Explore every episode of the podcast Going Off Track

Ever since we recorded this episode, back in 2018 with Justin Brannan, (founding member of NYHC band, Indecision), his political star has been on the rise. Now, he's on the brink of becoming NYC Comptroller where he would oversee the largest municipal budget in the country. Of course we're talking pizza and conspiracy theories in this episode but listen thru to the outro where we essentially endorse him for president.

Daniel Kohn, co-author of Tearing Down the Orange Curtain - How Punk Rock Brought Orange County to the World joins us to talk about Social Distortion, No Doubt, Offspring and The Vandals. We also go off-track on subjects like sports and how to beat the gambling apps.

Murder by Death frontman, Adam Turla checks in with us while waiting for the vinyl pressing of their latest release. He's also about to embark on the bands' twilight tour! We touch on that but then of course we go off track... way.

Murder by Death on the web

Writer and poet (and seriously, a bunch of cool other stuff), Hanif Abdurraqib has been on tour for the last year supporting his latest book, There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension. So yeah, Benny does get him to talk a lot of hoops but this man is an engaging genius on so many subjects and it's a wonderful talk.

Hanif's website - go there now.

Here's a wild ride for 'ya! Two for the price of one - brothers Dave and Tim Hause join us for a nice long chat about... everything! On and off track we go, from TV shows to the funniest musicians and our very first, live BREAKING NEWS! It's deep, it's funny, it's very informative.

Sing Us Home Festival website

Texas Is The Reason we've got Chris Daly on this week, their co-founder and dynamic drummer. He talks about getting his start, seeing NYHC bands "wearing these weird beads" leading him to dabble in the Krishnacore scene and eventually starting Texas... who are back! He also reveals how many lollipops he's consumed in his life. Check it.

Minus The Bear is back! So we sat down for a chat with their bassist extraordinaire, Cory Murchy. From just how good it feels being back with the band to water rights, hunting and high-desert fun, this one def goes off-track. Episode word of the week: Respect.

Check out Cory's art on his website

This Will Destroy You and You, Infinite guitarist, Jeremy Galindo goes way off track with us this week. UFO's, ghosts, video games, basketball... Brad Pitt! But don't worry true fans, the whole middle of the pod gets into Jeremy's amazing musical journey, from first bands to latest projects - it's all here!

We got our skank on for this week's guest - Mike Sosinski, the singer of ska-punk band, Kill Lincoln and owner of Bad Times Records. We talk about his first show (Bosstones), first skank (Mustard Plug), first band... and we even touch on the famous cafe wars of central Jersey. Classic GOT episode.

We continue last week's conversation with the legendary Skid Row, bassist Rachel Bolan, getting into his songwriting inspiration, a really good ghost story, and Alice Cooper winning a staring contest with his cat.

From the legendary Skid Row, bassist Rachel Bolan sits down with Benny (in the flesh!) to talk about his music origins, from seeing KISS for the first time and taking up bass so he could be Gene Simmons, to jumping from the club straight into the arena, opening for Bon Jovi. It's a truly lovely, fun conversation that we know you're going to enjoy.

Musician, producer, author, college professor, keyboard/accordion player for The Hold Steady, World/Inferno Friendship Society, Against Me!, Guignol... Franz Nicolay has so much under his belt that it's almost impossible to go off track with him. But we do. From growing up in the sticks to health hacks like waiting until your German tour to get your teeth fixed, this one is all information that you need to know. Fun journey, come along.

Franz's website

120 Minutes host, DJ, music lover and author, Matt Pinfield continues the conversation from last week. We hear about flying on U2's private plane, seeing Queen with Thin Lizzy and surviving a teenage brain aneurysm, against all odds.

Matt's website

The walking, talking encyclopedia of music himself is with us this week - the always amazing Matt Pinfield. He knows everything about music and has seen almost every cool band but in true form we get off-track and in-Jersey in this fun, informative episode. From baby Moby to 911 in that non-stop, classic voice.

Matt's website

Tour manager for The Gaslight Anthem, Taylor Brown joins us for another 'Road Dogs' episode. He discusses the blessed 'day off' on the road, East Coast vs West Coast wildfires, the joy of spreadsheets and that Prague show. You should also know that this Renaissance man designs and builds mid-century modern furniture.

The delightful Karina Rykman, bassist, songwriter, jam-specialist, joins us this week to talk about the spiritual essence of jam-rock, running around Manhattan with a guitar at 13, her love of music (and specifically, Slayer). She reveals the Rolls-Royce of elevators and invites Benny to her parents' for brunch.

