd gets to see Glitterer live (jealous, much!) we are dishing out an interview with Ned Russin. For several years now several of my friends have been sending me music whenever Glitterer released songs. Ned's new project, that officially came to be in 2017 when he released a self-title album, quickly grew on me. Whenever someone has a successful project, it's often tough to seperate oneself from that image. However, Ned had a goal in mind and quickly got to work - creating the songs mostly on his own by playing every instrument except for the drums. While Ned had a plan and hit the ground running with Glitterer, this project recently welecomed other members into the band. These members played an "instrumental" role in creating the album the record, Rationale (released in February of this year). It also seems like they will continue to be a main stay for the live experience and possibly future releases.  Ned has been consistently touring since he was 19-years old after he dropped out of college to do the band exclusevely. The only schedule Ned has known is being on the road. But, he has since put a focus on other things such as finishing up his degree and working at a record store. Glitterer tours when they can and it's always a special moment whenever someone can catch them live. There are a lot of fun stories in this one such as studying on the road while in Title Fight, his parents valuing an education, writing an releasing a book three years ago (Horizontal Rust - check it out!), and looking up to his older brother during the early years. 

Kevin Devine is someone that every young musician should listen to. Throughout this conversation he gave some of the most well thought out responses I have seen on the podcast. He analyzes everything and looks at music from a lense that not every musician can see through. He is also a genuine personality and is one of the nicest people out there. The interview itself was all over the place - It started with living on Staten Island covering Nirvana songs and ended with a quick conversation about how terrible our favorite sports organizations are. This is truly a must listen so tune it up and let us know your thoughts!

Matt Pryor joined us to talk about his new book, "Red Letter Days" which hit shelves on January 23. He left us with a ton of great advice for young musicians and took a deep dive in a good chunk of the fun stories that appear in this book. It's certainly a page turner so pick up a copy if you have not done so already! Purchase the book here: https://polyvinylrecords.com/product/red_letter_days

I’m going to take you back to about a year ago. It was February of 2023 and Gouge Away was in the midst of a return. This was after several years of staying relatively quiet and a behind the scenes breakup. Gouge Away was in Portland having a band practice when they reached out to Militarie Gun about showing up to watch them play on a kick-ass bill of Spiritual Cramp and Supercrush. Ian Shelton and the rest of the members of Militarie Gun had other plans for the night. After some convincing, they set up plans for Gouge Away to make an epic return. In the middle of their set they turned the spotlight over to Gouge Away, who came on the stage to play two songs (One new). It was a night to remember and got the ball rolling for the new music that Gouge Away planned to eventually release. "Idealized" came out shortly after, and the band released "Stuck in a Dream" on January 9. This is setting the table for Deep Sage to arrive on March 15. It’s a record that Christina Michelle says will be different, and at times “weird,” but if the first two songs tell us anything: it’s that Gouge Away hasn’t lost a step. This group is ready to not only break through the surface, but also become one of the premier hardcore bands. It has been a rollercoaster of a ride for the group. They released Burnt Sugar in 2018 and toured non-stop up until the pandemic. Then came the low-key breakup where Christina Michelle never thought the band would be together again. Now, the band is back, with a refreshed sound, a mature outlook, and ready to show the world that they are here to stay.     Gouge Away:   Website - https://www.gougeaway.com/   Bandcamp - https://gougeawayfl.bandcamp.com/album/deep-sage

For a majority of his music career, Erik Kase Romero has been behind the scenes. Romero has developed into a prominent music producer – most notably working with the Front Bottoms (also plays instrumentals in the live experience), Lorde, and the Bouncing Souls. Romero has developed a name for himself in the industry and his musical genius is something that musicians desire. A quick peek at his website takes the viewer into a magical journey that involves a large list of production. It’s a list that would be considered a “dream” for anyone just breaking into the business. Romero is now a seasoned veteran and in some ways can be picky when thinking about who he will invite to his home studio next. Romero has been involved in bands on the local circuit for years now. But, what seemed like a silly idea, quickly became a reality over the past year. Romero made the decision to branch out with his abilities and start a solo project. While it has been a great success so far, it was no easy decision. As previously stated, Romero has always been in the background through production and instrumentals in various groups. His solo act is serving as a time where he has the mic and the listeners get to hear his powerful words. His single still already caught the listener’s attention for how vulnerable and relatable Romero is through his lyrics. While Romero will continue to push his songs through social media and has several live shows coming up, he does not care for commercial success. This project is not meant to result in headlining huge venues, but instead it’s another chance to grow as a musical mind, and have some fun while doing so. How to be still and still be here is set to be released tomorrow. Make sure to give it a listen and support Romero as he takes on this solo adventure. Audio edited by Tate Daniels Graphic by Rosemary Young Host Steven Macri  Instagram - @behindthevinylpod X - @BehindVinyl Leave us a review or subscribe! Both help us big time!    

