Fawkes and Friends – Détails, épisodes et analyse

You didn’t think this show was done for the year, did you? Fresh from a tour with their pal’s the P-Nots that took them from Oregon, WI to Pougkeepsie, NY (and all sorts of points in between), Black Guy Fawkes and his less talented but more [insert something positive] friend are back in the swing of things after Black Guy Fawkes headed out on the road again with pal Gab de la Vega for another tour to close out the year.

Today’s guest is no stranger to touring, either. Tim Hause has been working in music since 2014, and has recently completed a tour of his own overseas. Tim talks to the guys about his songwriting process, what his hypothetical fallback plan would be if music didn’t work out (musicians–even ones from musical families–often get asked “what’s your backup plan?”), the production of his upcoming album Pre-Existing Conditions (out 14 February 2015–the first single “Make It Take It” is out now, and the next single “Summerkiss” will be out Friday 15 November 2024), and the best cheesesteak and pizza in the greater Philadelphia area.

Since 2014 Tim has carved out a name for himself as a cowriter, harmony singer, and multi instrumentalist with his brother Dave Hause. For more Tim Hause, check out www.timhause.com

For more Black Guy Fawkes, check out Music | Black Guy Fawkes (bandcamp.com)or https://asbestosrecords.bigcartel.com/. He’s also on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, etc as Black Guy Fawkes–spelling is extremely important here and, not surprisingly, he’s on music streaming services as well: Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. You can probably find Ed drinking in a karaoke bar or in the crowd at a punk show. The show also now has a playlist of music from guests that have appeared, and guests who will be appearing, and you can check that out on Spotify as well: Fawkes & Friends: The Playlist - playlist by Ian Robinson | Spotify

Ok, both Ian and Ed are exhausted, and happy, and all sorts of post-festival blues and happiness has set in. But, damn, what a great long weekend in Toronto, where Black Guy Fawkes hosted 87.5% of Cowboy Chords and lead the Economics of Being an Independent Artist panel, and Ed filled in to host the other 12.5% of the open mic and drank many, many beers. Hence the delay in this episode coming out. Fawkes and Friends is going to schedule a few more episodes for the year, and then start back up rested and refreshed in 2025 with some more announcements and some new and returning guests. In the meantime, tour dates:

• October 2 - 11th: a house show tour with the P-Nots (Colchester CT punk) hitting Oregon WI, Ringwood IL, Chicago IL, North Canton OH, Charles Town WV, Washington DC, Fallston MD, and Poughkeepsie NY (email, DM, or ask a punk for more info)
• Sunday, October 13th: The Camel (Richmond, VA) with Beans on Toast and Jeshua Marshal

And speaking of that last show… today, the guys are joined by Beans on Toast, whose 17th album Myths & Legends is coming out on December 1st and is available for pre-order now, and who is also touring the US this month and next. He shares his journey from his early days in Essex, where he grew up influenced bythe Beatles, American country music, and the Wu Tang Clan. He reminisces about his highlights in the American visionary art museum and the differences in festival cultures between the UK and the US. The conversation also delves into his songwriting process and experiences with different genres, including a gangster rap phase and subsequent shift to his current style. Furthermore, he shares insights from his time booking shows at London's Nambuca pub and working with other musicians. The episode rounds off with upcoming US tour dates, favorite American foods, and a light-hearted discussion about favorite American beer. 

Beans on Toast isn’t just your average folk singer songwriter - he is a modern one-man band, taking charge of all aspects of his music career, whether it be writing, recording and playing, taking his own press shots, making his own merch and artwork, or shooting his own videos. He is a true DIY artist with true DIY ideals. He's crafted a studio album each year since 2009, and each time he's wandered brazenly into new territory with a diverse range of influences. But the acoustic guitar and his warm hug of a voice is there, dead centre. Each album comes out on his birthday every year, as if giving us all a chance to celebrate what he's learned, what he's felt and feared over 12 months. He assesses his life through music and informs the world he's made it another year. There's nothing average about his insight or his delivery. Once a Beans fan, always a Beans fan – he's not changing for anyone but himself. For tour dates, music, and merch, check out https://beansontoastmusic.com/

