Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal

Ronnie is/was 1/3 of the mighty Muffs! He’s a raconteur of the highest order and has had an incredible career in music with the amazing Kim Shattuck (R.I.P.). Listen in on the tales of an incredible rock and roll career, from a surprise hit song in the movie Clueless as well as a detailed accounting of the final Muffs record. Which was completed during Kim’s two year battle with ALS.

Hello, friends, and thank you for joining Conan and Josh for another episode of Protonic Reversal! Today’s guest is Darren Jackson of Kid Dakota, whose album So Pretty is about to get its first vinyl issue. We discuss that, and: -mp3.com -the So Pretty cover art -a Low connection -Shifting production ideas -Spy mission band recruitment -Precise music -Lack of overdub ideas -WWTTD? -minimalism -Selling the story instead of the music -How the image fills in the vacuum -Post-tragic euphoria -Assessing the Kid Dakota discography -The lasting popularity of a landmark early record -Leaving room in the song for the listener -Recording the new album -and the next one upcoming! -When your best album doesn’t catch on -Getting burned out, recharging and focusing -Craft pedals -An unexpected soundtrack opportunity -Vietnamese bootleg website

Bristol based Sugar Horse are purveyors of interesting heavy music, but it isn't exactly metal. They have a new one called The Grand Scheme of Things. Truth and Consequences, The live long after and the LIVE long after, thrash music and cassettes and the "live, laugh, love" of skeleton artwork. https://sugarhorse.bandcamp.com/album/the-grand-scheme-of-things We do a song by song breakdown of the new one, as well as lots of details, anecdotes and joke explanations of previous releases.

It's been a year and a half and over 100 episodes since Carl's last appearance for My Name Is Hell. Now it's a new record! Wasteland Baby. We talk a lot about legacy bands and artists taking risks, what records are palette cleansers. The relative unsustainable nature of being an artist in a big city. Carl and Christine's move to Rhode Island. And of course a track by track breakdown of the relatively personal not-quite-a-concept-record Wasteland Baby.

THANK is a band from Leeds, UK! We speak about decorum for wedding bands, how long opening bands should, or should not play, writing records collaboratively as opposed to during a pandemic, the compilation / introduction of Thankology, the cruel irony of not nailing a song called Do It Badly in the studio at first. A surprising amount of nu-metal discourse, Torture Cube, All of that and an in-depth song by song breakdown of their brand new record I Have a Physical Body that Can Be Harmed.

oh hey, half of the mighty chat pile returns to Protonic Reversal to talk about COOL WORLD. Their highly anticipated new record (yes, named after that pervy Bakshi movie!). As well as the nature of live performance, the bands' incredible arc since last appearance, following their own compass, using the performance platform to represent fellow travelers and expose people to awesome new bands, Roadburn, sweat, smoking at clubs and lots, lots more. Which 90s bands are discussed and what IS the deal with records that were super long in the cd era.

The band Bunuel has an awesome new album Mansuetude, but they are NOT a new band. It is their fourth! Which American audiences may not be aware of. American audiences are usually only aware of their singer. The wonderful Eugene Robinson (most famously of Oxbow). We talk all about Buñuel, future touring and the deep musicality of this impressive and striking record, as well as a speed round song by song.

The tables are turned on Conan Neutron in this: the 400th episode of Protonic Reversal! Randy Randall of the band No Age and the podcast Hyphenate with Randy Randall interviews CONAN all about the show, podcasting in general, touring and recording with Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends and lots, lots more.

BBGun, the zine. The endless allure of Bad Moon Rising by Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore and the not so hi-fi recording of Exile in Main Street. Jon Spencer, Hit-makers and otherwise. Lydia Lunch Retrovirus origin story. Wolfmanhattan Project, and working with Mick Collins and Kid Congo Powers, the Chrome Cranks! Bewitched! and so very much more. It is a long overdue return for Mr. Bob Bert. Who haven't been on for a full episode for 5 years. Yikes!

RACK is the new album by the Jesus Lizard. A real treat for us all, it sounds like what you hope it would sound like as well as pushing a bit forward as well. Also, the Jesus Lizard is playing! A lot. A lot of touring even. We speak about that, as well as guitar technique, songwriting, coming to a familiar and well regarded relentless live entity as one ages, and trying to stay true to your own compass. Great tidbits for songwriters and performers, as well as getting really in-depth on all of this NEW Jesus Lizard!

Dale Crover! One of rock's greatest drummers (Conan would know!), also is a great guitarist and songwriter and the Dale Crover Band has a new one called Glossolalia. We do a thorough track-by-track analysis of that excellent record, as well as talk about Tarantula Heart by Melvins, playing with Redd Kross on their recent tour and playing acoustic (!) as well as DJing before those sets. Matt Cameron and his recent ep. Plan D interludes and setlist choices and lots, lots more. West coast folks! Go see the shows people!