When you sit back and think about some of the centerpieces of hardcore punk in the early 2000's, Paint it Black will instantly come to mind. Especially in the Philadelphia area. Philadelphia has a long history of great bands that paved the way for what music music is today. Paint it Black fits that category. One of the most exciting news of this year is when Paint it Black decided to release "Famine." It was the band's first full-length record since 2008 and it did not miss. The biggest praise I can say about this group is that they have not lost their sound. I could have been told that this record was from 20+ years ago when Paint it Black was first forming and I would have believed it. They still have the same energy and are sticking to their roots. The band's story is known by now - they came together when another legendary Philadelphia based group, Kid Dynamite, decided to hang up the band tees, and call it quits. Dan Yemin was still had the same drive from the beginning of Kid Dynamite and wanted to continue making music, so he decided to turn things up a notch and form Paint it Black. Instead of sitting with a guitar on the stage, he decided to switch over to vocals, because no matter what, the band will continue as long as the singer is still there.  It was a huge honor to have an established musician like Andy Nelson on. Punk music is engraved deep in his heart and it was a true pleasure to hear some of his inspirations. This included a fantastic conversation about Dillinger Four. "Famine" is a record I can play from start to finish, so while we were on the inspirations conversation, we discussed what he believes makes a "perfect" record. Continously, we really explored this album and heard about what it took to make this record. While the band doesn't tour much anymore, everyone should make it a point to see them if they are ever in your city. Spoiler alert- there might be a conversation about Nelson's other band, Ceremony, making a surprise appearance at Sound and Fury. Intro by Rainville Audio edits by Tate Daniels Flyer by Rosemary Young Host Steven Macri

We are joined by the real Kevin Hart* of Public Opinion which has been a fun new discovery in 2023 and ready to take on the world in 2024. The band is extremely underrated but with a full catalogue of new songs waiting to be released, the group should see a welcoming success in the near future. Hart, who has a rich history of playing in several different groups, said that he wants to release the new songs over an extended period of time rather than having them hit streaming services all at once. This way the band can dodge the burnout feeling that counless bands are subjected to during the hustle and the listeners have the opportunity to savor the songs one at a time. Although Hart works a full-time job, he has accepted the amount of hours that this band will take in order to find success. That includes recording, hitting the road for tour, and doing the tedious admin tasks such as merch designs. While Public Opinion is relatively new, they have already seen several different live lineups. Hart is willing to play with anyone who has a vision and is open to the idea of a rotating group of instrumentals. Public Opinion also has a support circle as they release music through Convulse Records - a label that features Gel and MSPAINT. Hart also discusses his long standing friendship with Ian Shelton and how Shelton always had the goal of bringing back fast hardcore music. Shelton has been in Public Opinon's corner since the start and continues to make a difference by offering support to up-and-coming bands. Brace yourselves... 2024 should be a year of headlines for Public Opinion. The momentum started with the release of "Bug" back in September. 

Charmer's music has always been a powerful exploration of mental health, and "Rose Thorns" is no exception. What's different this time? The lyrics have matured, and the songs are all about moving forward from the mental health struggles that life throws our way. It's a journey towards finding clarity and purpose in life. David believes this new music takes him back to the "early Charmer" days. Get ready for some amazing harmonies and a huge emphasis on guitar playing in these tracks!  In this interview, David opens up about the challenges Charmer faced and the ultimate motivation that drives them today. After college, David took a bold step by moving to the East Coast, fully committing himself to the world of music. The band self-released several EPs, but the growth they hoped for just didn't materialize. It was a tough period. Undeterred, when things didn't go as planned, David decided to return to Michigan with Neil. They had a handful of songs left, so they recorded them, almost like a parting gift to the band. Little did they know, this would mark a turning point. In 2017, Charmer did five dates with Free Throw, and it marked a turning point for them. Prior to that, they had been slogging it out on some pretty tough DIY tours. These tours, while memorable, were often in front of small crowds and with very little money to show for it. Charmer's journey continued with the release of their first LP, but for the first six months, there was radio silence. The album didn't take off right away, and they had to rely on word of mouth to get some attention. It was only when their second record came out that things really started to change. People began to listen to both albums, and Charmer's music started to gain traction. The pandemic brought a lot of downtime and changes for everyone, including Charmer. They found themselves dealing with family obligations and even David hitting the road with Hot Mulligan, which demanded his focus. However, this past year has been a turning point. They finally had the opportunity to sit down and get back to making music. The result? The band feels like they've improved significantly. We are happy that David and Charmer are writing music again. Check out "Rose Thorns" and let us know what you think. Also, make sure to catch Charmer, Free Throw, Prince Daddy & The Hyena, and Saturday's At Your Place on tour! This is just the beginning of an exciting musical direction, and we can't wait to share more with you. Stay tuned for more updates!          