For more Black Guy Fawkes, check out Music | Black Guy Fawkes (bandcamp.com)or https://asbestosrecords.bigcartel.com/. He’s also on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, etc as Black Guy Fawkes–spelling is extremely important here and, not surprisingly, he’s on music streaming services as well: Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. You can probably find Ed drinking in a karaoke bar or in the crowd at a punk show. The show also now has a playlist of music from guests that have appeared, and guests who will be appearing, and you can check that out on Spotify as well: Fawkes & Friends: The Playlist - playlist by Ian Robinson | Spotify

Black Guy Fawkes is still out on the road, having just finished Punk Rock Hoedown in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will be playing in Nashville, Tennessee at Springwater May 29th, and then at Jortsfest June 1st. The tour has been a whirlwind of an adventure, and that adventure continues through June and July, with volunteering with Punk Rock Saves Lives at Pride in Pittsburgh, and then shows in Denver, CO, an appearance at Camp Punksylvania, and then the annual Fawkes & Friends festival in Cumberland, MD on July 13th–a line-up announcement episode will be coming up soon for that. Forget soon, though–let’s talk about today. Ian and Ed got the chance to sit down with Chuck Ragan to talk about Hot Water Music’s new album VOWS, important life lessons from recording and touring, the importance of mentoring and being mentored, and the four best meats to smoke for BBQ.

For more Chuck Ragan, check out his website or the Hot Water Music website. Hot Water Music is currently on tour promoting their latest album VOWS, with upcoming dates in Louisville, KY; Cleveland, OH; Chicago, IL; and many other cities before touring Germany in November.

For more Black Guy Fawkes, check out Music | Black Guy Fawkes (bandcamp.com)or https://asbestosrecords.bigcartel.com/. He’s also on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, etc as Black Guy Fawkes–spelling is extremely important here and, not surprisingly, he’s on music streaming services as well: Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. You can probably find Ed drinking in a karaoke bar or in the crowd at a punk show. The show also now has a playlist of music from guests that have appeared, and guests who will be appearing, and you can check that out on Spotify as well: Fawkes & Friends: The Playlist - playlist by Ian Robinson | Spotify

First of all, Black Guy Fawkes and the other guy are back from a whirlwind trip through Canada–together for the shows Black Guy Fawkes and Pigeon Pit were supporting Laura Jane Grace and the Mississippi Medicals, and separately when Black Guy Fawkes performed all over Pouzzafest and Ed drove home to his dog and many, many cats, with a stop in New Jer–New York on the way. 

There’s a brief recap of that wild week before the show gets into the cheese, potatoes, and gravy of the episode, where they talk to Cahir O’Doherty (New Pagans, the Sleeping Souls). You might now know him as the “breakout star” of the 50 States in 50 Days documentary, but Cahir’s a musician in his own write, performing with both the New Pagans and the Sleeping Souls. Cahir gives some real talk on the difficulties of being a touring musician and the economics of that, but we promise he is not the self-described “harbinger of doom” he says he is. Things get into some real nerdy guitar talk, the things that come up on the road.

For more Cahir O’Doherty, check out The New Pagans and The Sleeping Souls, or see him on Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls current tour for their 10th album Undefeated.

For more Black Guy Fawkes, check out Music | Black Guy Fawkes (bandcamp.com)or https://asbestosrecords.bigcartel.com/. He’s also on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, etc as Black Guy Fawkes–spelling is extremely important here and, not surprisingly, he’s on music streaming services as well: Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. You can probably find Ed drinking in a karaoke bar or in the crowd at a punk show. The show also now has a playlist of music from guests that have appeared, and guests who will be appearing, and you can check that out on Spotify as well: Fawkes & Friends: The Playlist - playlist by Ian Robinson | Spotify

Massive announcement: Black Guy Fawkes is joining Pigeon Pit and Laura Jane Grace and the Mississippi Medicals for two dates leading up to Pouzzafest: tonight, May 14th at the Broom Factory in Kingston, ON, and Wednesday, May 15th at the Axis Club in Toronto, Ontario. And that’s why the intro sounds weird–Ian and Ed are currently in a hotel in Rochester, NY, and Ed couldn’t figure out a way for them to both sound good for an intro, so they farmed it out, because they are becoming big time podcasters, or something.