Karina's website

Josh Johnson is deservedly blowing up right now! As correspondent on Comedy Central’s, The Daily Show as well as his hilarious standup and podcast, so we thought it was a good time to revisit the chat we had with him a while back...

Josh's website

This week with got to chat with delightful Canadian rocker, Stefan Babcock, lead singer of PUP, maybe our favorite band from up yonder? He talked about growing up punk in a family full of scientists, best Toronto bands, Rivers Cuomo's songwriting techniques and a lot about Stefan's own process and philosophies. It was a lot of fun.

Here is the rock band of the future! Pinkshift (the whole band) joins us this week to talk about KISS lunchboxes, practicing piano for Skittles, all of their amazing alter-egos (intense) and what is REALLY happening in the brain of a drummer. A great band and a really fun and informative conversation.

Comedian, author and founder of The Hard Times website, Bill Conway joins us this week to talk about growing up with a bad name in Boston via a hard-fighting father who taught him early, "how to talk to a cop". Saved by skateboarding and the local hardcore scene, he eventually started the hilarious Hard Times franchise satirizing all things punk, hardcore and otherwise.

We've got a classic G.O.T. episode this week - be a fly on the wall as two drummers have a laid-back chat about their early influences, cool shows they were at and shared experiences. Jared Shavelson has played with The Bronx, The Hope Conspiracy, Paint It Black, and even Seal! Currently drumming for Joyce Manor and on tour with The Gaslight Anthem, Benny took him aside at the hotel in Cincinnati for a great sit-down.

Live from the road! Benny chats with Luke, Kyle and Sam of the great Canadian rock band, The Dirty Nil. From Bartholomew the bully to visors as fashion? It's a real off-track experience.

The Dirty Nil website

Frontman, Dylan Slocum and keyboardist, Meredith Van Woert of Spanish Love Songs talk about time zones, Nashville's "acceptable bagel", touring with The Gaslight Anthem and learning band mental-health from Metallica. Benny also digs deep into their personal relationship, confessing that while touring with them, he never realized that they were married! It's a deep dive into some very on-point and off-track material.

Spanish Love Songs website

This week, Hopeless Records founder, Louis Posen regales us with tales of how he cold-called both NoFX and Green Day, offering to make music videos and ended up doing "Bob" for Fat Mike and the gang. Guttermouth pushed him to release the first Hopeless Records single, using money made from his baseball card collection and he beat Tim Armstrong to Monster Plug by showing up.

We had an amazing talk this week with New York Times journalist, Nick Corasaniti. His new book, "I Don't Want to Go Home: The Oral History of the Stone Pony" just dropped and it is a very fun read. Our esteemed host, Benny himself is in the book! Besides a lot of rich stories about the legendary New Jersey venue, we go off track discussing Aerosmith's legacy and the Taylor Ham vs pork roll controversy. Big stuff.

How's this for off-track? Let's get a hilarious comedian and talk about when he ran an illegal poker game and then a brothel! Neil Rubenstein is for real in many ways and this was a roller coaster conversation that we had with him. The punk rock way of comedy, words you can't say on Tik Tok and a love of libraries. Dude is deep (and funny).

Oh boy, have we got a show for you this week... the amazing Butch Walker of Marvelous 3, The Floyds, SouthGang, also a renown producer/songwriter working with Green Day, Weezer, Pink, Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco to name a few. Butch has seen eras come and go and played a part in all of them! From being an LA hair metal band MTV star to what is happening with A-listers this week, the man is on it. A great story teller to boot, so strap in.

Guitarist for Thursday, Steve Pedulla joins us to talk about the band and its history as well as his other gig as a director of photography for cool, food shows (among other reality shows). There's also a lot of "Jersey" talk and of course the mandatory AI discussion.

photo by Michael Dubin

Hot Water Music's Chris Wollard joins us this week with guest-co-host, Jon Snodgrass to discuss the Gollum songwriting curse, praise for Stever Miller Band and how he and HWM drummer George Rebelo hated each other on site at their initial meeting.

Is Laura Jane Grace the best podcast guest ever? She has certainly always been on for us and brings it again in this awesome interview. From Elvis marrying her in Vegas, to singing "Just Like Heaven" with Dinosaur Jr., this episode bounces with fun and stories.

Danbert Nobacon has seen the full range of it all - from the streets of Manchester UK in the 70s to the wilds of eastern Washington state; from 80's anarchist punks to anarchist major-label, big-hit darlings in Chumbawamba. Along the way he never sold out his ideals and quite literally put his money where his mouth is. A super interesting conversation with a very real dude. Check out his new album, Kochtopus's Garden with the Axis of Dissent.