We have Saturdays At Your Place on a special Saturday release of BTV! So, hopefully BTV can spend this Saturday at your place... The band first met in college and quickly recognized the incredible house show scene in Michigan. After creating a catalogue of songs that was enough to hit the road, the emo outlet decided to hit the road once the pandemic cooled down. Since then, there has been nothing but praise from listeners across the country, as they have seen a quick and steady rise through the emo rankings. The proof is in the facts as they amass about 128,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone and are about to begin a monster of a tour with legendary bands such as Free Throw, Prince Daddy & The Hyena, and Charmer. If you can't get enough of their debut album always cloudy then you are in luck! Earlier this month the band released a single called pourover which is included on a split that the group did with Shoplifter and Summerbruise. The split dropped on 11/17 through No Sleep Records. 

We had Pittsburgh's finest, Short Fictions, back to talk about their face melting album, Oblivion Will Own Me and Death Alone Will Love Me. 

“It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it” These words are what Nathan Hardy of Microwave lives by. You can hear it in his songs through the raw emotion that comes out in Microwave’s lyrics. Experienced writer’s often say you have to listen if you ever want to say anything worth while. Basically, in short, it means you have to read and experience other styles in order to develop your own. The same could be said for Hardy who reads often. It comes in forms of books and poetry. It all helps him consistently develop as a writer and a person. People often believe that listening to solely music will make someone a better musician but Hardy has found this fulfillment through literature. However, several years ago all music came to a halt. In 2019 Microwave put out their hit record “Death is a Warm Blanket.” It seemed like the beginning of what would be a fast climb to the top for the band. They were on the heels of going over seas to tour and really built a fan base that showed a consistent love for the band. Those dreams were quickly crushed when the pandemic officially locked everyone away at home and forced the music industry to find new ways to reach an audience. Hardy specifically took a step back from writing so that he could see the next move for the music science. It was unclear when and how touring would even return. After waiting about two years to see what the landscape of music was turning into, Microwave played several huge shows that struck some motivation in them again and resulted in new music. In 2022 Microwave released their first single since 2019 - a refreshing sign for the band’s passionate listeners. Since then several other songs have been released and all signs points towards this only being the beginning. Hardy has such a unique way of looking at different life topics. Especially music as a whole. Listen to this interview because Hardy was a great conversation and taught me a lesson or two.

When I say Militarie Gun is one of my favorite bands, that’s not an understatement. The band’s June 23 release, Life Under The Gun, put an exclamation point on that remark. It felt like record from a veteran band - one that has been around for 10-20. However, for Militarie Gun, they have only been releasing music since 2020 as a group, and made instant noise in the hardcore scene with All Roads Lead To The Gun. It helped that the members all come from excellent projects (Regional Justice Center, Modern Color, and Drug Church). Now Militarie Gun is getting their rightful recognition. Life Under The Gun will pop up on countless Album of the Year lists. This interview was recorded in July around the time of the viral video between Ian Shelton and Post Malone. We hear a fun story of how that connection came to be. There’s also an in-depth conversation about collaboration projects. I don’t think anyone has forgotten about the song Pressure Cooker that Militarie Gun did with Dazy last year. Shelton also helped out with music from MSPAINT and Cold Mega. Give this interview a listen! It was a long time coming!