BUT! POUZZA! Today’s guest, Billy Liar, will also be at Pouzza, playing solo on Saturday and doing a full-band show Sunday. Billy Liar has toured all over the world, but this will be his first time in Canada. Billy and Black Guy Fawkes share the things they’re excited about with Pouzza and Canada in general, the difference between liking coffee and being a coffee snob, and some great stories about the punk and DIY scenes in Scotland. Ed, of course, asks a question about the film Highlander, because he is a massive dork.

Billy Liar grew up in the underground punk rock scene, finding his feet and forging his sound through a self-imposed relentless touring schedule, a love of playing live and an understanding that good things do not come to those who wait. Great things come to those who get out on the road and make a hell of a lot of their own mistakes. His latest album, Crisis Actor, came out last year. For all things Billy Liar, including his Bandcamp and his Patreon, head to www.billyliarmusic.com. Photo credit: Grant Anderson

For more Black Guy Fawkes, check out Music | Black Guy Fawkes (bandcamp.com)or https://asbestosrecords.bigcartel.com/. He’s also on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, etc as Black Guy Fawkes–spelling is extremely important here and, not surprisingly, he’s on music streaming services as well: Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. You can probably find Ed drinking in a karaoke bar or in the crowd at a punk show. The show also now has a playlist of music from guests that have appeared, and guests who will be appearing, and you can check that out on Spotify as well: Fawkes & Friends: The Playlist - playlist by Ian Robinson | Spotify

If there’s one thing in this world that Black Guy Fawkes and his trusty(ish) pal Ed have in common, it’s a love of today’s guests, Micah Schnabel and Vanessa Jean Speckman, both as artists and as people. The DIY revolution is alive and well, and it's fueled by artists like Micah and Vanessa who are passionate about their craft and committed to building meaningful connections with other artists, as well as their audience–DIY doesn’t mean “do it alone.”

You can catch Micah and Vanessa on tour with Frank Turner, Amigo the Devil, and Bridge City Sinners throughout the US in May and June (Ian and Ed will both be at that Baltimore gig). For more of Micah’s work, including the new album “The Clown Watches the Clock” and the book of the same name, head to his bandcamp page: Music | Micah Schnabel (bandcamp.com). For Vanessa and Call Me Rita, you can check out Call Me Rita’s bandcamp page: Audio | Call Me Rita (bandcamp.com).
For more Black Guy Fawkes, check out Music | Black Guy Fawkes (bandcamp.com)or https://asbestosrecords.bigcartel.com/. He’s also on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, etc as Black Guy Fawkes–spelling is extremely important here and, not surprisingly, he’s on music streaming services as well: Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. You can probably find Ed drinking in a karaoke bar or in the crowd at a punk show. The show also now has a playlist of music from guests that have appeared, and guests who will be appearing, and you can check that out on Spotify as well: Fawkes & Friends: The Playlist - playlist by Ian Robinson | Spotify

You know what we have a love jones for? Proper. They are one of Black Guy Fawkes’s favorite bands, and now they are one of Ed’s, too, and the third friend joining them today is Erik Garlington from that very band. This one goes all over the map–touring in the south and the cities that get passed over, feelings of “are we friends or coworkers” while on tour, and feelings of sometimes being the “diversity hire” on tour, and their song that will be appearing in an A24 movie.

There’s some shocking pizza revelations, too.