Alain Johannes is back, for a full episode. Which is crazy, as it has been four years since the last one. He's just completed a bunch of touring with bands he recorded acting as his backing band all all around the world. So how has recording music changed for Alain over the years? Let's find out together. Lots of great stories about Mark Lanegan and the creative process with him, Desert Sessions, PJ Harvey, Mick Harvey, Queens of the Stone Age. Jamming with John Paul Jones and Them Crooked Vultures. How and why Eleven ended up being the kind of "true heads know" band that it was, upcoming solo shows and the wellspring that is the art of creation.

Upright Forms are a great band from Minneapolis, with a great new record called Blurred Wires. Nick has been on before a couple years back, but this is the first Upright Forms full length, Let's hear all about the band's origin story, why the "notes app" is so important. What is and isn't secret prog and lots more. All of that plus a DETAILED song by song breakdown of Blurred Wires.

A great conversation going from the early days of DC Punk Rock, to right now. The gestation of Rollins Band, starting with Hot Animal Machine and all the way to Come In and Burn. Low Self-Opinion and the unlikely single of Liar. Solo records and working in the modern environment as a musician. The story of playing with Jah Wobble of PiL, and the incredible story of meeting and working with Reeves Gabrels, being on a David Bowie song (of sorts), and the Bowie tour that never was. All that and lots more!

Full of Hell has been releasing high quality and uncompromising heavy music for almost 15 years and there is a new one called Coagulated Bliss! We talk about that, as well as Spencer's decision to step back from touring, even as Full of Hell continues to work on the road with a new live member. Collaborations with Merzbow and The Body, Riley Stearns and the Art of the Defense. Eye Flys and Repear's Gong, Van thefts, quarantine projects and making music in a town that has less than 10,000 people when people aren't there on Vacation. It's the pride of Ocean City!

Steve has a new record with Ira Ingber Baring All - There Goes My Compass. Ira is an accomplished player as well, having played with Bob Dylan, the Mothers of Invention and Captain Beefheart amongst others. He also played that awesome slide guitar on the Midnight Run soundtrack. We speak of that as well as tales of Sam Raimi, Jon Brien (Lady Bird soundtrack, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind, etc.). Lots about the Oingo Boingo Farewell concert, live album and video . Bear McCreary. The interesting tale of Former Members of Oingo Boingo. Possibly the only tribute but that features members of the band being paid tribute to? Anyway, it's another long deep dive into the world of the amazing Steve Bartek. Guitarist, Conductor and Danny Elfman's right hand man/

Deep Tunnel Project is a chicago band! Featuring, two members of Tar, one from Silkworm and one from The Bomb it is a unique pairing creating new music and new sounds. 3/4 of them, all returning guests respectively, come on Protonic to talk in-depth about this great new record, the mindset and origin of the band and lots more!

The Red Scare is back! No, not the podcast, the legendary late 90s/early 00s' Knoxville hardcore band. Kip (Panthers, Cloudland Canyon) and Matt (New Brutalism, Manhandle, Obstructures) join Conan to talk all about the new retrospective/reissue Smoky Mountain High. A track by track breakdown, as well as a hilarious recounting of touring, songwriting, relearning songs from 20+ years ago and so much more. Genuinely hilarious!

Protonic is back! First show since the 10 year anniversary episode. Let's go! This episode is Jake Smith of heavy band Eye Flys, who have a great new heavy rock record. (self-titled!) It's a song by song of that record, as well as hearing about how they ended up on Thrill Jockey... the THRILL of having the dude from Full of Hell in the band for a good amount of time and many other stories of enjoying making records and touring while making heavy music. I mean, they are named after a Melvins song, what did you think it was gonna sound like? Let's do it!

Part 3, of Steve Albini remembered and one of my favorite times he has been on, this is the episode where he first talks about not being held to account for the name of the band Rapeman, before any other medium. We also talk about Seth and Jordan Minnesota and other controversial Big Black things as Dave Riley had recently passed. One of my favorites of this entire show, frankly. For the 150th episode, one of our favorite guests is back, the unmistakable and always interesting Mr. Steve Albini. -Making ends meet in the age of quarantine. -The American Health Care system -The slow escalation of risk with a midwest Shellac tour -Playing new songs live, 1/3 of the set is unreleased stuff. -Live experience vs. vegas stage show (the art of surprise and stage expectations) -Billiard Player Song and live evolution of songs -Cheap Trick vs. the Ex -Do the internal meanings of the songs change. -Scrappers -Old songs -Accountability for song content/flawed thinking -Culpability v/ doubling down on dickery. -Jokes vs. just being a jerk (comedians) -Chappelle -Big Black art aesthetic (it was cheaper!) -Big Black: Jordan, Minnesota -Big Black: Seth (his DOG hated black people…)(race in America and privilege) -The Mentors -The name of the band Rapeman -Rapeman: “I have not been held to account” -Blitz tattoos. -Dave Riley of Big Black remembered -The Girl on the Third Floor soundtrack (with Tim Midget and Helen Money) -The End of Radio Peel sessions