  A magazine wrote earlier in the year that Fidlar is unapologetically back. The group took a noticeable three year hiatus right before the pandemic. They were burnt out after touring 10-11 years straight. But, what often gets misconstrued is that Fidlar planned the whole time to step away, which is far from the truth. Perhaps it’s the mysterious move to delete everything on social media. But, the band had plans to release music without touring. Now, for the unapologetically back… bands often make a big deal about their return to the spotlight. That wasn’t the case for Fidlar. Carper jokes “If anything, we are sorry we are back.” Fidlar released two covers in Nookie and Free Fallin’ recently. The band is no strangers to covers after doing their own version of Sabotage early on in their career. There is no end in sight for Fidlar now. There will be endless “Don’t Fuck With” EP volumes since they have so much music ready to go. This is an exciting interview because Carper was not afraid to open up. He did not shy away from talking about his issues with drugs and being in and out of juvie and rehab centers. He talked about the real reason he moved to California - leaving Hawaii behind. Having a flight booked for March 23 to Japan during the first year of the pandemic because he originally had plans of working with his cousin in Japan. Lastly, the Florida tour and his plans to do surprise pop ups in coffee shops. This was a really fun conversation. Fidlar is open to all kinds of press, including bad press, but my gut tells me the band will continue to receive positive reviews from here on out.

Bandcamp: https://restrainingorderhc.bandcamp.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HXv1CWVOyIO8ZNvGOSyEy?si=O3yDmKM4RBKFsXWH0vt_BQ Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/restraining-order/6290600

Kamtin Mohager was known for his time in Teenage Wrist leading into pandemic, but around 2020 he went through a transition period. Mohager decided to part ways with Teenage Wrist and started up Heavenward. It was the first time since The Chain Gang of 1974 that Mohager had the opportunity to call all of the shots. He was able to let his true music colors. But, instead of returning to his dance music routes that listeners became familiar with while listening to The Chain Gang of 1974, Mohager continued to build on his shoegaze sound that Teenage Wrist projected through their music. Mohager put out an exciting debut record for Heavenward on June 16 labeled Pyrophonics. With so much already accomplished during his music career, it's hard to find something that Mohager hasn't covered yet, but he decided to show a side that listeners haven't seen yet - which was the ultimate recipes for a masterpiece of a record. Mohager has been living the business side of music since making it a main focus and signing with a major label. This record gave him freedom to be creative and go in whatever direction he felt appropriate. Mohager decided to have his friends join along, calling it a full collaberation with his friends, a group that included Nathanial Motte 3OH!3. Experience is what fueld the drive for this record. At this point Mohager knows what he wants and what he doesn't want out of his music. He is all about celebrating small wins at this point in his career instead of rushing the process. I would say Pyrophonics was a massive win for Heavenward.  Bandcamp: https://heavenwardband.bandcamp.com/album/staircase-music Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3iKDeO8yaOiWz7vkeljunk?si=-oZrCWzuSpu_r7mjuGpsmA Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/heavenward/1526237028  

Drew Waldon and Gumm have seen rapid success over the course of the past year. The band can fall back on the hard work finally paying off. The members of Gumm all work jobs outside of the band but they take on every show and tour that comes their way. Gumm is the first band that Waldon has fronted and the EP Staring Through You is the first time he has recorded vocals. There is continued growth going into their debut record, Slogan Machine. The album has eight songs on it with every song being so good that they could have been a single.  Gumm started out as a side project with Waldon playing drums. They originally played heavy hardcore music and that is when Waldon realized that's not the style he wanted to continue with. Waldon was listening to a lot of Ceremony and found inspiration in their music. Waldon has been going to shows for over 12 years now and has seen the Chattanooga scene grow. Bands like Spy, Gel, and Drug Church have made a point to come through. Now, Waldon and the rest of the band get to see what other places are like while on the road. Gumm is fresh off a tour that consisted of Drain as the headline act and also had Drug Church on it too. Waldon has created his own story and is finding success. He was originally homeschooled in a Christian household. His mom originally kept him from listening to aggressive music like Rancid and other punk groups. Eventually he moved in with his dad and was introduced to a new world of music - which led to having to hide his choice in music. His mom has since accepted his lifestyle choice and has even been in the audience for a few shows. Gumm is now finding their way and have a clear path in front of them. Catch them with bands like 7 Seconds and Fiddlehead later this year!  Bandcamp: https://gumm.bandcamp.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4iJSuRiHxC9zkb3nN4aYWA?si=--nCrxRXTdusxULrB5Zwnw Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gumm/641605267