For more from Erik Garlington and Proper., you can check out their website (NWA (likerealproper.com)), their Bandcamp (https://likerealproper.bandcamp.com/), or their page at Father/Daughter Records: Proper. - Father/Daughter (fatherdaughterrecords.com)

For more Black Guy Fawkes, check out Music | Black Guy Fawkes (bandcamp.com)or https://asbestosrecords.bigcartel.com/. He’s also on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, etc as Black Guy Fawkes–spelling is extremely important here and, not surprisingly, he’s on music streaming services as well: Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. You can probably find Ed drinking in a karaoke bar or in the crowd at a punk show. The show also now has a playlist of music from guests that have appeared, and guests who will be appearing, and you can check that out on Spotify as well: Fawkes & Friends: The Playlist - playlist by Ian Robinson | Spotify

Black Guy Fawkes is back from prepping for his upcoming spring tour (with dates in Maryland, Canada, Nevada, Tennessee, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Maryland again), and he and Ed are joined by Brian Walker from A Day Without Love. 

Brian shares firsthand experiences and practical tips on planning and executing a successful tour, from booking gigs to navigating transportation and accommodations. Insights into budgeting, promoting shows, and building connections with local scenes are explored, and the challenges of being Black musicians in predominantly white spaces are confronted. It’s not all heavy, though–there’s definitely light-hearted talk about food on the road as well, and if we were better at writing show notes, we’d say something like “you won’t BELIEVE his take on which COFFEE is better: Dunkin or Wawa,” but we’re not. 

You can catch both Black Guy Fawkes and A Day Without Love (along with President Bomber and Justin Arena) at the Deep End in Frostburg MD Friday, May 10th. For more A Day Without Love, you can check out the web page A Day Without Love and the Patreon at A Day Without Love | Behind the Scenes of a Touring DIY Musician | Patreon.

For more Black Guy Fawkes, check out Music | Black Guy Fawkes (bandcamp.com)or https://asbestosrecords.bigcartel.com/. He’s also on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, etc as Black Guy Fawkes–spelling is extremely important here and, not surprisingly, he’s on music streaming services as well: Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. You can probably find Ed drinking in a karaoke bar or in the crowd at a punk show. The show also now has a playlist of music from guests that have appeared, and guests who will be appearing, and you can check that out on Spotify as well: Fawkes & Friends: The Playlist - playlist by Ian Robinson | Spotify

No one prepared Ed for how lonely recording an intro could be, but as Black Guy Fawkes prepares for his spring tour (with dates in Maryland, Canada, Nevada, Tennessee, Colorado, and Pennsylvania) leading up to the Fawkes and Friends festival this July 13th at Dig Deep Brewing Company in Cumberland, MD, it fell to Ed to introduce Mike Miller and Matt Davis from Endless Mike and the Beagle Club, who will be playing at Fawkes and Friends this summer.

Mike and Matt talk about the creative process that goes into songwriting whether it's Mike solo or the whole band, remastering and re-mixing The Husky Tenor (a classic Endless Mike and the Beagle Club album), and the joy (and fear) of putting on a hometown show after being on the road so long. And, if you're in the greater Pittsburgh area and are listening to this on day one, they will be at Spirit Lodge with Fuck Yeah, Dinosaurs! opening up for Jon Snodgrass. For more Endless Mike and the Beagle Club, you can go directly to their Bandcamp page: Music | Endless Mike and the Beagle Club (bandcamp.com)

If you asked Black Guy Fawkes, he’d probably tell you that he never thought in a million years he’d be able to interview President Bill Clinton. It may have something to do with this show sounding a lot like another show that airs on a certain cable "news" network.

Also, he certainly wouldn’t have expected that the President would bring other Presidents along, or that they’d have a punk band called President Bomber. It’s even looking like Black Guy Fawkes may make an appearance on his own Mount Rushmore, playing with the Presidents (and A Day Without Love) on the 10th of May at the Deep End in Frostburg, MD. 

For more Black Guy Fawkes, check out Music | Black Guy Fawkes (bandcamp.com)or https://asbestosrecords.bigcartel.com/. He’s also on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, etc as Black Guy Fawkes–spelling is extremely important here and, not surprisingly, he’s on music streaming services as well: Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. You can probably find Ed drinking in a karaoke bar or in the crowd at a punk show. The show also now has a playlist of music from guests that have appeared, and guests who will be appearing, and you can check that out on Spotify as well: Fawkes & Friends: The Playlist - playlist by Ian Robinson | Spotify