The Gaslight Anthem's FOH engineer, Tiffany Hendren on a "Road Dogs" episode that was actually taped on the road! Benny sits down with their wonderful live-mix engineer between gigs in Europe to chew the fat about what she does and how she got there.

What better time than now to revisit the mountain man himself, the honorable Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music fame along with solo artisting and of course... mountain manning.

Drummer for The Bouncing Souls and Joan Jett, just to name a few, Michael McDermott is another Jersey treasure. From his early ska days and Murphys Law, to Budokan, the kid's got stories and he's telling! And be sure to check him out in The Kilograms with Joe Gittleman and Sammy Kay.

Hardcore NJ drummer for Ensign, P.E.D. and many more, Chris Ross has known Benny since the latter was a wee punk. We go deep into the lore of New Jersey punk & hardcore, from the magic of 67 Hardy St. and the Bouncing Souls house basement shows to The Melody & The Roxy. There are also many fun, (some embarrassing) young Benny moments.

Coliseum singer/guitarist, Louisville native, Ryan Patterson gives us the lowdown on 'zines, throwing shows and managing a record label. He talks about pushing forward to escape his small town and how "everywhere is a creative outlet". Be sure and check out his new band, Fotocrime.

Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio joins us this week to talk mustaches and basketball. Oh yeah, he's got an awesome day-job too. We get deep into AT's new album and drummer as well as going back to those VFW gig days and the beloved Fireside Bowl, Chicago!

Popeye Vogelsang of legendary hardcore band, Farside, joins us this week to discuss pizza and sex, growing up a puny little punk kid, "bowling it out!" with Jimmy G. of Murphy's Law and his new band, Calling Hours.

photo: Josh Nesmith

Senior NBA Writer for The Ringer and contributor to the NY Times, LA Daily News and Sports Illustrated, Howard Beck also knows a thing or two about music. Benny has a blast talking hoops with him and comparing basketball positions with band members.

In another, 'pal-of-the-podcast' episode, we talk to the 2nd nicest drummer in the biz, The Menzingers' own Joe Godino. Yoga with the Descendents' Bill Stevenson, muscle maintenance with Hot Water Music's George Rebelo and hangin' with Kevin from The Office. It's all in there.

Dave Hause is a great songwriter, singer, performer and an awesome podcast guest, especially for this show. Benny and Dave dig into their shared past, the rewards and pains of being a professional musician and Fat Mike's over-reaction to Dave's article on how punk-rock Taylor Swift was.

Listening to Donovan Woods talk is almost as good as listening to him sing. The lyrics are there! Maybe the backing track of Benny and Brad cackling at his stories isn't quite as nice as Donovan's sweet acoustic guitar but hey, it's storytime. Tim McGraw in a garbage can, check it out.

Deep thinking drummer, podcaster and renown singer/songwriter, Emil Amos joins us gets way deep with Benny. "Melt down this whole machine so people can see what's inside the Matrix." Then he tells us about how hid dad used to be sailing pals with John Oates of "Hall and". It's a very Emil episode.

Hot on the heels of finishing up his brilliant new album, Hellmode - our most popular, and represented guest of all time, singer/songwriter, music maniac, nice guy, Jeff Rosenstock! This is Jeff's 11th or 12th appearance on the show, his 4th solo episode and he is very happy to have coincidentally made episode #420. Please enjoy, we did.

Guitarist/vocalist from Taking Back Sunday, Brody and The Color Fred, Fred Mascherino regales us with a few epic tales including an early, wild trip to California that irreversibly impacted both his personal and professional life.

Rock guitarist/songwriter Emily Wolfe checks in from the big 'ole state of Texas to talk about horror movies, turning to ROCK with sobriety and totally blowing up somebody's wedding.

The amazing and talented Jesse Malin, from July 2022 - PLEASE DONATE to Jesse's SweetRelief fund. This guy has given so much to others in need and he needs some help now himself. Please give what you can.

Dynamic hardcore frontman, Brendan Garrone of Incendiary joins us this week from Long Island to talk about the scene, local pizza, the evils of social media, and making friends with Skynet.

The amazing Chris Pierce has been "the adult in the room of punk" for a while now, as the founder of Doc Hopper, drummer in School Drugs and the "man behind the glass" in the studio, he's essential to his adopted Jersey scene and the whole scene in general. This was a fun convo.

The legendary Gentleman Jim Norton kept us going so long, he became a 2-parter! We'll just drop names for this one... Fred Schneider of the B52's, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Evan Dando - Madonna didn't even make the cut because the other stories were so good!