  I saw Oso Oso several years ago for the first time in a small town in New Jersey. I was instantly hooked after their debut album, Real Stories of True People Who Kind of Looked Like Mosters…, and always wanted to see them live, but never really had the opportunity. Around 2018, right before Basking in the Glow came out, I took the trek to a small venue in NJ, and saw Jade and his band play in front of a room of maybe 20-30 people. It has been fun being from the outside looking in and seeing Oso Oso grow as a group. They now travel the world and fill up venues to capacity as a headlining act. It was a true honor being able to chat with Jade Lilitri in-person before his Asbury Park gig. I always felt a connection to not only his music but some of his interest. Of course the emo music is a great start, but he’s also from Long Island, where I was born, and has been on record as a huge Knicks fan. I learned during this conversation that he is a die-hard Yankees fan and grew up with the team - Bernie Williams being his favorite player. We really took this interview in several different directions. Jade told us about his dog and how that’s always his chance to decompress when home from a long tour. He discussed how Basking in the Glow was a record where he could finally quit his job at a bar and saw a growing audience. There’s a fun story about when he didn’t receive a positive welcome from a punk show as a teenager and how he was able to bounce back after a gig that could’ve pushed him away from music. How a song on MySpace led to confidence and helped Jade find his voice. Lastly, how life experiences and the loss of a best friend has led to a new meaning behind touring and the band as a whole.

It’s the return of the legendary Mikey Erg on Behind the Vinyl - this time for an in-person interview before The Ergs! show in Asbury Park last month. This interview is a little more focused on The Ergs! so if you are a fan of the band this is definitely a discussion for you. We talked about the return of pop punk when The Ergs! first formed, The Fest and how it’s the best show anyone will play the entire year, the “final” show at the Asbury Lanes in 2008, the band originally breaking up but since teaming up again and building momentum (New songs + and more shows), playing a handful of West Coast shows last year, carrying the hometown of Old Bridge with them, putting out two new EPs last year, working with Steve Albini for a solo record, and how his solo self titled record could had been a The Ergs! record. 

When you hear 90's punk bands from Chicago talk about their inspirations, The Bollweevils are almost always mentioned in some capacity. After 14+ years of not releasing music, The Bollweevils are back in action, with the record Essential coming out in May on Red Scare. Before talking about the new music, we jumped in a time machine and discussed being on Dr. Strange before Red Scare and the bands that were on the label - a list that includes Face to Face and 7 Seconds. Dr. Dr. Daryl Wilson was passionate about being on Dr. Strange, and has the same feelings towards Red Scare, calling them the band's ride or die. There was a lot of history in this episode. It was mostly the history of punk so if you like hearing about bands who paved the way for punk music - then this is the interview for you. But, we also deeply discussed his passion for comics and how frequent he is picking up new releases. Wilson got accepted into medical school and eventually had to start a residency. It was a big reason why he stepped away from the band for an extended time period and didn't tour with the band. He's now an emergency room doctor and has a ton of experience in the medical field under his belt. There is no better opportunity to put a big focus on the band again and see where it goes. The band released the new record on May 5 and have since hit the road. We talked about the new songs and how everything came together again. There was also a discussion about involvement in punk and there has been growth over the years. 

We have Sunny Singh, also known as hate5six, for this one. Most hardcore fans know him for popping up at shows across the country with a camera in hand but he has also made a huge impact on the community as a whole. Ever since Sunny decided to leave his full-time job, he has made a pact with himself to push even harder with the new year. This year's goals currently sits at 1,000 recorded sets, in which Sunny was way ahead of schedule when this episode was recorded. What makes hate5six so honorable is that he's willing to give new bands a shot. Someone can send a simple message over social media and Sunny will be in the audience that night. There are countless bands that will contribute quick success to a video that the hate5six name releases of their set. It's a one man project but Sunny releases at the speed of a company of 100+ employees. Since the beginning the goal has been to help bands find an audience. The channel has always been accessible to newer and younger bands.     Hard work always seems to pay off when someone has a vision and is willing to put in the time. That is what happened to Sunny when he was asked to jump on the most recent Rage Against the Machine tour for select dates. Sunny had the opportunity to continue to build his name while watching one of his favorite childhood bands return to the stage. Sunny is someone who speaks up about topics that matter dearly to him. He wants to use his platform to educate his followers with the research he conducts. That mindset falls back to his early days with Rage Against the Machine. They opened the door for speaking up for yourself and creating clarity for a large population.   This is a project that demands endless hours. Sunny is the definition of "perfectionist." Some would believe that he is filming at a faster rate than most people can consume, but Sunny is beating the odds. His page is closely watched on a daily basis. Sunny is careful with his edits, but the end result is rewarding. These videos are timestamping music history.