🎙️ Post-Punk Heartstrings — Episode 048
🎬 US Kids: An Alternative Music Rebellion
📍 Host: JimmyJames S. Butler
📍 First Mate / Co-Host: Jim Anderson
🎤 Guests: John Smeby & Todd A. Zeller

🌐 Us Kids Website: https://www.uskidsrockumentary.com/
📘 Us Kids on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UsKidsAnAlternativeMusicRebellion
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uskidsrockumentary/
Todd Zeller Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddazeller/
John Smeby Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_smeby/

⭐ Episode Summary
Filmmakers John Smeby and Todd A. Zeller join host JimmyJames S. Butler and first mate Jim Anderson to explore the creation of US Kids: An Alternative Music Rebellion, a documentary celebrating the explosive creativity of the Christian alternative and post-punk underground and the stories of the musicians who built it.
They discuss their musical origins, radio roots, the emotional weight of interviewing beloved artists, the massive archival mission behind the film, and much more.

🔍 Episode Highlights
• 🎧 Early music memories & first albums
• 🎹 John launching Reality Rock (1982)
• 🎥 Todd’s videography path & Gene Eugene tribute connection
• 🤝 How John & Todd teamed up to create the film
• 🗃️ Behind-the-scenes digitization & archival rescue work
• 💿 The US Kids double-vinyl soundtrack
• 🕊️ Emotional interviews with legendary artists
• 🚧 Production challenges, surprises & breakthroughs
• 🤯 Artists they wanted but couldn’t secure
• ❤️ Why the documentary feels like a “family reunion”
• 🔄 How the filmmaking process reshaped their perspective

🎵 Music Featured in This Episode
🎶 “In Our Valley” — The Sea Hymnal
🎶 “God Rules” — Undercover
🎶 “River on Fire” — Greg Lawless
🎶 “Heart Lost in Nowhere” — The Altar Boys
🎶 “Desperately” — Vector
🎶 “I Want to See Heaven” — Mad At the World
🎶 “Sanctuary” — Daniel Amos
🎶 “Under Lock & Chain” — Ric Alba

📚 Other Topics & Stories
• 🌱 Childhood musical beginnings
• 🕍 Discovering Christian alternative culture
• 🎤 Live show memories: Petra, Servant, Undercover
• 🤘 KISS pajamas, trading cards & early fandom
• 📼 Building the US Kids digital archive
• 🧡 Reconnecting musicians after decades
• 🎨 Crafting the artwork, editing style & tone
• 📝 Encouraging feedback from Sam Phillips
• 📀 Soundtrack curation with Jason Dean (Reality Rock)
• ⚙️ Technical challenges behind the film’s creation

🙏 Special Thanks
Appreciation to the GoFundMe supporters and friends of the project:
Michael Pritzl • Jason Dean • Rob Birks • Robert Reynolds • Dan Michaels • “Spun Counter Guy” • And many more.

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